Jazz Festival 2026 Celebrates Aesthetic Contrasts

Münster (SMS) A French shooting star, improvised music from Germany, encounters between cultures: On Saturday, 3 January 2026, contrasting jazz rhythms will once again fill the Great Hall of Theater Münster from 5:30 p.m. onwards. The "Shortcut" edition of the International Jazz Festival Münster, organized by the Municipal Office of Culture, will open the new year with four concerts, exploring the diverse world of international jazz culture. Tickets will be available starting Monday, 17 November.

In line with the festival motto "Aesthetics of Contrast," Artistic Director Fritz Schmücker has brought together outstanding musicians whose repertoires promise great variety. Ensembles from France, Germany, and Mali will perform. In addition to the evening concerts, the festival also features a late-night jam session on Saturday in the Atelier Bar as well as improvisations at the Dominican Church on Sunday, 4 January, at 12 p.m.

The "Shortcut" Saturday begins with a German premiere. The French trio Quatuor Demi-Lune is the latest project of trombonist Robinson Khoury, one of the major emerging artists of the current jazz scene. For the Münster festival, Khoury blends different musical genres, drawing inspiration from classical Arabic music, masters such as Bach, and contemporary composers like Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich. Together with Lina Belaïd (cello), Simon Drappier (double bass), and Eve Risser (piano), Khoury creates a new form of chamber music. He seeks encounters between cultures and celebrates the beauty of differences.

The evening's second ensemble marks a decisive musical shift. The German quartet Ruf der Heimat, which includes Münster-born musicians Willi Kellers (drums) and Thomas Borgmann (saxophone), delivers first-class free jazz. After leaving Münster some 40 years ago to explore the jazz world, Kellers and Borgmann now return to their hometown. Together with Christoph Tewes (trombone) and Jan Roder (bass), they present improvisations full of energy and joy of playing—music that is wild and free yet harmoniously attuned.

The program continues with a striking contrast: French musician Eve Risser returns to the stage, this time joining forces with Malian singer Naïny Diabaté to present their new collaborative program "Anw Be Yonbolo" (Bambara for "We are together"). In this project, the two exceptional artists merge the West African griot tradition with European improvised music. Risser's piano and Diabaté's vocals intertwine to unite their musical cultures into a cohesive artistic whole. This will be only the duo's third live performance in Germany.

The evening concludes with "Rays of Light," the new quintet led by trumpeter Richard Koch. Now based in Berlin, Koch moves effortlessly between musical worlds. His music blends jazz with Balkan sounds, klezmer, and Mediterranean folklore. Together with Fabiana Striffler (violin), Valentin Butt (accordion), Andreas Lang (double bass), and Nora Thiele (frame drums), he creates a soundscape that is both enchanting and light-footed—music that sends audiences into the new year with a buoyant spirit.

Info: Ticket sales begin Monday, 17 November at 12 p.m., available exclusively online via Theater Münster at www.theater-muenster.com

The full program is available at www.jazzfestival-muenster.de

"Shortcut" is the compact edition of the International Jazz Festival Münster, taking place in even-numbered years. It is organized by the Municipal Office of Culture of the City of Münster. Cooperation partners include Theater Münster and WDR, which will record the concerts on the festival evening and broadcast them on WDR 3. The festival is made possible through the support of a wide funding community, including the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Sparkasse Münsterland Ost, the Brück Group, Pianohaus Micke, the company reiseart, Wilke-Hörakustik, Münstersche Zeitung, ATLANTIC Hotel Münster, and M4 Media advertising agency.