Pianist and composer Kris Davis masterfully blends influences from free improvisation, jazz, contemporary classical music and world music into a distinctive, personal sound that captivates.

Having grown up in Calgary (Canada), Davis moved to New York in 2001, where she quickly made a name for herself on the improvisation scene whilst studying with Tony Malaby and Jim McNeely. Since then, she has released eleven albums as a bandleader, ranging from solo piano to an eight-piece ensemble featuring four bass clarinets, organ, piano, guitar and drums.

Ten years ago, Davis founded her own label, Pyroclastic Records, as a platform for non-commercial, experimental music, and released the two critically acclaimed albums Octopus and Duopoly.

Davis teaches at Berklee College of Music and is Associate Director of Creative Development at the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. As Artist in Residence, this versatile artist offers us a deeper insight into her musical work through various ad hoc formations, allowing us to experience first-hand how she explores boundaries and traverses all genres with elegance and brilliance.

• www.krisdavis.net

A virtuoso gathering of four top musicians.

On this evening, the Kris Davis Quartet features the brilliant saxophonist Marta Wajdzik, the expressive bassist Robert Landfermann and the well-known, sensitive drummer Nasheet Waits. A concert of poetic surprises and virtuoso intensity.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• martawajdzik.com
  www.nasheetwaits.com

• Fr, 16:00 hrs ❘ Museum Tinguely

• Details

Condensed expression, rhythm and dense harmonies.

Here, Kris Davis, in a trio with Robert Landfermann and Nasheet Waits. With all three musicians contributing on an equal footing, they explore the possibilities of mutual communication with a keen sense of inner dynamics and tension.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

• Entrance fee per set CHF 14.– / 10.–

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• www.krisdavis.net
  robertlandfermann.com
  www.nasheetwaits.com

A captivating blend of jazz and folk.

The grainy, warm sound of British trumpeter Laura Jurd exudes the vastness of legends and ancestors. Cori Smith enhances the enchanting Yorkshire magic with her earthy sound, whilst Tara Cunningham masterfully blends the various genres and tensions with stark harmonies and virtuoso solos. Ruth Goller gives the music the necessary drive with dynamic bass lines, and Corrie Dick provides subtle, well-placed accents. The band creates a melodic world full of mysticism, longing and surprising twists, carried by a serene intensity. Jurd released “Rites and Revelations” on Bandcamp in 2025.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.laurajurd.com

Light-footed jazz and pop with a touch of chanson.

Sibyl Hofstetter’s distinctive, resonant voice, the fresh breeze of Lea Gasser’s accordion and Thomas Dürst’s sonorous bass transport the audience, with their own arrangements, into the world of rarely performed, atmospheric jazz songs and chansons. In their new programme, “Plötzlich ging die Sonne aus” (Suddenly the Sun Went Out), the musicians reinterpret gems from the German, French and English song repertoire with touching, sometimes rebellious lyrics, whilst also delighting with their own compositions. An evening full of humour, poetry and haunting melodies.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.thomasduerst.com

A groovy fusion of complex lyricism and spontaneous interaction.

Award-winning saxophonist Wanja Slavin forges his own path in avant-garde music with self-assured determination and reliable intuition. In “libelle”, he focuses on expressive melodies. As artificial intelligence increasingly influences music production, he has longed to return to the most direct and vibrant form of musical expression: improvisation. Together with his outstanding musicians, Slavin navigates sensitively through a labyrinth of different genres, captivating audiences with emotional depth and a haunting atmosphere.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

• Entrance fee per set CHF 14.– / 10.–

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• www.wanja-slavin.de

Multifaceted, contemporary jazz with an impressionistic flair.

French saxophonist Musina Ebobissé is one of the most distinctive voices on the current European jazz scene. Like a subtle sound laboratory, his band seamlessly blends a wide variety of genres, opening up to contemplative, tranquil moments and delighting with beautiful harmonies and nuanced solos. The musicians seamlessly combine the rhythmic language of modern jazz with contemporary music and the impressionistic timbres of the 20th century. An atmospheric, poetic sound that invites you to savour the moment.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.musinaebobisse.com

A hypnotic fusion of impressionism and jazz.

Jakob Bänsch draws his inspiration primarily from Ravel and Debussy, as well as from the modern jazz of Herbie Hancock from the 1960s and 70s. The distinctive, delicate yet groovy sound immediately captivates the audience and is imbued with lyricism, symphonic drama, epic intensity and virtuosity. With his versatile, finely modulated tone, Bänsch captures the essence of every song, whilst Niklas Roever intensifies the impressionistic touch with dense harmonies. Jakob Obleser grounds the sound with mindful bass and adds dynamic depth, whilst Leo Asal brings contemporary vibes with nimble drums.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.jakobbaensch.com

Sophisticated, contemporary jazz of the highest calibre.

