Melodic modern jazz with a dash of pop and folk.

From the sound of mountain silence to the hustle and bustle of the big city, the music of Swiss-born Fabienne Ambuehl, who lives in London, evokes intense emotions and tells gripping stories. Full of freedom and breath, the quartet creates playful, flowing jazz—rhythmically captivating, lyrical, and energetic at the same time. Inspired by poetry, Romantic music, and even the Beatles, Ambuehl composes with a subtle eye for detail. Her distinctive, powerful voice meanders through a wide range of terrain, from sensitive to scat or a touch of yodeling. The band will present the music of their critically acclaimed album “Thrive” which won an award for “Jazz Recording of the Year” at the Presto Music Awards 2025

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.fabienneambuehl.com

The BJO performs songs by Alexandre Cahen and Sebastián Greschuk.

Every last Thursday of the month, the Basel Jazz Orchestra delights audiences with its smooth, beautiful music. This time, the focus is on two distinctive voices: Alexandre Cahen touches listeners with his neo-classical and romantic tones, a touch of Hungarian folk and French impressionism. Sebastián Greschuk, on the other hand, fascinates with lively compositions that reflect his South American roots and combine Argentine tango and samba with modern jazz. A unique evening where the concentrated creative power of two musical worlds will bring the club to a boil.

• 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

Refined jazz with Danish flair.

Danish guitarist Mikkel Ploug, together with US saxophonist Mark Turner and the sensitive rhythm section of Jeppe Skovbakke and Sean Carpio, presents a delicate, meditative sound that allows you to breathe deeply and creates a space for contemplative mindfulness. The tempo is leisurely and relaxed – Ploug and Turner lean back and let their solos flourish and flow harmoniously without pressure. Their melodic lines intertwine playfully, Turner's saxophone is warm and soothing, like a comforting embrace, and Ploug's guitar weaves its web of sounds sensitively and delicately. The nominated album “Nocturnes” was released in 2023 by Stunt Records.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.mikkelploug.com

When a magnificent saxophonist honours his idols...

...the result is a tribute of the highest order. Alex Hendriksen, one of Switzerland's most renowned and experienced tenor saxophonists, dedicates his concerts to all the tenor saxophonists who have inspired and influenced him. It is also a homage to compositions that have been partly forgotten and are rarely played. Hendriksen sensitively interprets lesser-known jazz standards with dense harmonies and lyrical improvisations. The band guides us melodically, elegantly and with a lot of soul through the milestones of the saxophone repertoire.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

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

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Contemporary jazz that defies all expectations.

The confident lightness, peppered with an elegant dash of self-irony, allows the music of this outstanding trombone quartet – sophisticated and catchy at the same time – to flow in a balanced way. With beautiful melodies, rich solos and dense harmonies, the experienced musicians inspire and indulge in a carefree, brilliant joy of playing. Their sound bubbles with individual preferences, ideas, timbres and moods with a playful, relaxed complexity that is pleasantly organic. “Openness” was released in 2024 by nWog Records.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.vertigotrombonequartet.ch

Vibrant jazz with the vibe of the Big Apple.

Russian-born Alex Sipiagin lived in New York for over 30 years. He now resides in Italy but has lost none of the pulsating intensity of New York jazz. His sound is driving, fluorescent and thrilling from the very first note. Sipiagin plays the trumpet with vigour and precision, while on the flugelhorn he is more lyrical, but no less multifaceted. Together with his long-standing companions from the USA and Russia, guarantees a rousing concert with pulsating rhythms, modern harmonies and concentrated expression.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.alexsipiagin.com

Contemporary jazz with a touch of jazz rock.

The Driftwood Quartet moves with playful ease in the dazzling field of tension between jazz and alternative rock. Delicate miniatures unfold into powerful soundscapes, punctuated by edgy riffs. Joa Frey eagerly experiments, combining unexpected structures with catchy melodies. The songs are imbued with an internalised energy and always maintain a flowing dynamic and restrained poetry. The new album “Elements” will be released in March on the Zurich label Sonclair.

• Tu, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.driftwoodquartet.com

An elegant fusion of African-American tradition and contemporary jazz.

Filippo Valli impresses with his relaxed, warm tone and subtle, swinging phrasing. He is strongly inspired by innovative modern jazz performers such as Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins and Terrace Martin. In addition to reinterpretations of well-known jazz standards, Valli also performs his own songs with plenty of blues, soul and funk. An evening full of emotional facets – from groovy rhythms to warm, wistful ballads.

