Omer Klein & The Poetics

Omer Klein is a true musical Swiss Army Knife. Born in Israel in 1982, Klein studied in Boston and New York. His work covers a broad spectrum, from solo piano to big band and from song to symphony orchestra. He composes for his own jazz trio, string quartets, theater, dance, and film. He will perform at Moods with his new sextet, The Poetics. With The Poetics, Klein showcases his diverse talents as a pianist and composer. This group of fearless, masterful musicians comes together to create a colorful blend of keyboards, basses, percussion, and wind instruments. Klein&#x27;s new composition book for The Poetics is full of his signature infectious grooves, catchy melodies, and bold harmonies paired with a fresh approach to arrangement and orchestration. Klein&#x27;s love of Brazilian and African music is particularly evident in The Poetics&#x27;s repertoire.

Sopransaxophon

Altsaxophon

Tenorsaxophon

Flute

Fender-Rhodes E-Piano

Piano

Bass

E-Bass

Percussion

Drum Kit

Anupama Bhagwat & Manish Madankar

Indian Music Circle & Moods present

Widely celebrated for her profound artistry, Anupama Bhagwat is one of the foremost exponents of the Imdadkhani gharana. Her musical journey began at a young age, shaped by early training on violin and vocals before the sitar became her lifelong companion. A distinguished disciple of the legendary Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee, she has mastered the nuanced gayaki style—bringing to the sitar a lyrical expressiveness modeled on the human voice. With a performance career spanning continents since 1995, Anupama has graced leading festivals, collaborated with eminent musicians, and received critical acclaim for her emotive depth, scintillating taans, and meditative alaaps. Her playing is often described as a seamless blend of technical brilliance and spiritual sensitivity, drawing listeners into a rich world of melody, introspection, and artistic finesse. She will be accompanied by Manish Madankar, an accomplished tabla player who has performed across India, Europe, China, Singapore, and Russia. A versatile artist, he is equally at home as a soloist and as an accompanist for instrumental, vocal, kathak, and fusion performances. Trained under eminent maestros such as Pandit Sandesh Popatkar and Pandit Yogesh Samsi, he currently teaches tabla in Italy. Together, this duo promises an immersive musical journey through the rich tapestry of Hindustani classical tradition—an evening of melody, rhythm, and artistic dialogue.

Sitar

Tabla

K.O.S Crew Dancehall Mood

Party

Dancehall Mood is the monthly reggae and dancehall party at Moods. Like on every first Saturday of the month, the K.O.S crew will make the Moods club cooking with hot riddims. This promises an evening full of dancehall hits and reggae rarities, perfectly tuned to the respective audience and immaculately presented by the K.O.S crew and their guest.

Imarhan

The band Imarhan formed around 20 years ago when a group of friends decided to start making music together. This sense of unity is reflected in the band&#x27;s name, which translates as &#x27;those who are close to my heart&#x27;. All of the band members were born in Tamanrasset, a city in southern Algeria where the Tuareg community from northern Mali, known as the Kel Tamashek, ended their exile in the early 1990s after enduring numerous conflicts since the 1960s. The band&#x27;s sound reflects their cultural and generational background, combining dry guitar riffs, pop melodies and pan-African rhythms inspired by traditional Tuareg music, African ballads and the modern pop and rock they grew up with. Thanks to their critically acclaimed albums, Imarhan have become a symbol of the new Tuareg generation, bringing a breath of fresh air to desert blues. They celebrate the stories of today&#x27;s Kel Tamashek people and create a rare symbiosis of old and new by channelling this rich and diverse wave of musical influences. The band continues on this path with their latest album, Essam, released on 15 January 2026. At Moods, they will showcase the timeless treasures of Tamasheq music with a vibrant new energy. Before and after the concert, DJ Voilà Tim will play a short warm-up and cool-down set.

Vocals

Guitar

Leitung

Justina Lee Brown

Justina Lee Brown was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and has established herself internationally as a singer, songwriter and performer. After initial success in the Nigerian Afro-pop scene, she expanded her career in Europe and is now one of the outstanding voices in the genres afro-funk, blues and soul. She received the Swiss Blues Award in 2024 and has been wowing international festivals for years with her energetic stage presence and top band. Highlights of her career include the final of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, a performance in front of 60,000 people at Blues&#x27;n&#x27;Jazz in Rapperswil and support shows for Zucchero. Her music is deeply rooted in West African traditions, but open to global sounds and modern influences. After the albums Black and White Feeling and Lost Child, she presents her most personal work to date with Echoes of Home in 2025 - a powerful reflection on origin, identity and musical home between continents. Before and after the concert, DJ Voilà Tim will play a short warm-up and cool-down set.

