Orquesta Aragón

85 Aniversario

Due to visa issues, the Orquesta Aragón concert has unfortunately had to be canceled. We are currently looking for an alternative date and will communicate further details as soon as possible. The orchestra was founded in Cuba in 1939 at the time of the great ballrooms. They still maintain this musical tradition today and invite their guests onto the dance floor to the classic Cuban dances cha-cha-cha, son, danzon, charanga and bolero. In order to do justice to the authenticity of the music, the orchestra, which is now in its third generation, still comprises 13 musicians, including string instruments and flutes. They have also won two Latin Grammys for their albums Icono and Chachachá: Homenaje a lo Tradicional in collaboration with Issac Delgado and Alain Pérez. We are delighted to welcome the Orquesta Aragón to an evening of the quintessence of Cuban music.

DJ El Mono

Warm Up & Afterparty

DJ EL Monol invites you to dance and linger before and after the concert. The focus is on Cuban music, with current hits on the turntable alongside the classics.

Vocals

Regie

Violin

Viola

Flute

Piano

Bass

Timbales

Percussion

Damily

Album Release «Fihisa»

Certain musicians are the inspiration for an entire genre, such as Fela Kuti for Afrobeat or, somewhat less well known, Damily for Tsapiky. The style emerged in the 80s from East African influences and Malagasy traditions and can be heard on all kinds of occasions (funerals, elections, weddings, healing ceremonies...). Charged riffs on worn electric guitars and piercing vocals are played over driving drum beats; all at a tempo that thrusts itself irresistibly into the body. Damily has been touring the world as an ambassador for this music for almost forty years and is now coming to Moods for the first time with a new album. “Fihisa” (Bongo Joe) was recorded in the open air in 2023, with feet in the rain and microphones in the winds of Cyclone Freddy. It&#x27;s raw, it&#x27;s driving, it&#x27;s fantastic! For fans of raw, unpolished sounds, of the label Bongo Joe and jangling guitars à l&#x27;Etran de L&#x27;Aïr / Bombino.

Mumbi Kameri

Mumbi Kameri is a young passionate music collector and radio host from Zurich. She started her musical journey at Kasheme, where she’s still an active part of the scene, playing monthly DJ sets and hosting weekly radio shows. With her vast and eclectic taste , she can take you on a musical journey, whether you’re in her living room or on the dancefloor. Her collection spans all kinds of genres, with it’s core in jazz and reggae.

Guitar

Drum Kit

Athanas’ ContempArabic Ensemble

«Ghudni Maak Tournée 2025»

28 years ago, the city of Aarau made it possible for Stephan Athanas to spend time in Cairo. This adventure turned into a music project that shaped the following years of his work: Athanas&#x27; ContempArabic Ensemble. Since then, the ensemble has been touring across Europe and North Africa, creating surprising music with strong Arabic influences (quarter-tone scales, rhythms, taqsim), combined with elements from European jazz (harmonies, improvisation, rhythm and groove). On this tour they present a new program composed by Stephan Athanas especially for this ensemble, including the new album Bil Laedi Askara.

Quanun

Saxophon

Accordion

Annie & The Caldwells

Annie Caldwell prefers to make music with her loved ones. When she&#x27;s not touring with her brothers as the Staple Jr. Singers, she preaches soul from West Point, Mississippi, with Annie and the Caldwells. This band is also a family affair. Vocals are provided by her, along with her two daughters, Deborah and Anjessica, and her goddaughter, Toni Rivers. Annie&#x27;s husband Joe plays the guitar; her eldest son, Willie Jr, plays the bass; and her youngest son, Abel Aquirius, plays the drums. As a family band, it&#x27;s only natural that their story — and their music — reflects their real lives. The band&#x27;s real-life experiences as a female-led, multigenerational family are at the heart of their music. Memories of the birth of a daughter or a brother&#x27;s recovery from illness lead to transcendent moments on stage — moments that won over former Talking Heads mastermind David Byrne. The band released their latest album, Can&#x27;t Lose My Soul, on Byrne&#x27;s label, Luaka Bop. The Caldwells seem to be making an impression in general. Mojo magazine calls them the most exciting and dynamic family of faith imaginable. If you don&#x27;t believe it, let the family of musicians convert you at Moods.

E-Gitarre

E-Bass

JazzBaragge Wednesday Jam

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.

Stefan Rusconi Solo

SOLACE

Stefan Rusconi was quiet for a long time. The reason behind this is a tragic one. A good nine years ago, he found his friend and bassist dead in his hotel room while on tour. The Swiss pianist&#x27;s world fell apart and he was overcome by dark feelings. Relationships with loved ones, projects, music, dreams, fatherhood all fell apart. But Rusconi did not give up and fought his way back bit by bit. His friends helped him - with a lot of gentleness, tenderness and loving words. They gave him solace and now Rusconi is giving Solace back through music. With this album, which is brimming with gentleness and vulnerability, he wants to give back some of the comfort and hope - everything that he had lost and was allowed to rediscover. Or as he puts it himself: This album is my encouragement to everyone to never give up and to face their demons. It is my invitation to go deep into the inner darkness and emerge stronger.

