jazzahead! 2025: The full list of participants in the showcase concerts

Diversity and limitless variety: 38 acts with musicians from more than 20 countries will perform short concerts at the largest jazz trade fair in the world +++ Statements from members of our international juries

As a place to discover the jazz world of today and to experience it live, brimming with life and with all its kaleidoscope of emotional and sensual appeal, there really is nowhere in the world better than jazzahead! in Bremen.

On 24 April 2025, the trade fair will open in the halls of Messe Bremen. Since its inception in 2006, the world’s leading industry get-together – and also family gathering – for jazz has also included showcase concerts lasting up to 45 minutes. In 2025, artists from more than 20 countries will have a unique opportunity to perform for a global audience. jazzahead! is announcing the names of all of these acts today (see attached list).

The 38 showcases were put together by specialised international juries. The jury selection reflects fully the diversity of jazz and related genres. This music, now over 100 years old, has always been open to influences from a wide variety of cultures, and this is an important principle running right through the jazzahead! selection process.

There is a special focus on the bands from the ‘partner region’ for 2025, which consists of the three RECONNECT countries Spain, France and Switzerland. There are nine concerts, and it is safe to predict that several will have a big impact. As examples to whet the appetite, here are just three: Cuban-Swiss violinist and singer Yilian Cañizares is already a star in the making and will turn heads; French singer/trombonist Robinson Khoury with his electro-acoustic trio has a reputation which is growing fast; Senegalese-Spanish singer and kora player Momi Maiga, who combines West African elements with jazz and flamenco is also bound to cause a stir.

Furthermore, for the second year running, ‘Jazz from Africa’ is a significant focus at jazzahead!. The name of Kenya’s leading female percussionist Kasiva Mutua is likely to be heard more and more often in the coming years. She fuses traditional music with modern influences from jazz, funk and other styles. Central and South America are also represented by no fewer than four countries, a higher number than ever before.

Another noticeable feature will be a broader, deeper, bigger vision of what constitutes the remainder of Europe. Artists and bands from Poland, Hungary, Greece, Portugal and Turkey selected for 2025 will offer an opportunity to discover music from countries that have a tendency to be underrepresented, in general and also in particular at jazzahead!

The German scene has an international dimension, and this will be represented by the quartet hilde, based in various countries, with their song-like chamber music. The New York Times is among the fans of Munich-based Mongolian singer Enji. They made her rhythmically assertive yet dream-filled music a top-ten album of the year.

The selection was made by four international juries. The 38 members of juries are all programmers, curators or event organisers.

Jurors reflect on the selection process for 2025

Javier Estrella Ruiz / Plataforma Jazz España:
‘The work of the jury brings people from different countries together, in order to understand their different perspectives and to find a consensus. I am very satisfied with the acts we have chosen – all of them have a sound that is uniquely theirs.’

Gail Boyd / artist manager from the USA:
‘Some criteria – such as giving special consideration to women – were predetermined. I also had my own: for example, does the band appear to be coherent? Are they enjoying the music or just reading the notes? Do they have something new to offer or something that is a bit different?’

Antonis Zouganelis /Athens Jazz, Greece:
‘Putting together a programme that represents the vibrancy of European jazz – it has been very rewarding! My criteria for selecting the bands were qualities such as originality and cross-genre innovation. Skills on the instrument were important to me, but so was the ability to tell emotional stories. The current line-up is a mix of established and exciting new artists. The audience is going to be inspired and surprised by the range of acts we have chosen.’

Further information, dates and song/video material will follow in early January 2025.

Press and photo material can be found in our digital press kit: ja!25_Press_kit | Password: ja!25_Press_kit

Would you like to interview the participating artists? We’ll happily put you in touch.

Please register using the accreditation form: https://jazzahead.de/press/#accreditation.

Tickets are available at Nordwest Ticket outlets or by calling +49 421 – 36 36 36, as well as through the web shop.Tickets are also available at the ticket service in the Glocke (+49 421 – 33 66 99), at the Weser-Kurier press building, at all regional newspaper buildings or online at  https://jazzahead.de/

For participants at jazzahead! 2025, access to the showcase concerts is included as part of trade fair registration.

MESSE BREMEN | M3B GmbH

jazzahead! Press Office
Jan Paersch
press@jazzahead.de