Jazz im Brunnenhof - Jazz in the Courtyard

Dates:
Thursdays from July 9 until August 27, 2026
Doors: 19:00, start: 20:00

Venue:
Brunnenhof, Trier

There are voices that echo through the generations – powerful, unyielding, immortal. Voices that blaze trails and do not fade away, but linger on. In her youth, the New Orleans-born singer Ledisi listened to these voices. Today, she has become one of those voices herself. And with great success: a Grammy winner, nominated for 14 Grammys, hailed by John Legend as “one of the greatest singers in the world, full stop.” And still with those voices in her head, whose message she carries forward.

She portrayed Mahalia Jackson in Selma and Remember Me, sang Nina Simone in Ledisi Sings Nina, and played Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight. Now, with For Dinah, she pays tribute to the greatest of them all: Dinah Washington, who, as the “Queen of the Blues”, won a Grammy in 1959 with “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes” and overcame racial barriers. For Ledisi, who also moves within the realm of jazz and R&B, she is a true inspiration. At the Brunnenhof, she will demonstrate why the New York Times described her vocal range as “breathtaking” and why Dinah Washington not only gave everyone the chance to make a difference every day – but did so herself with her own voice. 

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Once the spark has been ignited, you want to feel it again. As early as 2024, the sold-out Trier debut of the American jazz singer Judith Hill demonstrated that it is precisely in the shadow of the Porta Nigra that her unmistakable crossover power can truly come into its own. That is why she is returning on 16 July to once again make a powerful case for the funk-infused expressiveness of the moment.

Yet it is not the big names of her collaborations that one might cite to describe her impressive career – but rather the deep connection she shares with them. Prince produced her debut album Back in Time in 2015, and Michael Jackson selected her for his planned This Is It tour in 2009. As a backing vocalist, she has worked with Stevie Wonder, Elton John, John Legend and George Benson.

But the daughter of Japanese pianist Michiko and R&B bassist Robert “Pee Wee” Hill has long since forged her own path. Her sound weaves between her Japanese and African-American roots, between an earthy soul voice and psychedelic funk, and since her last album has also featured sharp guitar solos. A true jazz highlight, where the funk will undoubtedly catch on again – with everyone.

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There’s something about the flow. Standing beneath it is the opposite of being within it. Whilst one refers to high-energy electrification, the other suggests a gently gliding stream of water. In the jazz quintet Luminous Flow, both come together: a passionate break from established standards and a smooth, gliding fluidity within the flow of great jazz traditions. On 23 July, the five German jazz musicians will be performing at the Brunnenhof – delivering a sound that meanders rather than flows in a straight line, captivating the audience yet never appearing to be tamed.

At the helm: Heiner Wiberny, a living legend of German jazz. Lead alto saxophonist with the WDR Big Band Cologne for almost three decades, two-time Grammy winner (2007/2008), and now a professor at the Cologne University of Music. By his side: Marius Peters, whose award-winning guitar playing earned him three international jazz prizes in 2015. Singer Christopher Klassen has shared the stage with Grammy winner Dianne Reeves and bassist John Clayton. Oliver Rehmann on drums and David Andres on bass provide the perfect pulse – at times subtle, at times explosive. In the end, it is impossible to tell whether they are electrified or simply in the flow. One thing is certain: anyone who immerses themselves in it will never forget them.Polish music prize Koryfeusz, among others. There are always two sides to happiness in music: happiness on and off stage.

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True poetry oscillates between melancholy and joie de vivre – a balance that Ecos de Siboney masterfully strike. Their name, the ‘Echoes of Siboney’, pays homage to Cuba’s indigenous roots and the longing for home. As the grandsons of the legendary Compay Segundo, Ernesto, Leonardo and Alejandro Repilado carry a formidable legacy with them: their grandfather, the architect of modern Son Cubano and the face of the Buena Vista Social Club, personally appointed them as his successors.

Under the motto “Somos los herederos” (We are the heirs), they bring the world star’s musical poetry to Trier. Alongside immortal classics such as “Chan Chan” and “Guantanamera”, the eight-piece octet presents award-winning original compositions that breathe fresh energy into traditional son. When the tres guitar rings out in the Brunnenhof, Havana and Trier merge into one. And it becomes clear: the grandchildren are not merely preserving their grandfather’s legacy – with every beat, they leave their very own, unmistakable mark.