Dikanda

Kultur Shock & Moods present

Founded in 1997 in Szczecin, Poland, Dikanda is considered one of the leading bands in the field of global sounds. In its almost 30-year history, the group has released eight albums and played around 2,000 concerts; from the USA to Bangladesh, from Sweden to Morocco. Their music is inspired by the Balkans, the Middle East, the Orient, Africa and the surrounding world - global music in the best sense of the word. In addition to traditional songs, the band mainly plays its own pieces with seemingly absurd lyrics, which it complements with words it has created itself. Over the course of time, this has given rise to their own language - “dikandisch”.

Mario Peric

Warm Up & Afterparti

The BalkanEkstra Parti doesn&#x27;t stop at oriental sounds or Arabic rhythms - the main thing is to dance! With the legendary concert and party series Kultur Shock, Mario Peric is one of the pioneers of the Balkan scene as an organizer, DJ and producer. He has been thrilling audiences for many years with his varied, explosive and crazy sounds. His musical spectrum cannot be pinned down to one direction. The main thing is that it rocks!

Trumpet

Islandman

jazzhane & Moods present

Islandman, a music trio in this realm but a fictional character in reality, is a musical identity, a visionary, a full spectrum experience. Just like all healers, shamans and spirits, Islandman holds a whole different ground to their listeners in concerts and opens the door to alternative existences. Their music can be described as a unique blend of smooth electronic textures and dance beats with spacey live guitars backed by shamanic rhythms. The power of the band comes from the perfect balance between electronic structures and acoustic harmonies: Turkish psychedelica meets African roots music. Back in Zurich after sold-out shows in 2022 and 2023.

RUMI

RUMI is a musical storyteller and co-owner of Zurich’s Kasheme. Inviting his audience on a journey, he blends jazz, afro, soul, and house music. Listening to him, you can feel a delicate selection of gems from around the globe and a positive energy that accompanies his sets. Originally from Willisau in Lucerne and currently now based in Zurich, RUMI has shared stages with Gilles Peterson, Chez Damier, Richard Dorfmeister, Osunlade and Ron Trent; he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the legendary Club Zukunft in Zurich, Peti Kupe Zagreb, Brilliant Corners London, Café del Mar, Pikes Ibiza, or for radios, such as worldwide.fm and Ibiza Sonica Radio. RUMI believes music to be a passionate dialogue between hearts, a musical journey that should touch, inspire, and connect people. He will be playing for jazzhane for the first time, and we look forward to a great warm-up and afterparty set.

Live Elektronic

Andreas Schaerer’s Hildegard Lernt Fliegen

20 Years Celebration 

Hildegard lernt Fliegen is not a band, but a storm. You buy a ticket and expect a concert, but what you get is a theatrical assault on your understanding of music, a Dada party, a single excitement. Band leader Andreas Schaerer unleashes his bubbling imagination on the audience at full throttle, and the Swiss sextet celebrates like the salvation of art from itself. The nameless debut album was a hit, as was the follow-up, and the band toured half of Europe, Russia and China with their mixture of jazz rock, tarantella, circus blues, swing and opera. After the presentation of their 2020 album &quot;The Waves Are Rising, Dear!&quot;, the band will celebrate their 20th anniversary at Moods. Known for their high-energy, unconventional stage performances, this sextet will once again prove that seriousness and fun in music do not have to be mutually exclusive, but on the contrary, inspire each other.

Reeds

Tuba

Trombone

Nik Bärtschs RONIN & Simone Felbers iheimisch – «Wätterglüüt»

Exil und Moods präsentieren Montags 1090

Nik Bärtsch and Simone Felber were commissioned to compose a piece for the Alpentöne 2025 festival and decided to pursue a project together. This is how RONIN meets iheimisch with «Wätterglüüt». Customs and tradition become music and music becomes customs. Which came first, the custom or the music? Stories interweave with reality, grooves with rhymes. «Wätterglüüt» oscillates between archaic, contemporary and political influences, balancing the enduring and the new. The program pays tribute to important aspects and people of our tradition and at the same time puts new customs in front of them. With this composition, Nik Bärtsch&#x27;s RONIN and Simone Felber&#x27;s iheimisch move forward to the roots and thus back to the future.

Bass Clarinet

Kontrabassklarinette

Cello

Schall + Rauch @ JazzBaragge

Zugluft & Jarry Singla

Andrea Kirchhofer

The German-Indian pianist Jarry Singla and the Zurich duo Zugluft, consisting of violinist Andrea Kirchhofer and bass clarinettist Bruno Strüby, are united by their passion for creating sophisticated sound combinations and exploring traditional elements of folk music from various origins. After wandering for years in the vastness and on the fringes of jazz and folk music, the three musicians took a break in a neighbourhood restaurant during a studio residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris in spring 2023. They immediately decided to bring their sound universes together in a collaboration. While Indian music clearly influences Jarry Singla&#x27;s current work — he plays the Indian harmonium, for example — Zugluft&#x27;s compositions feature elements of klezmer, experimental rock and tango. And with just a touch of classical music, you can immerse yourself in vast, unspoilt mountain and forest landscapes...

Harmonium

Kurt Rosenwinkel & Jean-Paul Brodbeck: The Brahms Project feat. Lukas Traxel & Jorge Rossy

Rosenwinkel and Brodbeck team up again off the heels of their successful first collaboration “The Chopin Project”. This time, with their telepathic quartet intact, they tackle the music of Johannes Brahms. Brodbeck&#x27;s new arrangements take up the yearning melodies and classical-romantic harmonic structures of Johannes Brahms and find a new form of expression with these familiar and carefully selected compositions. The &quot;folk style&quot; to which Brahms felt connected becomes a refreshing jazz sound in which the ritual element of Hungarian dances is revived, as well as the touching beauty of the late piano pieces. Rosenwinkel&#x27;s long expanding phrases meet the refined orchestrations of Brodbeck, Traxel and Rossy. The familiar enters a new framework of earthy, groovy music, out of which ascends sublime improvisation.

