After the Leipzig Jazz Days, another important European jazz meeting is now celebrating its fortieth in Saalfelden - with all its advantages: innovative tradition, unique scenic surroundings and sympathetic festival organizers. This year's central theme "Interaction" symbolizes the desire, which has prevailed from the very beginning, to combine an experimental search for new discoveries with the history and present of the international jazz scene. The expanded anniversary program includes more than 50 concerts, spontaneous sessions, a guided concert day walk, and numerous free events in the middle of the city. Already on the eve of the festival, Wolfgang Puschnig with Fulsome X will commemorate the legendary Vienna Art Orchestra concert of the 1978 birth cohort at the Ranch. As one of the highlights, the Joshua Redman Quartet with Ron Miles, Scott Colley and Dave King will perform the album "Still Dreaming," nominated for the 2019 Grammy Awards. Christian Muthspiel forms the 18-piece Orjazztra Vienna especially for the festival. Trombonist Daniel Riegler, together with keyboardist Anthony Coleman, presents the world premiere of the band's concept "New York - Vienna #3." Ken Vandermark and Sylvie Courvoisier deliver in the quartet "Noise of our Time" away from all jazz clichés, more than just noisy music. The hip saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and the quirky Jaimie Branch on trumpet free-jazz funkdrively in the grouping "An Unruly Manifesto". As artist in residence, sensational drummer Lukas König is regent of intense impro projects. -(22.-25.8.)