Music scene diversity, cultural policies' influence and jazz's role in it

The city of Marburg, Jazz Initiative Marburg e.V., and the Jazz Association of Hesse are set to host the 3rd Marburger Jazzsommer from September 11th to 14th, 2025. This four-day festival promises an international program that reflects the cultural diversity of Europe, with a focus on promoting young talent and giving lesser-known musicians stage experience.

Kicking off the festival on September 11th, the trio Vehicle/Passenger will play at trauma. The trio consists of a female-identifying saxophonist, an electronic artist, a poet from Curaçao, a US-American drummer, and a Cologne-based bassist. On the same day, at 7:30 PM, Michael Sagmeister, a German jazz and fusion guitarist, will take the stage.

The opening day also marks the premiere of Lukas Akintaya's new band project. Known as Adeolu, he will perform at KFZ at 6 PM. Bex Burch, a British percussionist and sound researcher, will follow at KFZ, with an open jam session following at Cavete from 10:30 PM.

The festival continues on September 12th with a special afternoon concert at the House of Marburger Kunstverein, featuring Mona Steinwidder's project Museum of no art. Lukas Akintaya's band will also perform live for the first time at the Marburger Jazzsommer at KFZ, while Bex Burch will continue her performance.

Athina Kontou and her quartet Mother will kick off Saturday evening's concerts at Waggonhalle at 6 PM. Enji, born in Ulaanbaatar, will perform later in the evening, presenting her new album "Sonor" which has already been nominated for the German Jazz Prize. The evening will conclude with the European Jazz School / Sister City Project at Waggonhalle at 7:30 PM.

The festival will also feature workshops and a one-hour yoga session to jazz music at a location yet to be announced on September 14, at 10 AM. The festival will conclude with a Mediterranean brunch at the LEO restaurant in KA.RE., accompanied by a combo of the Studio Big Band Marburg on September 14.

The German Jazz Union and the curatorial team Tinka Steinhoff, Timm Tulach, and Hermes Villena are also involved in the festival. Topics such as origin, democracy, collaboration, and diversity are central to the festival's ethos. The festival aims to book musicians who are less present in the industry, including women and female bandleaders.

Venues for the festival include socio-cultural centers such as Cavete, KA.RE., TNT - Theater neben dem Turm, trauma im g-werk, Kulturzentrum KFZ, and Waggonhalle Kulturzentrum. The ensemble Mother's debut "Tzivaeri" has been nominated for the German Record Critics' Award and the German Jazz Prize.

Stay tuned for more updates on the 3rd Marburger Jazzsommer, promising an exciting journey through the world of jazz and cultural diversity.