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A prism refracts light into hidden colours – that is the effect of the music by the quartet “Sanne Sanne”. Amsterdam-based Sanne Huijbregts is an architect of atmospheres who already shone as an exceptional talent at the Junior Jazz College and graduated with top marks from her studies in Copenhagen and Berlin. Today she creates “dreamscapes” in which her ethereal voice blends with the metallic shimmer of the vibraphone and the synthetic expanses of the xylosynth.

Together with her quartet, comprising Roosmarijn Tuenter (viola, vocals), Pat Cleaver (bass) and Jeroen Batterink (drums), the winner of the 2024 Dutch Jazz Competition translates this search for stability into pulsating soundscapes that bridge indie-folk and jazz. At the Brunnenhof, the full range of an artist who also hones her vision as a photographer and filmmaker unfolds. And in doing so, she pursues her aim not to please, but to transport: into soundscapes that are gliding yet energetic, floating yet grounding.

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Some careers begin at the conservatoire, others in a car park near Salzburg: Quadro Nuevo’s story began in 1996 with a performance fee that was gambled away at a casino. What remained was a distinctive sound and a spirit of adventure that has since taken the ensemble from Carnegie Hall to the Caucasus. For their daring approach to music-making, the group has been honoured with two ECHOs, a Gold Disc, the German Record Critics’ Award and several Jazz Awards.

In Trier, the virtuosos will perform in a line-up brimming with joy: whilst Mulo Francel switches between saxophone and mandolin and D.D. Lowka sets the rhythm, Andreas Hinterseher coaxes wistful tones from the rare vibrandoneon, anchored by the inventiveness of pianist Chris Gall. With their album HAPPY Deluxe, they weave a tribute to moments of happiness – sometimes as a chilled daydream, sometimes as a wild tango. No matter where the journey and the fee may lead this time: at the Brunnenhof, it is the audience who will hit the jackpot anyway.

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Music is like a good conversation: you understand each other even without many words. But when jazz suddenly speaks German, the familiar dialogue turns into a surprising twist – and, with a good dose of swing, an evening out even for those who normally give jazz the cold shoulder. 

With its distinctive and stylish blend of traditional standards and modern influences, the Porta Jazz Band stands on solid ground: Rüdiger Garbisch on bass forms the rhythmic backbone as the “band’s driving force”, Fred Noll on drums provides an unmistakable drive, whilst Hubert Eiden on keyboard brings harmonic colour to the mix. Soloists Birgit Pickan and Elke Holzmüller lend the sound that warm, expressive and nuanced touch that transforms pure virtuosity into genuine emotion. Wilfried Hoffmann on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Markus Poschenrieder on tenor saxophone, lend the sound clear colours and agile energy. Their programme “Jazz wird’s deutsch” combines virtuosity and linguistic wit with energetic improvisations – a tribute to the jazz and swing tradition of their native language.

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mosel musikfestival at Jazz im Brunnenhof

With their fresh and energetic sound, The Jakob Manz Project is rapidly rising to prominence on the young German jazz scene. Whether performing in clubs across Germany or at festivals such as the Leverkusen Jazz Days, ELBJAZZ and Jazz Baltica, the band’s unmistakable energy sends the audience into raptures.

A direct and clear sound, rich dynamics and emotional depth – these are the standout aspects of their music. The band’s music is heavily inspired by jazz-rock and funk, yet is enriched by the four artists’ personalities and their diverse influences from soul, pop, world music and hip-hop. Although the young bandleader’s saxophone usually takes centre stage, the musical individuality of each band member is reflected – particularly in the diverse pieces of their own compositions. Catchy grooves, passionate solos and sophisticated interplay, ranging from crystal-clear, ethereal or even melancholic sounds – The Jakob Manz Project promises a unique evening at the Brunnenhof in Trier! 

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Hanna Landwehr
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54290 Trier

Tel. +49 651 9780856
E-Mail: hanna.landwehr@trier-info.de