Soundscapes between impressionistic lyricism and the openness of contemporary music.

In the new project "Love in Motion" by Brazilian drummer Paulo Almeida, who lives in Basel, the band explores lyrical, collective improvisation with sensitivity and authenticity. The musicians create organic, poetic soundscapes in which the melody often determines the musical flow and the rhythm becomes a contrapuntal element, creating a lively, dynamic and sensitive atmosphere. Influenced by Wayne Shorter and Paul Motion to Hermeto Pascoal and Debussy, Almeida masterfully and effortlessly navigates the tightrope between organic playing, creative risk-taking and artistic freedom.

• Tu and We, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.pauloalmeidadrummer.com

An enchanting evening with rich orchestral sound.

The local big band never fails to thrill the bird's-eye audience with its sophisticated, beautiful music. The creative hub for musicians and composers from Basel presents elegant, multifaceted big band sound, contemporary jazz and a dash of international flair. From time to time, the band invites a guest to join them – but on this evening, they showcase their own concentrated creative power with new and further developed compositions.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.baseljazzorchestra.com

Fabian Willmann's new concert series kicks off with Trish Clowes.

“Tenor Madness” is coming to Basel for the first time: saxophonist Fabian Willmann will highlight one of four tenor saxophonists who shine with their creativity alongside a rhythm section. On Friday, Trish Clowes will take centre stage, impressing audiences with her rapid runs and confident melodies. The British musician is considered one of the most agile and original improvisers of our time.

• Fr, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.fabianwillmann.com
  www.trishclowes.com

On Saturday, Melissa Aldana will be the focus of attention at “Tenor Madness”.

With four saxophonists, you can expect a dense, captivating band sound and lots of touching harmonies with driving solos. But when an artist as energetic as Melissa Aldana is featured, you can look forward to emotional moments. Aldana proves herself to be a master of authentic storytelling. Every note has a purpose; nothing is arbitrary. Her range extends from broad and warm to precise and delicate.

• Sa, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.fabianwillmann.com
  www.melissaaldana.net

Contemporary jazz with influences from Eastern European folk and minimal music.

Despite the immense virtuosity of all four musicians in Dejan Terzic's “Axiom”, their focus remains on the collective: intentions and playing styles flow organically into one another and fill the shared space with boundless freedom and a compressed, dense atmosphere full of delicate melodies and light-footed solos. A polyphonic rhythmic tapestry provides dynamism and a dazzling complexity. The mood oscillates hypnotically from fragile and delicate to angry, sad and desperate. The new album “Grow” will be released in spring 2026 on O-Tone Music.

• Tu and We, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.dejanterzic.com

A wonderful mix of modern jazz and classical music of the 20th century.

Robert Wypasek seeks pure, unbridled energy while telling powerful, moving stories. With lyrical runs on the piano (Wes Georgiev) and Wypasek's warm saxophone, plus Fabrizio Doberti's subtle but nuanced drumming, the band creates a unique space vibrating with reverent joy. Trust, hope and meditative concentration come together, while each member shines in their deep musical expression.

• Th, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.robertwypasek.com

This brilliant quartet is also coming to bird's eye on its release tour.

Renowned saxophonist Nicolas Masson, a key figure in the Swiss new jazz scene, started out in the New York jazz scene in the 1990s and has since collaborated with numerous international musicians. Masson's gentle, lyrical melodies with their warm, broad tone weave themselves carefully and contrapuntally into Colin Vallon's wonderfully subtle yet precise piano playing. Patrice Moret and Lionel Friedli provide a fine, groovy rhythmic foundation. This band has been playing together for almost two decades and draws almost telepathically from a unified core of intuition and creativity. Masson's latest album, “Renaissance”, has just been released on ECM.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.nicolasmasson.com

A “rabbit-strong and hen-good” children's programme!

Hoppelihopp the rabbit loves carrots, loves to laugh and dances and sings all the time, everywhere. He loves nothing more than being with lots of children and, of course, his friend Lotta. Lotta is a cheerful hen who laughs and clucks as often as she can, has lots of funny ideas and likes to play little pranks. Young and old alike can look forward to beautiful children's songs to sing along to and an entertaining music programme. For children aged 3 to 8 and the young at heart.

• Su, 11.00 hrs

• CHF 14 for adults/CHF 8 for children, free for third child and any additional children
  Doors open 30 minutes before the concert begins.

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• www.hoppelihopp.ch

Delicate jazz with Chilean influences.