Keyboards

Tillmanns Grosse Band

Till Ostendarp

Tillmann Ostendarp invited his favourite jazz musicians to join him in forming a classic big band brass ensemble featuring two drum kits and a double bass. This is Tillmann&#x27;s big band. He has had larger ensembles before, but never with such momentum. The set includes improvisation, listening, repetition and reading. Tillmann Ostendarp learned to play the trombone in big bands and studied it at the jazz school in Lucerne. However, he then happily put it aside and turned to pop and improvised electronic music on drums and synthesizers. He has also conceived two hybrid projects between free electronic music and baroque string orchestra, and once a year Till gathers around 30 musicians in a band called ‘Alle Sterne’ (All Stars) to develop a programme together over the course of three days. Tillmanns Grosse Band is an attempt to play the sound of his musical beginnings with all the influences he has encountered along the way.

Regie

Composition

Saxophon

Trumpet

Trombone

JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam

25 YEARS VINTAGE JAM BAND

The JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam offers an important platform for the Swiss jazz jam scene. After the musical opening of the jam band, lively and exciting sound conversations begin between musicians who spontaneously meet on stage, reflecting the diversity of jazz in all its facets. The JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam is supported by the non-profit association JazzBaragge. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam, the association is hiring a jam band every month, at least one of whose members played in the original line-up. 25 years later – a retrospective! There is no presale for JazzBaragge, only box office.

Tome Iliev Quintet

The Macedonian-Swiss-French ensemble is both international and local. Founded in Zurich in 2016, the ensemble first caused a sensation in 2020. At that time, the Tome Iliev Quintet won the audience award at the ZKB Jazz Prize Festival at Moods. A lot has happened since then. Following their success, the group went into the studio to record their second album, Trinaiska, released in 2022 on the Norwegian label AMP Music &amp; Records. Unlike their first album, Sketches of Macedonia (2019), which drew inspiration from Balkan odd meters and lyrical melodies, the second album incorporates the ideas, sensibilities, inspirations, and feelings of all the members to create a unique sound filled with effects, dub elements, rock drums, and open improvisations. They are currently preparing their third album. After performing in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Bulgaria, they are coming full circle at Moods. They have already proven that they can thrill the Moods audience, and they will do so again.

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Derbouka

Tapan

Memorial Jam Session für Christoph Stiefel

Christoph touched and accompanied many people with his musical depth, his openness and his inspiring manner. His sound, his attitude and his presence continue to have an effect on many musicians and friends. The jam evening will be opened by three musicians who were closely associated with Christoph and who accompanied him both musically and personally over the years. The focus is not on the individual person, but on the shared memory of Christoph and his artistic legacy. Afterwards, the stage will be open for making music together, for encounters and for passing on his musical spirit. We look forward to an evening of remembrance, coming together and music - all in the spirit of Christoph. In order to estimate approximately how many people will attend, we kindly request that you register for free via our ticket system. However, last-minute visitors are also welcome.

Kaisa Mäensivu, Sasha Berliner, Nicole McCabe, Mareike Wiening

Is jazz really a male domain? No, of course not! Four top female musicians have now joined forces for a joint tour to emphasise this. Vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, saxophonist Nicole McCabe, bassist Kaisa Mäensivu and drummer Mareike Wiening are in no way inferior to their XY chromosome counterparts. All four are masters of their craft, all four are critically acclaimed, and all four have received numerous awards. While Mareike Wiening holds a professorship for jazz percussion in Vienna and Zurich, her three fellow musicians live and work in the USA and are signed to renowned labels such as Ghost Note Records and JMI Recordings. The extraordinary virtuosity and creativity of this quartet make the concert a musical surprise package! The line-up speaks for itself. In this unique formation, these four top musicians will combine their talents to create a great whole and blur the boundaries between straight ahead and groovy spiritual jazz.

Vibraphon

Jupiter & Okwess

Congo Groove Night

Jupiter Bokondji, the iconic figure from Kinshasa known as the &quot;Rebel General,&quot; delivers to the world a unique sound where Congolese roots blend seamlessly with rock, funk, and soul influences. Together with his band, Jupiter &amp; Okwess, he unleashes explosive energy, drawing from the rich musical traditions of his homeland while forging connections between Africa and the world. After captivating international audiences with &quot;Hotel Univers&quot;, &quot;Kin Sonic&quot;, and &quot;Na Kozonga&quot;, the group now presents their fourth album, &quot;Ekoya&quot; (It Will Come). In this opus, Jupiter invites us to reflect: what does &quot;it will come&quot; mean? Is it a premonition of an inevitable destiny or a kind of fatalism? By introducing female voices into his otherwise allmale group — women who are themselves rebels — Jupiter challenges expectations. Is this a deliberate choice or a twist of fate? Perhaps a bit of both. This album invites everyone to listen — to others, to nature, to the rumblings of a world in transformation. With the captivating groove of Jupiter &amp; Okwess, *Ekoya* takes us on a musical journey filled with reflection and vibrations, movement and dreams, allowing us to be swept away by its rebellious and universal energy.

