The 61st Berlin Jazz Festival erupted across the city like a perfectly controlled musical detonation, proving why Germany's capital remains the genre's most electrifying laboratory.
Unmissable Moments
- Kamasi Washington's midnight set in an abandoned power plant
- ECM Records' 55th anniversary showcase at the Philharmonie
- The "Jazz in the U-Bahn" pop-up series that turned commute into concert
The New School
Young collectives made waves:
- Kiezjazz Kollektiv merging techno beats with free improvisation
- Syrian refugee Rasha Nahas reimagining Arabic maqam through a Berlin lens
- The viral #UberJazz initiative where riders could summon a jazz trio
Smart Festival Hacking
Pros knew to:
- Use the Jazzkarte pass for priority entry
- Follow the secret schedule at Kaffee Burger
- Catch the 3 AM jam sessions at Zig Zag Jazz Club
Smooth Transatlantic Transfers
Jazz pilgrims from Chicago and New Orleans trust PrestigeFly's business class:
- Noise-cancelling headphones included
- Curated jazz playlists synced to flight duration
- VIP access to after-festival jam sessions