Three evenings, three ensembles, three radically different approaches to jazz: Once again, the LeipJAZZig collective is showcasing itself in September as a visionary curator of Leipzig’s vibrant jazz scene.

Among the acts performing this year is the group Stadtrundfahrt. Founded by Leipzig-based guitarist Robert Griese, the band blends various intercontinental musical influences. The band builds familiar melodies and harmonies on a rhythmic foundation rooted in Indian and Afro-Cuban music.  The musicians’ work is shaped by their diverse musical backgrounds, but even more so by the audible intensity and closeness of their ensemble playing.

The Denied Square Quartet takes a different approach, operating at the intersection of modern jazz and experimental music while artfully resolving the supposed tension between structure and freedom. Rounding out the lineup are Ida Wutzler and Laurenz Bogen, whom some may already know from their joint synth-pop band, muterfel. In a stripped-down duo format, they present the songs in their purest form: melancholic, dynamic, and always with a touch of whimsy.