The 36th JazzOnze+ Festival celebrates musical fusion.

In over 35 years of existence, the JazzOnze+ Festival has managed to bring together international artists, accomplished regional musicians, and local talents. Its 2023 edition, which runs until November 5, 2023, highlights the diverse trends of contemporary jazz.

Named after the tension of a jazz chord (augmented eleventh), the Onze+ association has been promoting creative and improvisational music since 1986. Its festival, held this year from October 31 to November 5, represents the popular aspect of its work. Organizing summer concerts and record listening sessions complements this activity.

Gilles Dubuis, the festival’s director and programmer, is committed to staying in touch with “what is currently happening in jazz” and applauds the significant fusion of genres, exemplified by the group Roshâni, scheduled to perform on Saturday, November 4, at the Casino de Montbenon.

The Geneva-based trio blends alternative electronic music, sometimes Afro-dancehall, sometimes tropical, and mixes cumbia and bossa rhythms with oriental melodies. “We grew up in a fairly varied musical environment (…) and we wanted to make music that could be played in clubs, accessible for dancing, but also intergenerational so that our parents could listen to it. The structure of the songs remains quite pop,” explains Inès Mouzoune, pianist, clarinetist, and bassist.

Futuristic Pop-Jazz

Another artist featured in the festival is the singer-saxophonist Laura Misch, who is at the forefront of the new English jazz scene. With her futuristic pop-jazz, the London-based multi-instrumentalist challenges the genre’s conventions. Pushing boundaries, she offers a captivating blend of jazz, alternative pop, and electronica. She will perform on Thursday, November 2, at Montbenon.

JazzOnze+ Festival: renowned Artists

The festival offers 30 concerts and events in six different venues (Théâtre de l’Octogone, Les Docks, Casino de Montbenon, BCV Concert Hall, EJMA, La Datcha) and on eight different stages in Lausanne.

Several renowned artists are present with unique projects in Switzerland, such as Joshua Redman in collaboration with singer Gabrielle Cavassa, Joe Lovano & Jakob Bro paying tribute to Paul Motian, Rabih Abou-Khalil with singer Elina Duni, and finally Marcus Miller accompanied by young contemporary jazz artists.