The Vernon Spring

Sam Beste, who records under the moniker The Vernon Spring, blends and weaves jazz, soul, ambient and songwriting fabrics. His journey began through exposure to his father’s eclectic record collection at a very early age, hearing Thelonius Monk and Bob Dylan to D’Angelo or Luigi Nono.    Beste accompanied Amy Winehouse as her live pianist for a large part of her career, drawing on his various influences and unique talent. This paved the way for further collaborations including work with Gabriels, Kano, Joy Crookes and MF Doom.    After having helped form the Lima Limo collective and label, Beste began releasing solo music as The Vernon Spring. Merging his jazz background with contemporary electronic production, he formed his signature sound building heavily on ethereal piano work layered with emotive vocals and subtle electronics.

Lucia Cadotsch AKI

AKI is more than just a jazz quartet - it is a true supergroup, featuring some of the most influential voices in contemporary jazz. With Kit Downes on piano and organ, Phil Donkin on bass and James Maddren on drums, Lucia Cadotsch unfolds a musical world full of depth and emotion. Together they create compositions that touch and surprise. Yet AKI does not function according to the principle of individual genius. The pieces are created in a collective process in which each of them reshapes the ideas of the others through their own musical perspective. The result is a multi-layered body of sound in which everyone can shine on an equal footing. A particular highlight of this project is the participation of renowned guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel on two songs on the last album. For Cadotsch, this was the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream - and Rosenwinkel was also immediately enthusiastic. In his words: ‘Her writing captures unique emotions and her voice is mesmerising.’

okvsho (DJ-set) & Chrigi G. us Z.

Before, between and especially after the concerts, GDS resident DJs take over the decks: The Okvsho brothers can usually be heard on the keys and drums, respectively, with their band. They also play lively and varied DJ sets in which they bring the spirit of soul, funk and jazz to the dance floor in a modern form. Chrigi G. us Z. has been collecting music for a long time. Almost pathologically, actually. With GDS.FM, he has now found a way to make it accessible. He puts together daily playlists in the radio programme and presents his favourites mixed in clubs and bars or at festivals.

Electronics

Fundamental Interactions

Jelena Kuljić, Olga Reznichenko, Kalle Kalima, Tim Dahl, Christian Lillinger

Jelena Kuljic´s Fundamental Interactions is a collaborative project by musician and performer Jelena Kuljić, in which she brings together an international cast with poets from the former Yugoslavia. In addition to her lyrics, she also uses the poems of Marko Pogačar and Olja Savičević Jovančević from Croatia, Selma Asotić and Jasna Šamić from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dragana Mladenović from Serbia.  The focus is on the things that connect us and make us similar, the tension between the concept of home, language and identity. Together with Olga Reznichenko (keyboard), Christian Lillinger (drums), Kalle Kalima (guitar) and Tim Dahl (bass), an extraordinary music project has been created that questions boundaries both geographically and musically. Improvisation, contemporary electronic music, jazz, progressive rock, poetry and avant-garde are combined in this unique project. The album will be released in 2025, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the end of the war in Bosnia.

Keyboards

Trois Imaginaires & Tie Drei feat. Nik Bärtsch & Knackeboul

Album Release «Storyboard»

What happens when two trios meet by chance at Moods? Well, they make an album together, of course! That&#x27;s exactly what happened with Trois Imaginaires and Tie Drei. The two bands met at the 2022 ZKB Jazzpreis Festival, where a casual conversation turned into a musical collaboration. They operate in different worlds. While Trois Imaginaires describe their music as cinematic post-rock with a touch of pop culture, Tie Drei have assigned themselves to jazz pop. What unites them is their shared passion for storytelling and transporting their audience on imaginary journeys through their music. This is reflected in their joint album, Storyboard. Not only does it tell stories musically, it is also designed in such a way that everyone can create their own story on the album cover — a real storyboard. They will perform their shared story at Moods alongside special guests who are also featured on the album. One of these guests is Zurich pianist Nik Bärtsch and the other is Swiss rapper Knackeboul. It promises to be a special evening — and who knows, maybe a new project will be born over drinks after the concert?

Dirty Slips

Album Release «ANIMA»

