Concept

Leipziger Jazztage Jazz, jazz, and more jazz since 1976

The International " Leipziger Jazztage " is one of the oldest and most prestigious jazz festivals in Germany, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016. Every fall, the " Jazzclub " in Leipzig presents well over 100 musicians over the course of 10 days. Big names and pioneers of jazz, as well as innovative newcomers, perform at the venerable Opera and Theater House, the historic Congress Hall, and in churches, as well as in numerous scene clubs and the city’s oldest movie theater.

Through self-initiated projects, commissioned compositions, and—above all—a thematic framework, the festival seeks to capture the spirit of the times in jazz: “Between Mahler and Miles,” “Sound of Heimat,” “Cinematic Jazz,” and “Fine Arts” have been the themes in recent years. The festival’s close ties to the Polish jazz scene also set “ Leipziger Jazztage ” apart from many other festivals. With its traditional “Jazz for Kids” event in the grand opera hall, the festival also offers a cultural highlight for the whole family.

Previous guests on the Jazztage stages: Eivind Aarset, John Abercrombie, Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra, The Bad Plus, Rebekka Bakken, Nik Bärtsch, Ketil Björnstad, Carla Bley, Lester Bowie, Till Brönner, Peter Brötzmann, Konrad Bauer, Johannes Bauer, Iva Bittová, James Carter, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Arnett Cobb, Avishai Cohen, Ornette Coleman, Steve Coleman, Chick Corea, Larry Coryell, Dietmar Diesner, Wolfram Dix, Urszula Dudziak, Johannes Enders, Bill Frisell, Fred Frith, Richard Galliano, Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti, Kinga Głyk, Benny Golson, Nora Gomringer, Ronny Graupe, Philipp Gropper, Mark Guiliana, Ulrich Gumpert, Rigmor Gustafsson, Gunter Hampel, Gilad Hekselman, Arve Henriksen, Manfred Hering, Hidden Orchestra, Dave Holland, John Hollenbeck, Julia Hülsmann, Sophie Hunger, Abdullah Ibrahim, Maria João, Lee Konitz, Peter Kowald, Uwe Kropinski, Joachim Kühn, Rolf Kühn, Nils Landgren, Nguyên Lê, Jaki Liebezeit, Christian Lillinger, Arto Lindsay, Charles Lloyd, Albert Mangelsdorff, Branford Marsalis, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Dominic Miller, Phil Minton, Marcus Miller, Nils Petter Molvaer, Alphonze Mouzon, Thomas Moritz, David Moss, Mouse on Mars, Leszek Możdżer, Heiner Müller, Gerry Mulligan, David Murray, Meshell Ndegeocello, Werner Neumann, Tony Oxley, Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, Michel Petrucciani, Adam Pierończyk, Joshua Redman, Heiner Reinhardt, Marc Ribot, Sam Rivers, Monika Roscher, Terje Rypdal, Antonio Sanchez, Heinz Sauer, Helmut Joe Sachse, John Scofield, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Friedhelm Schönfeld, Irene Schweizer, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith, Leo Smith, Günter Baby Sommer, Tomasz Stańko, Erika Stucky, Supersilent, Steve Swallow, Aki Takase, John Tchicai, Eric Truffaz, McCoy Tyner, James Blood Ulmer, Miroslav Vitouš, Mal Waldron, Dave Weckl, Bugge Wesseltoft, Cassandra Wilson, Norma Winstone, Nils Wogram, Michael Wollny, Victor Wooten, Joe Zawinul, Central Quartet, John Zorn et al.a.