Magdeburger Jazztage — JETZT

A Festival Series for Today's Jazz

The Magdeburger Jazztage "JETZT" consciously sets itself apart from nostalgia: this is not about bebop standards in their hundredth cover version, but about the jazz of today — contemporary, boundary-pushing, often drawing from classical music, world music, and free improvisation. The organizer is Forum Gestaltung, a central association in Magdeburg's cultural scene, which operates the building of the same name on Brandenburger Straße — a Bauhaus heritage site with unusual acoustics and a history as a workshop for applied arts.

Two Venues, Four Days

The festival takes place at two venues: the Forum Gestaltung and the Gesellschaftshaus Magdeburg. Both are just a few minutes' walk apart and complement each other spatially and programmatically. The Gesellschaftshaus hosts the acoustically more demanding concerts (solo recitals, trio formations), while the Forum Gestaltung features larger big band and ensemble productions.

International Top Artists and a Spirit of Free Improvisation

The bookings are carefully selected — and it shows. Current stars of German and international jazz are regularly featured, often with festival premieres. A festival pass is worthwhile for avid listeners, but day tickets also grant access to all concerts on a given evening. The atmosphere remains intimate and focused — those who see festivals as communicative events will feel right at home here.

Magdeburg, Bauhaus, and the State of Saxony-Anhalt

Magdeburg, the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, is not primarily known as a jazz city — its main attractions are the Magdeburg Cathedral (the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany), Hundertwasser's Green Citadel, and its Bauhaus heritage. This very Bauhaus heritage is evident at Forum Gestaltung: clean lines, functional spaces, workshop character — the ideal setting for music that doesn't take itself too seriously, but also doesn't leave anything to chance.