Unsinkable Loveboat. Professional animation at the poolside. Signals from the deep sea: The band is a phenomenon, a city miracle, and can only be described in paradoxes. In songs and costumes, it constantly reinvents itself, slipping with splendid delight out of worn-out poses and maneuvering itself time and again into temporal contradictions: having just escaped past patterns, ahead of its time, it is, in live performance, caught up fiercely by the present. One thing is certain: On their lavish quest, the Dirty Slips steer straight for the sensorimotor zone: triggering movement, a melting point of ecstasy, sudden outbreaks of band-audience fever arise; the players glow, become momentarily larger-than-life (up to three meters tall), world-famous, unavoidably free, pearls fly. &quot;Sweat is good,&quot; says singer Francesca Tappa. &quot;That way boundaries can be dissolved. I’ve never experienced a reserved audience…. The catharsis always happens, sooner or later.&quot; (Tages-Anzeiger, October 12, 2023) In the refrain of the new song Chocolat (on ANIMA), syllables are melted down over a freshly confident groove, vowels teased out with tongue-lust and consonant-delight, creating fleeting shades of meaning in contemporary ambivalence. The singer—ceremonial master, lioness who tames lions—lets sparks rain down over band and audience: &quot;Whether I want it or not, I want it, do I want it? / Do I want it, it wants me.&quot; &quot;We make Dirtyslipism. Dirty, not pure.&quot; (Tages-Anzeiger) And strikingly precise, one might add. Over the past ten years the band has honed itself into an extraordinary groove section. The result of their expedition in the Discothèque irrationnelle: their first LP ANIMA. A band that sees itself moving forward while at the same time working with archival diligence, cultivating a human-electric lexicon of the last rhythmic decades. Archetypal night-island life. Earnestly funny: Although the band repeatedly lays everything bare (seemingly), it always remains open to rediscovery: lines and patterns surface, while others are paradoxically protected (probably) and hidden, etched into the deepest rhythms. It pays to dive down. In Dirtyslipism, solutions are found for the last residues. Anyone who has not gone under in the babble of countless Zurich summer festivals, but always found a swell, can make it anywhere. It is only a matter of time before this band-phenomenon appears in full splendor in another city—for example, Paris. Or perhaps in Madagascar. (Text: Peter Weber)

I Never Took My Ritalin

Lamborghini Tarot, the alter ego of Swiss rapper, actress and clown Martina Momo Kunz, and Belinda, the alter ego of French sousaphonist, rapper and producer Victor Hege, blend their unusual skills into a crazy, hyperactive, theatrical musical journey, where complex arrangements and beautiful melodies are destroyed by primitive beats and absurd lyrics. Originally born during a joint Corona Christmas quarantine in a theatre in Zurich, the duo brings their joie de vivre to the stage - through wild twerk, tutuutututu sousaphone and awesome rap.

Playlove & Sintič b2b MRZ

Playlove, the bustling DJ Amazon based in Zurich, is no unknown quantity. rWith her very own blend of trippy techno, dirty house and deep Detroit elements, the Vienna native continues to rock the dance floors of this world with a lot of heart. Sintič &amp; MRZ have been playing their way into the hearts of dancers in this city for around seven years. Just watching them makes you want to dance yourself. They are colorful and unpredictable and that&#x27;s what makes them so special. Moritz is very playful with a tendency towards a beautiful form of craziness

Synthesizer

Karriem Riggins & J. Rocc

Hip Hop Zoo & Moods present

These two US artists are something of a beacon in the hip-hop world. Their influence is felt far and wide, and they are hugely influential in the genre. Let&#x27;s start with Riggins, who also has an impressive career in jazz. For example, the drummer produced the rapper Common back in the &#x27;90s and has worked with renowned artists such as Erykah Badu, The Roots, J, Dilla,, Talib Kweli, Kaytranada and Madlib. He is also part of the Emmy Award-winning supergroup August Greene, alongside Common and Robert Glasper. J. Rocc is a turntable legend, one of the first DJs to play hip-hop in Southern California and the founder of the Beat Junkies. He also DJs for Madlib and was a member of Jaylib. The collaborative music of Karriem Riggins and J. Rocc sounds a bit like a classic beat tape, but is so much more. They span narratives across tracks and entire albums, giving the whole thing the character of a suite. Together, these two luminaries will guide the Moods ship safely through a stormy evening, navigating surging drum rolls, breaking beats and lightning-fast cuts. This concert will be standing.

Khaderbai

khaderbai is a beatmaker from Zurich blending soul, jazz, and funk samples with gritty drums and obscure sounds — all crafted in a nostalgic boom bap tradition. Active since the late 2000s, his sample-based productions have been released on various international compilations and solo projects. Since 2013, he&#x27;s also bringing his beats to stages across Europe.

Disk Jockey

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.

Los Wembler's de Iquitos für Familien

Los Wembler&#x27;s de Iquitos are living legends of Cumbia Amazonica. Since the late 1960s, the five brothers from the Peruvian rainforest have been shaping the psychedelic chicha sound with electric guitar, driving percussion and influences from Colombia, Brazil and the USA. Songs such as Sonido Amazónico or La danza del Petrolero are considered style-defining and have been covered by bands such as Los Mirlos, Chicha Libre and Firewater. On their comeback tour, they are proving that their music has lost none of its energy. - Duration of the concert 50-65 minutes - Kids of all ages are welcome. - We will keep the volume at a reasonable level, but we do recommend hearing protection for the little ones. - Children under the age of 12 can attend the concert free of charge, but we ask that they reserve a free ticket. - Teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16 pay half price. - Can&#x27;t afford a ticket? Send us an email at info@moods.ch.

Los Wembler's de Iquitos

Los Wembler&#x27;s de Iquitos are living legends of Cumbia Amazonica. Since the late 1960s, the five brothers from the Peruvian rainforest have been shaping the psychedelic chicha sound with electric guitar, driving percussion and influences from Colombia, Brazil and the USA. Songs such as Sonido Amazónico or La danza del Petrolero are considered style-defining and have been covered by bands such as Los Mirlos, Chicha Libre and Firewater. On their comeback tour, they are proving that their music has lost none of its energy.

Buzz (Boss Hi-Fi)

BUZZ needs no introduction. 16 Tons: fantastic records, beautiful furniture. Boss Hi-Fi: best reggae DJs He will play one of his fantastic cumbia sets after Los Wemblers. ¡Fuego!