With his sensitive combination of traditional and modern elements, Swiss-Chilean guitarist Martín Theurillat creates a poetic, unified sound that warms the soul. His music resonates with the warmth and intensity of his musical roots, embedded in subtle, graceful melodies. Nadav Erlich weaves in delicate bass lines that are found in the theme and then rub against each other contrapuntally. Iago Fernández keeps the energy high with pulsating rhythms, while Jaka Arh improvises gently and softly on the saxophone. A beautiful gem of sophisticated, dreamy and yet innovative music.

• Tu and We, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.martintheurillat.com

Modern jazz with the eccentricity of the avant-garde and emotional depth.

In this project by visionary drummer Jim Black, the sound is personal, experimental and daring. With "The Schrimps", three outstanding up-and-coming talents from Europe, he creates music that is both raw and song-oriented, combining plaintive melodies with kinetic, unpredictable improvisation. The musicians appreciate the melodic structures while exploring the boundaries of harmonic and rhythmic experimentation. They do so with risk, groove, dissonance and a wild beauty that fascinates. Their new album “Better You Don't” was released last year on INTAKT Records.

• Th, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.jimblackintakt.bandcamp.com

• Fr, 16:00 hrs ❘ Museum Tinguely

• Details

A sophisticated exploration of the experimental and the traditional.

Classically trained pianist Simone Keller moves playfully between different styles and genres. As a bridge builder, she is particularly committed to broad social access to music. “Just for a Thrill” is a song by Lil Hardin Armstrong, who spent her life in the shadow of her husband Louis Armstrong. In this spirit, Keller takes on other artists from jazz and classical music to musically express vulnerability, alienation, resistance, hope, but also the ambivalence between beauty and the abyss in very different ways.

• Fr, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.simonekeller.ch

A sophisticated exploration of the experimental and the traditional.

Classically trained pianist Simone Keller moves playfully between different styles and genres. As a bridge builder, she is particularly committed to broad social access to music. “Just for a Thrill” is a song by Lil Hardin Armstrong, who spent her life in the shadow of her husband Louis Armstrong. In this spirit, Keller takes on other artists from jazz and classical music to musically express vulnerability, alienation, resistance, hope, but also the ambivalence between beauty and the abyss in very different ways.

• Fr, 21.45 hrs

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

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• www.simonekeller.ch
  www.musikundkultur.com
  www.philipbartels.ch

Rousing jazz with a raw, open spirit and lively finesse.

Sox2 is a new trio featuring pianist Myra Melford with Ingrid Laubrock on saxophone and Lesley Mok on drums. Together they generate a concentrated energy in which every gesture is intense, every exchange amplified: a single spark from Melford's piano can split into multiple textures, Laubrock's saxophone line can take unexpected directions, and Mok's playing reshapes time into ever-changing organisms. The explosive trio creates music from interwoven grooves that twist and unfold, harmonies that break into prismatic songs, improvisations full of fiery intensity and yet structural elasticity.

• Sa, 20.30 hrs

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

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• www.myramelford.com
  www.ingridlaubrock.com
  www.lesleymok.com

Vibrant, contemporary modern jazz.

George Colligan impresses with his nimble, percussive runs – no wonder, as he is not only a pianist but also a trained drummer. Here he shines on the keyboard, elegantly and innovatively continuing the jazz tradition with influences from bebop, swing and blues, playing with explosive intensity and lively dedication. Bassist Josh Ginsburg accompanies the virtuoso piano improvisations with a dynamic walking bass in perfect intonation, while Marc Michel catches the listener's attention with his sparkling fill-ins and driving rhythms, adding extra pulsating drive, especially in his extensive solos. An absolute must for fans of solid mainstream jazz!

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.georgecolligan.com

A fascinating mix of contemporary indie jazz and electronica.

ARBRE's sound is expansive yet compact: dense and raw, mystical melodies meander through a sea of harmonies and a bustling web of rhythms, combining fluttering fragility with solid roots. The sound system of this outstanding jazz collective is a homogeneous, hypnotic convergence towards a mysterious, precise core. Mélusine Chappuis and Paul Butscher deliberately sing in two completely different registers, both stylistically and emotionally. And yet the focus is on the instrumental – a complex yet catchy, beautiful sound that does without stylistic embellishments. ARBRE's new album “Wrap a tear in cellophane” is released on Ronin Rhythm Records.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.arbremusic.ch

A subtle fusion of jazz and Brazilian music.