Stella & The Longos

«Amour Propre»

Following the acclaimed 2022 release &quot;Détends-Toi&quot;, the first electrifying collaboration between lead singer Stella Zekri and producer Ed Longo, &quot;Amour Propre&quot; crowns two years of relentless touring, growth, and evolution. On the road, the duo forged a powerful live ensemble of Berlin’s finest musicians. That synergy now explodes onto record, expanding Stella &amp; The Longos’ sound into something more organic, daring, and deeply alive. On &quot;Amour Propre&quot;, Stella’s sultry, magnetic voice weaves through lush layers of live drums and percussion, funky guitar riffs, shimmering keyboards, intricate brass lines, and the unmistakable hi-fi production flair of Ed Longo. The rhythms oscillate in a melting pot of musical styles, where Afro-Caribbean influences overlap with vintage boogie beats and quelching synths flirt with smoky Parisian midnight moods. Stella’s voice remains the heart of it all, sensual, husky, and brimming with raw emotion. Her lyrics explore love, longing, and reflection, while also capturing moments of dancefloor euphoria and universal connection. With The Longos as her powerhouse backing band, every track radiates the energy of a live performance: intimate, enchanting, and unforgettable. Not only does Stella lead this band as vocalist, she can also be found behind the DJ decks spinning vinyl as Stella Zekri. For fans of Asha Puthli, Nu Genea and Kassav.

Sammy Bacca

Warm Up & Hang Out 

Sammy Bacca is just a simple chill dude from Zurich, whose affinity for good music has been honed since he was a child. When he finally was “old” enough to start collecting records, that’s when it took off - his world became enveloped by music and records. At home, there’s never not a record playing. Lately he also started sharing some gems of his record collection on Instagram - go check it out! Having had some residencies in and around Zurich and still keeping up with the scene there, he’s been behind quite a few DJ booths in the past 20y, while also perfecting his skills as a selector. With that said, his sets go through a variety of genres and gems to tell his story.

Zurich Jazz Orchestra feat. Yasek Manzano Silva

Latin Night – Rompiendo La Rutina

We were very much looking forward to embarking on a musical journey to the Caribbean at the upcoming concert alongside Juan Munguía, the Cuban trumpet legend who lives in Spain. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, he is unable to come to Moods. Nevertheless, you don’t have to miss out on an exciting concert evening at Moods. Yasek Manzano Silva will be stepping in for the evening. Daniel Schenker met the Cuban trumpeter and composer in New York in 2002. He was introduced to the New York jazz audience there during a concert by his mentor, Roy Hargrove. As luck would have it, the Havana-born musician has been in Switzerland for a little over two weeks and, fortunately, agreed to join right away. Yasek Manzano Silva began his musical studies at the Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory in Marianao, where he played along to the music he heard on his parents’ LPs. In 1995, Manzano enrolled at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory in Havana, where he developed an interest in jazz music. He later attended the Havana School of Arts and Music. In 1997, American jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove gave him his first trumpet, and Silva began playing at various jam sessions around town. He later traveled to New York and received a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied under jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and played in the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra. Since returning to Cuba in 2003, he has performed alongside Celia Cruz, Los Van Van, Irakere, Bobby Carcassés, and the British bands Manic Street Preachers and Simply Red. So you can look forward to a thrilling program: it’s quite possible that you’ll find it hard to sit still this evening. In addition to lively salsa numbers, you’re sure to hear a few Latin American-influenced arrangements by Ed Partyka.

Baritone Saxophone

Bassposaune

The JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam offers an important platform for the Swiss jazz jam scene. After the musical opening of the jam band, lively and exciting sound conversations begin between musicians who spontaneously meet on stage, reflecting the diversity of jazz in all its facets. The JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam is supported by the non-profit association JazzBaragge. There is no presale for JazzBaragge, only box office.