Bob James Quartet

US composer and pianist Bob James has had an extremely varied career, full of fascinating twists and turns. The 85-year-old is sometimes referred to as a hip-hop icon because samples of his music have played an important role in the history of rap. Others regard him as the godfather of smooth jazz. Discovered by Quincy Jones in the &#x27;60s, the two-time Grammy Award winner made a name for himself in the &#x27;70s with his innovative sound on producer Creed Taylor&#x27;s CTI label. He fused jazz with classical and funk music. James&#x27;s music found a wider audience in 1978 when his track “Angela” was used as the theme tune for the popular US sitcom Taxi. James, who co-founded the popular smooth jazz group Fourplay, will demonstrate why he is known as the &quot;Godfather of Smooth Jazz&quot; when he performs with his quartet at Moods. Expect smooth, soulful and groovy music — in other words, expect excellence.

J'peux Tim

J&#x27;peux Tim, originally from Kosovo, is the co-founder and was co-owner of Kasheme Zürich and the founder of the Spirit Music Society music label. He has been spinning records in Switzerland and abroad for nearly a decade. Dance music, Jazz Fusion and Spiritual Jazz make his heart beat a tick faster.

Composition

Adrian Younge

Adalu & Moods present Something About April III - Tour

Adrian Younge is a visionary multi-instrumentalist, an Emmy Award-winning composer, and an advocate of analogue art. At his fully analogue studio, Linear Labs, in Los Angeles, he creates haunting works that bridge the gap between past and present. Adrian Younge is known for his groundbreaking album Something About April, which was sampled by Jay-Z, among others. He is now coming to Moods with the sequel, Something About April III, an album that he says is a dream come true: &quot;This is what I wanted to do when I created the first album in 2011. However, I lacked the musical knowledge and experience to create the sound buried deep in my soul.&quot; He is fascinated by Brazilian music, a genre he discovered late but has since become immersed in. This is clearly evident on his album São Paulo and is also reflected in Something About April III. Composed entirely in Portuguese, he manages to redefine music while preserving the analogue humanity in a digital world, achieving incomparable depth and authenticity.

Leitung

Peter Somuah Group

Peter Somuah is a gifted trumpeter who learned to play by listening endlessly to his trumpet heroes Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Hargrove. Somuah stands out with his warm and melancholic sound, as well as the rhythmic prowess reflecting his upbringing surrounded by the music styles native to West Africa. He touches his audiences and makes them groove. In 2021 Somuah won the Erasmus Jazz award for young jazz talent, and in 2022 he won the prestigious Edison Jazz Award with his debut album Outer Space. In June 2024, Somuah worked on a project with the WDR Big Band playing his own compositions, arranged and conducted by the musical cosmopolitan Michael Mossman. His latests album &quot;Highlife&quot; takes listeners on a vibrant journey through the rich musical heritage of Peter Somuah’s Ghanaian roots and the innovative world of jazz. Drawing from his early years playing highlife music in Accra, and blending it with influences from legends like Miles Davis, Somuah creates a unique sound that bridges generations. The album showcases a rich tapestry of instruments, from highlife’s signature rhythmic guitars and percussion to Somuah’s radiant trumpet, weaving a captivating dialogue between highlife and modern jazz. Recorded with vintage analogue equipment, Highlife captures the warmth and grit of 1960s highlife, while propelling the genre into new territories. This album is not only a celebration of Ghana’s musical legacy but also a statement of pride, addressing themes of colonialism and self-empowerment, inviting listeners to reflect and dance to the rhythms of both history and the future of jazz.

Ludivine Issambourg feat. Brian Jackson

Spirit Music Society & Moods present

Ludivine Issambourg is one of the most famous French flutists, composers, and producers of the last 15 years. Her talent has won her the admiration of artists like Wax Taylor and Catherine Ringer. One reason for her popularity is her legendary album Outlaws, a celebrated tribute to Hubert Laws&#x27; jazz funk and his CTI years. At Moods, Issambourg will continue this story with her new work, Above the Law. She explores the influences of legendary flutists such as Jeremy Steig and Ronald Snijders, drawing inspiration from soul rare groove à la Gil Scott-Heron. The evening will be dedicated to Ludivine&#x27;s current vision of modern jazz. In addition to her own compositions, she will play select covers. For this performance, she has invited a special guest: Brian Jackson. The legendary pianist, flutist, and composer, who made music history with Gil Scott-Heron, will accompany Issambourg and her band at the Schiffbau.

DJ ATN

Etienne, aka DJ ATN is a respected musical Gourmet from Paris, having spread rare grooves and deep disco vibes all through the city&#x27;s best places. He became and is still resident DJ and booker at the world famous NEW MORNING jazz club. Besides, ATN is half of the Mochi Men duet, alongside with DJ producer Young Pulse, together providing DJ sets, remixes, edits, original productions and collaborations. In the meantime, ATN has been managing and developing the infatuous rising french funk band ECHOES OF, noticed as a powerful backing band for Kyoto Jazz Massive, and also known as JÉROBOAM, signed on Danilo Plessow SPACE GRAPES label.

