The Jazzahead! trade fair and music expo returns from 23 to 26 April 2025 to Messse Bremen, Germany with the first names confirmed for its Grand Opening Gala on Wednesday 23 April with an evening of music under the banner ‘Sketches of Spain, France and Switzerland’. All three nations have been the event’s partner country in previous years, and will collectively present some of their top artists at next year’s Jazzahead!
The opening night show will include Swiss-Honduran guitarist Louis Matute with his Large Ensemble, that will also include French singer Célia Kameni, who performs with Matute’s band alongside Cuban-born trumpeter Yelfris Valdés. The latter was resident in the UK until recently (leading his own projects as well as working with Damon Albarn and Quantic), and is now based on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
Taking place in the 1,200-seater concert hall of Congress Centre Bremen, the Grand Opening will be a joint opening ceremony for the festival and trade fair, attended by an array of personalities from politics, art and culture as well as participating musicians and delegates.
Appearing among the 38 showcase concerts announced for 2025 are several UK artists including trumpeter Henry Spencer, Scottish duo Norman&Corrie (a.k.a saxophonist Norman Willmore and drummer Corrie Dick) and UK-born Netherlands-based saxophonist Sam Newbould Quintet.
The full list of showcases is as follows:
RECONNECT Showcases
Adèle Viret Quartet (FR)
Irene Reig quartet (ES)
Louis Matute Large Ensemble (CH)
Manon Mullener 5tet (CH)
Marco Mezquida Trio (ES)
Momi Maiga (ES)
Monsieur Mâlâ (FR)
Robinson Khoury (FR)
Yilian Cañizares (CH)
European Showcases
Andreas Polyzogopoulos Trio (GR)
Carlos Bica 11:11 (PT)
Harald Lassen (NO)
Henry Spencer (UK)
Ilaria Capalbo (SE/IT)
Korhan Futaci (TR)
Maridalen (NO)
Norman&Corrie (UK) (Scotland)
Sam Newbould Quintet (NL)
Schubert NOW! (HU)
Smag På Dig Selv (DK)
Svante Söderqvist – THE ROCKET (SE/EE)
Unleashed Cooperation (PL)
German Jazz Expo
Besson – Sternal – Burgwinkel Trio (DE)
Carl Wittigs Aurora Oktett (DE)
Enji (DE)
Eva Klesse Quartett – Stimmen (DE)
hilde (DE)
Maik Krahl – The Magic of Consistency (DE)
Nils Kugelmann Trio (DE)
´Oumuamua Orchestra (DE)
Overseas & Jazz from Africa Showcases
Benjamin Jephta Sextet presents ‘Born Coloured, not Born-Free’ (ZA)
Hervé Samb & Teranga Band (SN/FR)
Juanjo Corbalán Quartet (PY)
Kasiva Mutua (KE)
Lucía (MX)
Roger Corrêa Quartet (BR)
Rolando Luna (CU)
Shalosh (IL)
For full details and to register for next year’s Jazzahead! visit www.jazzahead.de