• We, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.filippovalli.com

A wistful encounter between jazz and baroque.

Geneva-based musician Flora Ageron takes us on a lyrical journey through a soundscape steeped in Mediterranean melancholy. Her classically trained, gentle voice blends organically with the delicate chords of the subtle guitar, the warm cello intensifies the mood and the discreet drums provide precise impulses. “Espuma Antigua” experiments with the baroque repertoire, bringing ancient music up from the depths of the sea and returning it to the shores of the present. Their new album “Continuo” weaves hypnotic loops between ancient heritage, jazz and electronic textures.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.espumaantigua.com

Poetic soundscapes combining pop, acoustic painting and enchanting grooves.

With Miriam Hässig's warm, haunting voice and the unusual combination of harp, bass, ukulele and electronics, creates a densely vibrating, intoxicating dream world that leaves a lasting impression on the consciousness. Sometimes stormy, sometimes quiet, then again infused with a pinch of Dadaism, swirling beats and groovy jazz solos, the band captivates the audience with its unmistakable sound that surprises and defies categorisation – an experience that lingers.

• Fr, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.mirj.ch

Unconventional electro-acoustic musical universe.

“Polarbaeren” fascinate with broad grooves that are punctuated by precise, microscopic computer effects and enveloped by atmospheric sound clusters. Their multi-layered compositions with catchy melodies surprise with beat switches and a perfect, intuitive flow that draws the audience into another dimension with its irresistible pull. Field recordings taken on a glacier serve as a conceptual framework for these brilliant musicians to create an extraordinary atmosphere through noises and sounds that captivates the listener. Their new album, “EIS!”, was released last October on the “Current Moves” label.

• Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.polarbaeren.bandcamp.com

An immersive experiment combining contemporary classical music and jazz.

Instead of relying on the typical chord structures of jazz, the music of Christoph Grab's ensemble is based on motifs and interval structures that serve as a starting point for the musicians, enabling linear improvisation. The project transcends the boundaries of conventional jazz and ventures into a rhythmically influenced, improvisational aesthetic that gives rise to new sound and rhythm structures.

• Tu and We, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.christophgrab.com

Sparkling, driving contemporary jazz.

The award-winning Danish pianist is breathing new life into the European jazz scene with her music. She has quickly made a name for herself with her breathtaking sound, which confidently combines subtlety and intensity. Their sextet delivers a colourful bouquet of sophisticated harmonic passages, rousing grooves and poetic ballads in explosive arrangements. The musicians combine playful precision with enthusiastic intensity with impressive ease. The wind instruments articulate clearly and synchronously, the rhythm section drives the music forward, and Windfeld connects everything with her percussive yet organic runs and chords.

• Th, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.windfeldmusic.dk

An enchanting encounter between Armenian folk music and jazz.

Pianist Tigran Tatevosyan grew up surrounded by traditional Armenian music, classical music and later jazz. The rich harmonic, rhythmic and melodic language of his homeland's folk music had a profound influence on Tigran. His unique sound is imbued with melancholic poetry and maintains a fragile, sensitive balance between soul and intellect. His runs sparkle enchantingly and unfold a melodic, colourful palette full of emotion, which Omar Rodriguez Calvo and Amir Bresler accompany gracefully, lightly and sometimes groovily – all embedded in the energy of contemporary modern jazz. The album ”Mer Tan Itev” was released by Edel in 2024.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.tigrantatevosyan.com

The BJO plays music by Cesc Badia and Jordi Roviró.

Our local big band never fails to thrill audiences with its sophisticated music. This Thursday, it will showcase its creative power with new pieces by trumpeters Cesc Badia and Jordi Roviró. We can look forward to a journey through rich, expressive and powerful musical worlds and finely orchestrated compositions that showcase the full range of the big band's sound.

• 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 captivating mix of jazz, hip hop, rock and blues.

Saxophonist Logan Richardson's “blues PEOPLE” touches with its lyrical depth and authentic, searching longing that stirs the soul. The African-American history of work songs and blues, which continues to influence jazz to this day, flows here with a positive, forward-driving energy of the contemporary and envelops the audience in an atmosphere of haunting, breathtaking beauty.

• Fr and Sa, 20:30 hrs

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

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• www.loganrichardsonstudios.com