Fender-Rhodes E-Piano

W.I.T.C.H. (We Intend To Cause Havoc)

WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) were the biggest rock band in Zambia in the 1970s and were at the forefront of a new genre known as zamrock. They fused influences ranging from the Rolling Stones to Black Sabbath to James Brown and mixed them with traditional African rhythms and songs. At the height of their popularity, the band often needed the police to keep fans at bay while their lead singer Jagari - whose name is an Africanization of Mick Jagger&#x27;s name - roughed up the crowd. As Zambia&#x27;s economy stagnated and the country suffered from the AIDS crisis, WITCH disbanded. Jagari, now the only surviving member of the original line-up, retreated to a life of quasi-anonymity as a university music professor before being wrongfully arrested in Zambia&#x27;s darkest hour. Now in his 60s and spending his time mining gemstones, WITCH didn&#x27;t receive much attention outside of their home country until 2012, when Now Again Records reissued their entire discography. Their last concert at Moods 2023 was certainly a highlight of the year and we are therefore delighted that the band is returning.

DJ Voilà Tim

Tim Waller alias Voilà-Tim will play a fine mix of African tracks before and after the concerts.

Töbi Tobler & Patrick Sommer mit Reto Suhner

Patrick Sommer

Töbi Tobler, a veteran of the alternative Swiss folk music scene, has been collaborating with bassist Patrick Sommer for quite some time. Reto Suhner has just recently joined the duo, although he is otherwise based in jazz and improvisatory music. While Töbi Tobler sets the tone on his hammered dulcimer with waltzes, schottisches and polkas, unconventional instrumentation adds new colour filters to the overall sound. Patrick Sommer, for example, not only plays bass, but also the Moroccan guembri, and Reto Suhner adds saxophone, as well as clarinets and flutes of all kinds, including the xiao (Chinese flute), bansuri (bamboo flute) and duduk (Armenian flute made of apricot wood). With these many excursions, the pieces sparkle anew again and again, like crystals in a clear mountain lake.

Clarinet

Duduk

Hackbrett

Guembri

LINA_

Portugal: nova geração

Adalu, Moods and the Portuguese Consulate in Zurich present the “Lusosonic Festival” - an intimate festival with a strong musical presence. A powerful sound journey through contemporary lusophone music. The program brings together promising talents from Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola and Brazil and demonstrates the diversity and strength of the current musical landscape in the Lusophone world. An unmistakable, expressive voice and expansive music based on fado: this is &#x27;Fado Camões&#x27;, the album by Portuguese singer and composer LINA_. Fado Camões&#x27; is a unique composition based on the classic poetry of Portugal&#x27;s most famous historical poet, Luís Vaz de Camões. &quot;I became curious, I wanted to know more, beyond the &#x27;Lusíadas&#x27; or &#x27;Sonetos&#x27;&quot;, explains LINA_, &quot;and I discovered that his themes - change, childhood, love, heartbreak or the description of nature - fit into the context of fado and its metrics.&quot; The simple elegance of the recent past is still there, but now there is a new spaciality in which the voice stands out amidst the silence of guitar and violin. It&#x27;s about language, writing, poetry and the structure of Camões&#x27; poems, combined with the expression and &#x27;saudade&#x27; of fado.

Tomoki Sanders

Non-binary, music-crazy and at home in both Japanese and African-American culture. Tomoki Sanders is a free electron, eager to explore Great Black Music, urban music, electronic music and the avant-garde. Discovered at this year&#x27;s Winter JazzFest in New York, the 31-year-old talent is a promising artist for the future. Although Tomoki was born into music as the child of the legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, they have made a name for themself. This is evident through their collaboration with the Kassa Overall supergroup over several years, as well as their joint performances with Moses Sumney, Ravi Coltrane and Maurice “Mobetta” Brown. Following these ventures, Tomoki Sanders produced the band&#x27;s debut album, set to be released on Impuls! in 2026. Building on the label&#x27;s rich history, it storms through the door reopened by Kamasi Washington and Shabaka Hutchings, showcasing all its fantastic personality.

Patrick Sommer Quintet – Momentum

Bass, drums and three wind instruments – Patrick Sommer&#x27;s Quintet seeks momentum, a shared flow that allows the music to flourish and transcend compositional ideas. Patrick Sommer has assembled a group of strong personalities for his quintet. Together with drummer Pius Baschnagel, bassist Sommer forms a rhythm section that trusts each other blindly and has been shaping a wide variety of musical contexts for many years. Baritone saxophonist Charlotte Lang and trumpeter Bastien Rieser are two confident voices of the younger generation. Christoph Grab has been an influential tenor saxophonist on the Swiss jazz scene for three decades. Patrick Sommer&#x27;s compositions arise from his engagement with his various low-pitched instruments – double bass, bass guitar and the Moroccan guembri. In his bass universe, he creates moods, and explores his musical possibilities and experiences. The resulting pieces are relaxed and clear. The band deliberately avoids the constraints of rigid arrangements, allowing itself to unfold freely and independently – fresh, adventurous and intense.

Baritone Saxophone

Flugelhorn

Tenorsaxophon

Sopransaxophon

Altsaxophon

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

Derya Yıldırım insists that if you’re going to play an old folk song then you have to contribute something new, otherwise you might as well just put the old record on. With her band Grup Şimşek’s forthcoming album Yarın Yoksa, which translates to If There’s No Tomorrow, she continues this journey revitalizing Anatolian folk music and instrumentation by infusing timeless melodies with a modern psychedelic flair. Born in Hamburg, Germany to Turkish parents, she grew up influenced by her family’s Anatolian background and the myriad of cultures in the city. Derya’s musical roots started at home playing folk music with family members. Although she is a multi-instrumentalist, Derya always felt drawn to the sound of the bağlama - “there’s just something very magical about it”. And her concerts are just that: magical!

