Since its foundation in 1994 by Stephan Kurmann - bass player, manager and artistic director - the Bird's Eye Jazz Club has made its name with the jazz audience as well as jazz musicians all over the world. It has an excellent reputation among the smaller European jazz clubs - no wonder that it was elected, in Easy Jet's March 2007 magazine, as the best place to go.
Musicians as well as audiences like the intimate atmosphere of the small, vaultlike premise, whose outstanding acoustics guarantee a direct live experience of the music. Thanks to generous support from private donators, companies and the cantons Basel-Stadt/Basel-Land it is possible to offer an qualitatively excellent programme at modest admission. The club offers live music five evenings during the main season, four during the summer, with only short breaks during the carnival, Easter, summer and Christmas.
We offer high quality contemporary jazz, with a spezial focus on the jazz traditions: from from classical post-bop to African rhythm-based varieties to Latin-American music. However, we also integrate other styles, from "classical" music to hip-hop and more. Often this is done in collaboration with other organizers.
In addition to international musicians from all over the world, we present the regional and national Swiss scene, in particular young musicians with a future ahead. We also work together with the music academy (jazz department), whose diploma and end-of-year concerts take place in our club.
In order to make jazz accessible for a wider audience, we regularly organize workshops with guest bands, especially for schools (see "Jazz for schools/workshops").
The club is run by JAZZ LIVE BASEL; membership supports the club and brings a range of benefits (see "Member cards").
You can rent the club for private events or organize made-to-measure events (see "Rent the club").