The influences in Álvaro Ocón’s “Life Dissonance” (released in 2025 on AMP) range from the rich textures of European jazz orchestration, through the subtleties of dissonance as a means of expression, to the rhythmic vitality of modern American jazz. Ocón’s beautiful, lyrical sound on the trumpet and Fernando Brox’s radiant solos, which are virtuosic yet always remain melodic, are particularly striking. Pianist Iannis Obiols impresses with subtle chords, whilst Nadav Erlich and Iago Fernández form a dream team of a precise, driving rhythm section with a sense of nuanced dynamics.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

• Entrance fee per set CHF 14.– / 10.–

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• www.ampmusicrecords.com/releases-1/lvaro-ocn-ocn-life-dissonance

Melodic vocal jazz with pop elements.

Mirna Bogdanović’s gentle voice touches the listener from the very first note. The Bosnian-Slovenian-born singer is firmly established in Berlin as an emotional songwriter and musician, presenting an atmospheric sound that is rich, multifaceted and modern. She builds layers of vocal harmonies, synthesiser textures and effects, weaving them organically into a complex, dreamy sound. Poetic music that invites the audience to explore their own inner sadness and longing.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.mirnabogdanovic.com

A melodic soundscape of experimental, contemporary jazz.

Dream Big Fish’s sound astonishes with spontaneous twists that flow in thoughtfully without breaking the thread. The musicians create a vibrant, ever-changing sonic construct of subtle nuances. At its core are dense grooves, striking rhythmic patterns and recurring melodies. Julius Gawlik’s broad, warm tone never loses its grounding and forms a soothing contrast to the delicate rhythmic interweaving of Thorbjørn Stefansson and Marius Wankel. A fascinating journey through free realms, in which a harmonious and melodic inner balance always resonates.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.dreambigfish.bandcamp.com/album/dream-big-fish

A quiet, lyrical tête-à-tête between two grand masters.

“The Wait” is the first joint album by US pianist Kevin Hays and multi-instrumentalist Jorge Rossy, although they have been playing together for 25 years. With their delicate sound, they open up space and time and breathe in harmony with the music. Sometimes one takes the melody, sometimes the other provides support. They alternate between the percussive, linear and harmonic possibilities of their instruments, weaving in finely tuned, nuanced solos. Occasionally they create intense contrasts and interweave their playing more closely to create a dreamy, hypnotic atmosphere – free from any superficial showmanship. A delicate, deeply poetic music that lingers gently.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

• Entrance fee per set CHF 14.– / 10.–

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• www.kevinhays.com
  www.jorgerossy.com

Electroacoustic jazz with introspective melancholy.

Jesper Thorn’s enchanting, ethereal sound goes straight to the heart. With an unerring instinct for pared-back, clear melodies and sparse arrangements, the Danish bassist carries on the tradition of Scandinavian jazz in a multifaceted way. Mindfully, he allows complex bass lines to flow seamlessly alongside piano, trumpet, saxophone and violin, creating a multi-layered, dreamy sound. The emotional depth and longing of his songs are deeply moving, immersing the audience in a comforting, embracing soundscape that lingers long after the music has ended.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.jesperthorn.com

The Basel Jazz Orchestra with Alan Plachta as a guest.

The local big band never fails to thrill the bird’s-eye audience with its nuanced, beautiful music. This creative playground for musicians and composers from Basel presents an elegant, multifaceted big-band sound, contemporary jazz, and a touch of international flair. From time to time, the band invites a guest—on this evening, it is the outstanding Argentine composer and guitarist Alan Plachta, who now lives in Uruguay. With his pulsating arrangements featuring the characteristic candombe (traditional Afro-Uruguayan rhythms), he captivates the audience for an entire set.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

• One-time entrance fee CHF 16– / 10.–

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• www.baseljazzorchestra.com

• Fr, 16:00 hrs ❘ Museum Tinguely

• Details

A groovy fusion of jazz, hip-hop and neo-soul.

Grammy-nominated US trumpeter Theo Croker has captivated audiences worldwide with his genre-fluid, poetic music. With his lyrical, airy melodies in the tradition of Miles Davis, which he allows to float gently over electronic beats, he creates an atmospheric soundscape that feels timeless yet contemporary. Croker tells subtly expressive stories whilst also using the trumpet as a textural force that weaves seamlessly into the beguiling soundscape of samples, beats and complex synthesiser harmonies. A deeply emotional sound that vibrates with inner intensity and authentic beauty. Theo Croker’s latest album, “Dream Manifest”, was released in 2025.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

• Entrance fee per set CHF 14.– / 10.–

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• www.theocroker.com