Emel

Emel Ilter is a record collector, DJ and radio host based in Basel. She is currently resident on NTS Radio London, presenting pieces of her record collection with her regular show «Heavy Love Affair». On RadioX Basel, she is host and producer of the monthly music special «Soul Sketches», inviting music lovers to share their music and stories with the listeners. Emel is part of the «NOT TOO YOUNG Swiss Soul Weekender» collective which is organising an annual vinyl-only Rare Soul event in Lucerne since 2012; creating a gathering where like-minded international collectors can connect, celebrate and worship rare and unknown music. After Derya Yildirim&#x27;s concert, Emel will also play Turkish records from the 60s and 70s from her collection.

Bağlama

Gansch & Roses

50 Jahre Thomas Gansch Anniversary Band

Thomas Gansch needs little introduction. The Austrian trumpeter, composer and mastermind behind Mnozil Brass has already graced Moods several times - and he loved it. So much so that he is playing one of his only four shows with Gansch &amp; Roses here for his 50th birthday - the only one outside Austria and at his own request. He gave himself a birthday present: a band that will make you go into raptures. Greats such as Randy Brecker, James Morrison, Dave Taylor, Peter Erskine and Wolfgang Puschnig pay their respects to Gansch and play together with Michael Hornek, Albert Wieder, Florian Trübsbach, Fabian Rucker - and of course the birthday boy himself.

Bassposaune

Zara McFarlane

«Sweet Whispers» - Celebrating Sarah Vaughan

British jazz singer Zara McFarlane is one of the most prominent artists of her generation. The multi-award-winning singer, songwriter, composer and performer seamlessly blends jazz, reggae, folk, nu-soul and electronic music. Her career took off when world-famous DJ Gilles Peterson discovered her self-produced EP, leading to a series of critically acclaimed albums on his Brownswood Recordings label. Zara has been the talk of the town ever since. She has collaborated with music legends such as Louie Vega, Hugh Masekela, Ivan Lins, Nicola Conte, Antibalas, Ezra Collective and Shabaka Hutchings. Meanwhile, her tracks have been remixed by renowned artists including Floating Points and Osunlade. She dedicates her evening at Moods to one of the greats: Sarah Vaughan. With her warm voice and deep knowledge of jazz history, McFarlane will interpret not only key songs from Vaughan&#x27;s career, but also works by the artists who inspired and supported Vaughan. It will be an evening in which the future of jazz honours the past — and enchants the audience.

Emmet Cohen

Emmet Cohen celebrates the jazz tradition: the finest jazz, with swing, precision and, in the words of Downbeat Magazine, &quot;a nimble touch, measured step and warm harmonic vocabulary&quot;. He sees himself as a mediator between the audience and his fellow musicians, who in addition to his trio have included Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Tootie Heath and George Coleman. In other words, Emmet Cohen brings a fresh palette of sounds to classic jazz forms with an almost unparalleled mastery and passion. Back at Moods after a packed show in 2024.

Latin Jam @ JazzBaragge

Ida Nielsen & The Funkbots

lda Nielsen&#x27;s life was turned upside down when she joined music legend Prince in 2010 and began touring with &quot;The New Power Generation&quot; and the 4-piece powerhouse rock band &quot;3rdeyegirl&quot;. She describes playing with Prince as the most magical musical journey ever. An ongoing learning experience beyond imagination. This journey continues after her years with Prince with a remarkable solo career. In 2019 she was voted one of the top ten bassists in the world in the annual Music Radar poll (along with other greats such as Stanley Clarke &amp; Victor Wooten). Ida Nielsen &amp; The Funkbots deliver an energetic funk show full of good vibes, tight grooves and subtle references to her former employer and teacher Prince. Back at Moods for the 3rd time, for fans of funk, groove, Prince, Nik West and The Next Movement.

Cavaliere Spruzzi (Monorecords)

The man for funk in Zurich for 4 decades. Who doesn&#x27;t remember the legendary Cool Mondays? Smoky afternoons in THE record store in Zurich on Froschaugasse? Or the Real Funk for Real People series at Moods? Cavaliere Spruzzi is back! You better put on your dancing shoes!

Pongo

Adalu, Moods and the Portuguese Consulate in Zurich present the “Lusosonic Festival” - an intimate festival with a strong musical presence. A powerful sound journey through contemporary lusophone music. The program brings together promising talents from Portugal, Cape Verde, Angola and Brazil and demonstrates the diversity and strength of the current musical landscape in the Lusophone world. Lisbon-based Angolan singer/songwriter/performer Pongo has firmly established herself as one of the best Afro-Fusion artists working today. From her sellout shows around Europe, famous for their raw energy, to her captivating COLORS Studio performance, Pongo has become a true vanguard of modern African pop. A formerly of cult favorite electro-crossover band Buraka Som Sistema (joining when she was just 16), Pongo has built a huge following since going solo for her blend of traditional Angolan stylings with hard-hitting, energetic electronic production, seeing her shortlisted for African Artist of the Year at the Kora Awards in 2024 for her album ‘Sakidila’ and her song ‘Kuzola’ featuring on the Fifa 23 Soundtrack. Pongo marked the start of a new creative cycle with her single ‘Katana’ - a fiery, exhilarating track that immediately fired her to 3 the TikTok Viral Charts. Now, she presents ‘Sugar Rush’, a feat with the artist NoMBe, with a joyful energy in a melodic fusion of pop and afro-beats.

