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 schedule 2025
Alle Abstracts zu den Vorträgen und kurze Vorstellung der Teilnehmenden
Wednesday, September 24 2025
opening @Jazzinstitut Darmstadt
Kickoff with history, present and sound
To kick off the 19th Darmstadt Jazz Forum, we will trace the history of the Jazzinstitut to the artistic present. The opening ceremony will highlight 35 years of documented and lived jazz culture with an exhibition on the history of the institute. During the subsequent opening concert, the Kathrin Pechlof Trio embarks on a sensual and intellectual search for traces in the musical legacy of Alice Coltrane – between tonal depth and concentrated openness in “Universal Consciousness.”
18:00 Uhr: Ausstellung@Jazzinstitut „35 1/5 Umdrehungen“
Reception and official opening of the Jazzforum. Vernissage of the exhibition about the history of the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt
20:00 Uhr: Konzert@Jazzinstitut (Gewölbekeller)
Kathrin Pechlof Trio Tickets hier
Thursday, September 25 2025
Konferenz@HoffArt-Theater „Universal Consciousness“
Spirituality, outcome and theory: to open perspectives
the firts day of the conference at HoffArt-Theater focuses on theoretical and musicological perspectives: How can the relationship between music and spirituality be conceived and explored? The contributions and the subsequent panel discussion examine jazz and improvised music as vehicles for metaphysical, religious, or socio-political concerns. Live drawings by [.. will join the conference. In the evening, at programmkinorex we will broaden our view with two motion pictures and a talk about the real life experiences of artists.
1:45 pm: Introduction by Bettina Bohle
2 pm: Keynote by Laura Schwinger, „Self-loss, self-care, self-expression? Jazz und Achtsamkeit“
3:15 pm: Lecture by Uwe Steinmetz, „Just a Vessel?“
4:30 pm: round-table discussing the subject from a musicological perspective, with André Doehring (Graz), Hauke Dorsch (Mainz), Fanny Opitz (Köln/Bonn)
5:30 pm: Reflections by Aida Baghernejad
18:15 Uhr: Filmreihe@programmkinorex „Jazz is the Place“
First day of the film series with a brief talk between Patrick Holzapfel (curator) and harpist Kathrin PechlofTwo movies will be shown: „Momma Don’t Allow“ (UK, 1956) and „Sven Klangs kvintet“ (SWE, 1976) Tickets hier
Friday, September 26 2025
Konferenz@HoffArt-Theater „Universal Consciousness“
Body, conflict, curation: Between devotion and attitude
The second day of the conference will focus on practical experience: How does spirituality express itself in everyday artistic life? How does music work in socially tense contexts? Musicians, curators, and cultural policy makers will contribute diverse perspectives on creative freedom. The focus will be on both individual positions and collective formats, between resistance, ritual, and self-care. [.. begleiten die Konferenz. Der Konzertabend in der Centralstation with pianist Michael Wollny and french saxophonist Emile Parisien as well as a late listening session with DJ Hermes Villena make for an atmospheric finale.
10 am: Lecture by Martin Büdel, „Es ist mehr als eine Religion: Spiritualität und Transzendenz in madagassischen Jazz-Fusionen“
11 am: Lecture by Laura Robles Marcuello, „Antigroove – Diskriminierung und kulturelle Aneignung im Rhythmus“
11:45 am: Reflections by Aida Baghernejad
2 pm: A conversation about creativity under tense circumstances between Aida Baghernejad and Maria I.J. Reich
3:15 pm: Presentation by Bazak Yavuz / Serdar Yilmaz of their program "Triptych of the Absentees"
4:30 pm Round-table about the curatorial perspectives on spirituality with Sophie Emilie Beha (Köln), Klaus Gasteiger (Mainz), Jacobien Vlasman (Berlin)
5:30 pm: Reflections by Aida Baghernejad
20 Uhr: Konzert@Centralstation (Saal)
Michael Wollny / Emile Parisien Tickets hier
22:00 Uhr: Listening Session@Centralstation Bar
Hermes Villena & Tanya Gautam, „Spirituality in Sound – A Sonic Collage“
Saturday, September 27 2025
Konferenz@HoffArt-Theater „Universal Consciousness“
Seeking for resonance: music pedagogy, performance, and daily routines
Improvisation as a moment in the present, as a gateway to collective experiences, and as an artistic and educational space of possibility is the focus of this day. In addition to contributions on mental health, music education, and aesthetic research, musicians and performers will present their perspectives on spirituality in the creative process. What happens in the “now” of playing—and how can this experience be conveyed? [.. In the evening, The Yarns Ensemble at Bessunger Knabenschule embarks on a musical search for tonal community.