The outstanding Brazilian drummer Alex Kautz elegantly and sensitively combines jazz with the music of his homeland, captivating listeners with his highly precise, energetic yet delicate touch. John Ellis effortlessly blends into the polyrhythmic fabric with his clear, delicate tone, while Fabio Gouvêa impresses with nimble runs and lyrical improvisations. Matt Penman's supple bass provides a solid but never rigid foundation for this small, multi-layered masterpiece. The driving force of New York jazz blends perfectly with the complex, beautiful harmonies to create an enchanting, dazzling soundscape.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.alexkautz.com

Melodic jazz with avant-garde influences.

In “Transient Bodies”, saxophonist Moritz Stahl deliberately avoids any stylistic constraints and opens himself completely to the unexpectedness of the moment. He improvises with a warm tone and playful intensity, burning with curiosity and bursting with expressiveness. Elegant and with well-balanced dynamics, he combines experimental approaches with his love for accessible structures. Pianist Marie Kruttli supports him with atmospheric harmonies, Etienne Renard inspires with his versatile bass playing, and Korean drummer Sun-Mi Hong completes the sound with her seemingly unlimited spectrum of rhythmic timbres. In keeping with its basic character, “Transient Bodies” is an acoustic quartet that organically weaves in electronic elements.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.moritzstahl.com

An enchanting tête-à-tête of jazz and world music.

Like the delicate pink tones of the rising sun, the music of this fine duo warms the heart and soul. The sometimes smoky, lyrical, then percussive melodies of the bass clarinet gently caress the rhythmically concise, sparkling sounds of the harp and immerse the audience in a tender dream world that brings a smile to their faces. So: close your eyes, lean back, relax, breathe deeply and enjoy this beautiful, atmospheric set.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.jangalegabroennimann.ch

An enchanting dialogue between jazz and Greek and Romanian traditions.

With quiet charm, this duo defies any rigid genre categorisation. From complex classical compositions to jazz rhythms and stories from the Balkans, it takes the audience on an enchanting journey. In this journey, the liveliness of folklore merges with the cosmopolitan influence of contemporary music landscapes. Like a feather, Evi Filippou dances with her sparkling, lyrical improvisations on the vibraphone over Robert Lucaciu's challenging, versatile bass lines. The light, mindful melodies of the two musicians merge and separate again to create indefinable spaces in between.

• Th, 21:30 hrs

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

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• www.evifilippou.com

• Fr, 16:00 hrs ❘ Museum Tinguely

• Details

With groovy longing in search of the essence.

Conic Rose immediately captivates the audience with its intense images of dark, mystical city drives and light-filled moments. The musicians' gripping sound aesthetic is much more than just the sum of their different styles, ranging from indie pop and jazz to electronica. Trumpeter Konstantin Döben hypnotises with his hoarse, spherical tone, which floats through the wistful soundscapes of guitarist Bertram Burkert and keyboardist Johannes Arzberger. The dynamic impulses of bassist Franziska Aller and the stoic drums of Nicholas Stampf provide the necessary depth and structure.An atmospheric concert that lingers long after it's over.The debut album “Heller Tag” was released in 2023 on Bandcamp.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.conicrose.com

Authentic, rousing Cuban dance music.

Cubans like to refer to son as the mother of all rhythms. It gave rise to guaracha, bolero, cha cha cha, rumba and, last but not least, salsa. Since Afro-Cuban cultural heritage can also be heard in jazz, these musical forms have a well-deserved place at bird's eye. Son Alarde immerses itself in traditional Cuban music with passion and pulsating energy, mixed with funk and reggaeton. The band also revives almost forgotten rhythms such as dengue, Mozambique and changuí, thus supporting their preservation and dissemination. A concert that will have you off your stools and your hips swaying.

• Su, 18:00 hrs

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

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• www.sonalarde.com

A fascinating symbiosis of contemporary jazz, groove and free expression.

The new project by renowned Slovenian saxophonist Jure Pukl is his personal, rousing musical response to AI. His credo: music is still most powerful, beautiful, wild, lyrical and sensual when played live by musicians in front of an audience. His versatile sound captivates with broken, technically sophisticated rhythms, modern, elegant bass lines and powerful saxophone sounds. The expressive yet guided, melodic improvisations form the language of the musicians, who all have their own perspective yet do not seek to prove anything. With patience, close interplay and sublime virtuosity, they search for the authentic core instead of losing themselves in superficialities and artificialities.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.unitrecords.com/artists/jure-pukl

The BJO plays the music of Claudia Döffinger.

Our local big band never fails to thrill audiences with its sophisticated, beautiful music. This creative hub for musicians and composers from Basel presents elegant, multifaceted big band sound, contemporary jazz and a dash of international flair. This Thursday, the orchestra will perform an exquisite selection of compositions by Claudia Döffinger, who will also conduct the performance herself.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.baseljazzorchestra.com