Theo Croker

«Dream Manifest»

For Theo Croker, the trumpet is just the beginning. Seamlessly blending jazz, soul, hip-hop, electronica, spoken word, and Afrofuturism, the grandson of Doc Cheatham creates a unique sound. Croker takes the language of jazz and expands it into a soundscape all his own, where improvisation meets production, beats meet brass, and history meets the present. His music thrives on dialogue with tradition, his musical roots, and the world as it sounds today. His live shows are not traditional concerts, but rather journeys through sound and mood. They are atmospheric, highly musical, and deeply connected to the moment. At Moods, he will take us on this journey with his eighth album, Dream Manifest. The evening will be a meditation on what can coexist as he experiments with acoustic, electric, and digital layers of sound. Deep grooves combine serenity and tension to form covalent bonds. Trances become conversations. Beautiful, dreamlike melodies collide with grounding pads and raw friction.

Disk Jockey

Rachel Eckroth Trio

Straight-ahead, modern and unmistakable. Although she tours large stadiums and festivals with St. Vincent, three-time Grammy-nominated pianist and singer Rachel Eckroth keeps her solo projects surprisingly and refreshingly traditional. In October 2025, her all-female trio, featuring bassist Emma Dayhuff and drummer Tina Raymond, released their latest EP, This Is One of Those Moments. It&#x27;s a tried-and-tested formation with a contemporary twist, and the same approach applies to her music. This is particularly evident on the new EP, which is highly lyrical: one patiently follows the melodies and rhythmic cells, watching them unfold into constantly changing, colourful, shimmering pieces. It is immediately apparent that Rachel Eckroth hears things differently to the rest of us. Her music is an evolving soundscape, full of darkness yet accessible and redeeming light.

Dominique Fils-Aimé

Dominique Fils-Aimé is a rising star in vocal jazz, a Montreal singer-songwriter who puts the history of African-American musical culture into the heart of her work. She crafts her work in cycles, with each trilogy telling a unique chapter in her quest for sonic, creative, and spiritual freedom. In 2023, Dominique Fils-Aimé launched her second trilogy, a collection of introspective and intuitive works that began with «Our Roots Run Deep», which has already been celebrated at Moods. So, in February 2026, Dominique will unveil the second chapter of this cycle with a new studio album «My World Is The Sun». On this project, she focuses on the very essence of the creative process. It reflects her commitment to freedom, to the sonic, creative, and spiritual dimensions as well as her desire to create from a place of honesty and vulnerability. Reaching from contemplative ballads to energetic outbursts, this show will invite the audience to delve into the roots of her soul and to connect with one&#x27;s higher self For fans of Bobby McFerrin and Youn Sun Nah

m4music Festival

Over 40 shows on 5 festival stages, a conference, demo tape clinic, and an award show: the m4music Festival by Migros Culture Percentage on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Schiffbau, Moods, and EXIL. Tickets can be exchanged for festival wristbands at the check-in desk from 6 p.m. The wristband entitles you to admission to all concerts as long as capacity allows. We recommend arriving early. Admission is restricted to persons aged 16 and over; younger persons may only enter if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The afternoon program, including the conference, demo tape clinic, concerts on the open-air stage, and award show, is open to the public. The festival will be held in accordance with current official regulations; subject to changes and program changes. Further information about the festival is available at www.m4music.ch and on Instagram. Line-up: 3YOONI / Akryl / bangerfabrique / Bricknasty / Charlize / Copycat / Cordoba78 / Eckhart / ETO / Fau$tino &amp; Manu913 / glitchBABY / Good Neighbours / Grenzkontrolle / Kayla Shyx / Laurenz Nikolaus / Lilac Attitude / Lone Assembly / Lovehead / Marlo Grosshardt / Marlon Magnée / Moictani / Monster Florence / Pablo &amp; Special Guests / Paula Engels / Paxslim / Polarbæren X La Nefera / Seulfa / Splendid /Stereo Luchs Line-Up at Moods (Saturday): 20:45-21:30 Cordoba78 22:15-23:00 Paula Engels 23:45-00:30 Mary Middlefield 01:15-02:00 Pablo &amp; Guests

m4music Conference

Over 40 shows on 5 festival stages, a conference, demo tape clinic, and an award show: the m4music Festival by Migros Culture Percentage on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Schiffbau, Moods, and EXIL. Tickets can be exchanged for festival wristbands at the check-in desk from 6 p.m. The wristband entitles you to admission to all concerts as long as capacity allows. We recommend arriving early. Admission is restricted to persons aged 16 and over; younger persons may only enter if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The afternoon program, including the conference, demo tape clinic, concerts on the open-air stage, and award show, is open to the public. The festival will be held in accordance with current official regulations; subject to changes and program changes. Further information about the festival is available at www.m4music.ch and on Instagram.

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Streaming

Over 700 video-on-demand and 40 live streams per year from jazz, global, blues, funk, soul and rap await you. Curated with playlists and recommendations from our program team. In addition, 70% of the subscription revenue goes directly to the musicians. With a subscription you support the artists and this project.