9 am: Lecture by Jonas Brinckmann, „Perspektiven von Instrumentallehrenden auf das ‚Jetzt‘ des Improvisierens“
10 am: Lecture by Maria Spychiger, „Fly me to the Moon. Connecting patterns im Jazz“
11 am: Lecture by Michael Wollny, „Living Ghosts“
11:45 am: Reflections by Aida Baghernejad
2 pm: Jan Kobrzinowski / Hans Hansen, „Beyond Music. A Journey into Healing Frequencies of Sound and Music“
3:15 pm: lecture performance Die Unwucht
4:30 pm: Rond-table about artistic perspectives with Philipp Gropper (Berlin), Zola Mennenöh (Köln), Mark Porter (Erfurt)
5:30 pm: Reflections by Aida Baghernejad
20:00 Uhr: Konzert@Bessunger Knabenschule
The Yarns Ensemble Tickets hier
Sunday, September 28 2025
Filmreihe@programmkinorex
Echoes and change of perspectives
Sunday offers space for reflections and outlook. Together with programmkinorex we ask, how sspirituality, jazz and a social consciousness can be spoken of in movies - one about Ornette Coleman one about Sun Ra. In between both films we talk about the corelation of visuality and sound.
11:00 Uhr: Filmreihe@programmkinorex
Jazz is the Place
Two movies will be shown:Ornette: Made in America“ and „A Joyful Music“ . Conversation between filmmaker and director Teoman Yüzer and Arndt Weidler Tickets hier
Themenschwerpunkte der einzelnen Panels
Panel 1 (25.9.)
How does spirituality find expression in music—and how can it be explored? This panel approaches the question from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, examining musical forms of expression in the context of spirituality, religion, transcendence, mindfulness, and metaphysical reflection. Particular attention is given to jazz as improvised live music: to what extent does its performative openness foster a distinctive form of perception and meaning-making? Which historical trajectories connect jazz with spiritual and socio-political movements—whether through religious symbolism, utopian visions, or practices of resistance? And finally: where does the reach of analytical language end—and where does the unique potential of musical experience itself begin?
Panel 2 (26.9.)
Mehr als Programm: Kuratieren zwischen Atmosphäre, Anspruch und Wirkung
This panel explores the question of which atmospheres curators intentionally aim to create—and which ones audiences actually experience in concert. The discussion centers on artistic intentions, structural conditions, and exemplary formats that open up collective experiences, evoke spiritual depth, or engage with social issues—even beyond religious contexts. What possibilities arise for forms of mediation that are both sensory and reflective? And what could be imagined if resources and spaces placed no limits?
Panel 3 (27.9.)
What does spirituality mean in the everyday life of music? Musicians share their personal perspectives, exploring spiritual or religious references in their work—and the opportunities and challenges they bring. The focus is also on the tension between the search for personal meaning, public resonance, and musical form. Is spirituality today an attitude, an aesthetic concept, or a risk? And what might this mean for the future of artistic creation?
Blog
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.
- 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
Die Veranstaltung findet in deutscher Lautsprache statt. Die Veranstaltungsorte und -formate sollen möglichst barrierearm gestaltet sein. Bei Unterstützungsbedarf für die Teilnahme setzen Sie sich bitte mit uns in Verbindung. Wir planen, eine Kinderbetreuung während des Jazzforums zu organisieren, für Teilnehmende wie Besucher*innen. Bei Interesse bitte möglichst frühzeitig melden unter jazzforum@jazzinstitut.de
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