Conference, workshop, concerts, film series, exhibition – the 19th Darmstadt Jazz Forum from September 24 to 28, 2025

A music that is open to change, like jazz, most certainly reflects global societal developments. These aspects had been already discussed in previous editions of the Darmstadt Jazzforum. But how does social change influence artistic outcome and the so called jazz scene? How do individual musicians or collectives react to historical strains? Do they actively shape them or do they withdraw? The 2025 Jazzforum deals with the artistic and the spiritual exploration in jazz – in history and present – and investigates related artistic and social practices.

Jazz, spirituality, and the Blues of good life

Music has always played a central role in spiritual and ritual contexts. Call-and-response structures, found in many musical traditions, foster dialogue and community, often symbolizing spiritual connectedness. Music acts as a medium of inspiration and communication and can become a physical experience through dance and movement.

Many African-American musicians have used spiritual musical forms – from spirituals and gospel to free jazz – as a means of resistance against racism and discrimination. This spiritual resilience has profoundly shaped jazz's development. As an open and improvisational genre with a strong live performance element, jazz continues to provide a space for diverse spiritual and reflective quests.

Inspired by the song "Universal Conciousness" of Alice Coltrane, our Jazzforum 2025, which takes place from 25th to 28th of September in Darmstadt, will try to illuminate historic and current (artistic) reflections.

Program (as of June 30th, 2025)

Wednesday, 24 September 2025
6:00 PM: Opening of the Jazzforum, vernissage of the exhibition on 35 years of the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt, concert by Kathrin Pechlof Trio

Thursday, 25 September 2025
1:45 PM: Introduction by Bettina Bohle
2:00 PM: Keynote lecture by Laura Schwinger, title tbc
3:15 PM: Lecture by Uwe Steinmetz, “Just a Vessel?”
4:30 PM: Panel on musicological perspectives with Hauke Dorsch (Mainz) and others
5:30 PM: Reflection with Aida Baghernejad
7:00 PM: Launch of film series @programmkino rex with discussion featuring Patrick Holzapfel & Kathrin Pechlof and film screenings

Friday, 26 September 2025
09:00: Lecture by Martin Büdel, “It’s More than a Religion: Spirituality and Transcendence in Madagascan Jazz Fusions”
10:00: Lecture by Laura Robles, “Antigroove – Discrimination and Cultural Appropriation in Rhythm”
11:00: Lecture by Oladele Ayorinde, (title tbc) “Jazz in West Africa”
11:45: Reflection with Aida Baghernejad
14:00: Lecture tbc
15:15: Lecture performance by Basak Yavuz / Serdar Yilmaz, “Triptych of the Absentees”
16:30: Panel on curatorial perspectives with Sophie Emilie Beha, Klaus Gasteiger, Jacobien Vlasman
17:30: Reflection with Aida Baghernejad
20:00: Concert Michael Wollny / Emile Parisien @Centralstation. Tickets here.
tbc: Listening Session with Hermes Villena and Tanya Gautam @tbc.

Saturday, 27 September 2025
9:00 AM: Lecture by Jonas Brinckmann, “Perspectives of Instrumental Teachers on the ‘Now’ of Improvisation”
10:00 AM: Lecture by Maria Spychiger, title tbc
11:00 AM: Michael Wollny, title tbc
11:45 AM: Reflection with Aida Baghernejad
2:00 PM: Jan Kobrzinowski / Hans Hansen present their podcast series on Mental Health
3:15 PM: Lecture performance Die Unwucht
4:30 PM: Panel on artistic perspectives with Philipp Gropper, Zola Mennenöh, Mark Porter
5:30 PM: Reflection with Aida Baghernejad
tbc 7:30 PM: Concert The Yarns Ensemble @Bessunger Knabenschule

Sunday, 28 September 2025
tbc 11 Uhr: talk and films series @programmkino rex

Read on: In our Blog for the Jazzforum, we gather scattered thoughts on the theme of spirituality and jazz, pose potential questions related to the topic, and regularly update readers on the event’s progress and special formats planned for the 19th Darmstadt Jazzforum.

Feel invited of being part of the Darmstadt Jazzforum 2025

For the 19th Darmstadt Jazzforum, musicians, scholars, organizers, journalists, music educators, and other interested parties were invited to submit contributions through a public call.

We encourage universities to include the Jazzforum as a credit-bearing course in their semester planning. Student contributions can be integrated by arrangement, and we offer support for course preparation to the extent possible.

• If you are interested in taking part in the conference as a visitor please write an e-mail to jazzforum@jazzinstitut.de.

Questions or need for support, please address:
Bettina Bohle, Tel. +49 6151 963740
or
Arndt Weidler, Tel. +49 6151 963744

Hotel rooms for conference participants paying their own expenses are available at a special conference rate at the Maritim. More information here.

Accessibility

The venues and event formats will be designed to be as accessible as possible. If you require any support to participate, please contact us. We are planning to organize childcare during the Jazz Forum for both participants and visitors. If interested, please register as early as possible at jazzforum@jazzinstitut.de