Fidju Kitxora

A very recent and somewhat mysterious entity in transit between Lisbon and Cape Verde, Fidju Kitxora releases &quot;Racodja&quot;, their first album, in 2024. Evoking the past, present and future voices of the diaspora, they reorder different languages into a lively and constantly changing music where the heat of funaná, the swing of semba, the syncopations of kuduro and afro-house and other sincere miscegenations flow, among field recordings, gliding synths, vocal samples and an unstoppable barrage of infectious beats.

Romeu

Angelo Romeu is a music selector from the south of Portugal who has been playing music in various venues for over 20 years. With his broad repertoire of music, he manages to get audiences dancing or relaxing by the pool. His travels have taken him to Oslo, Lisbon and currently to Zurich, where he is part of the Kasheme project. He loves sharing musical treasures and taking people on a journey through his record collection.

Dance

Den Dala

Album Release «Say Hi to the Storks»

When you think of storks, you quickly think of offspring and new beginnings. They also flutter into Moods with Zurich band Den Dala for a record launch when they present their new album ‘Say Hi to the Storks’. Den Dala remains true to their roots. In their songs, they blend jazz, indie and psychedelic rock into a groovy mixture that makes it nearly impossible to stand still. The band is not alone - Junes, Sara El Hachimi and Tim Bond, who are also featured on the album, will also be taking part. Not only can you say hi to the storks, but also do something good for them with your ticket. You have the option of making a donation to the Swiss Stork Society with your purchase. And a real record launch always includes a bit of mischief. What do a razor, the guitarist and 200 sold tickets have in common? You&#x27;ll find out at the concert.

Den Dala Community Set feat. Junes, Rye (Chestnut Bakery) und Tim Bond

Album Release «Say Hi to the Storks»

After debuting their new album, they will continue to play music. The five-piece band has invited extra reinforcements for this. Junes, Rye (Chestnut Bakery)  and Tim Bond will be jamming and grooving together with Den Dala. It&#x27;s definitely worth staying. 

Mama Shroom & Yunus Baba

The dynamic duo that is Hollabackshroom and Yunus Findus back at it. 2 for 1 special. Strap up, lean in and stomp those boots, these two clowns come packing bags of wax-stamped surprises. Strictly vinyl, mostly nonsense.

MKZ Big Band Summit

Big Band Summit 2025 Once again: “Three Bands — One Event!” Every three years, Moods hosts the spectacular summit meeting of three big bands. The matinee will open with the Big Band MKZ under the direction of Zurich saxophonist Christoph Irniger. Next up, the SJMUZ BigBand, led by trombonist Lukas Reinert, will take to the already fired-up stage. For the third set, the two bandleaders will join 14 fellow teachers from the Zurich Music School and Conservatory (MKZ) as performers in the teachers@mkz.big.band , under the direction of pianist Andreas Christoph Szalatnay. The three ensembles present a wide stylistic range of compositions and arrangements, captivating the audience with their shared passion for orchestral jazz.

Joe Sanders' Parallels feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott

American bassist and composer Joe Sanders is a jazz great who has shared the stage with many big names. He will do so again at Moods. His band&#x27;s lineup is so impressive that each member could fill the club on their own. With Kendrick Scott on drums, Logan Richardson and Seamus Blake on saxophones, and Sanders on bass, this is a band that will make every jazz fan&#x27;s heart beat faster. Together, they will present Sanders&#x27;s latest album, Parallels. On the album, Sanders thrills fans with fine melodies, elegant lyrics, a deep-rooted sense of tradition, and a vibrant groove. His warm, singing bass provides fertile ground for brilliant melodies, even in complex structures, and makes for an experience that delights both the heart and ear. The line-up and the setting for the event are both &quot;unerhört&quot; (unprecedented). &quot;Unerhört!&quot; is a 10-day jazz festival taking place at various locations in Zurich and Winterthur. This concert will be partially seated.

Raul Midón

«Lost & Found»

Raul Midón has worked with countless legends in the industry including Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Terence Blanchard, &amp; Dianne Reeves. His albums “Bad Ass and Blind” and “If You Really Want” were nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Jazz Vocal Album” category in 2017 and 2018 respectively – proof of his artistic class. On his new album “Lost &amp; Found,” the blind singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist once again shows his innovative side. It is Raul&#x27;s first completely self-produced album. To achieve this, he learned the art of sound engineering with the help of Michael O&#x27;Reilly, an experienced New York sound professional whom Raul had already met during his major debut “State of Mind” under the tutelage of legendary producer Arif Mardin (Queen, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Bee Gees, Phil Collins, Norah Jones). The album comprises ten multifaceted songs, which Raul himself describes as a mixture of smooth folk, alt-pop, and jazz. A stylistic bouquet that has something for every taste. With his talent for blending genres and his stage presence, he succeeds in conveying pure joie de vivre. Whether on record or live, Raul Midón touches, inspires, and moves.

Orchestra Baobab

Orchestra Baobab has been on stage for over 50 years! The Senegalese band was founded in 1970, ten years after the country&#x27;s independence, and created the soundtrack of the young nation with its mixture of traditional music and influences from all over the world. Over the years, the line-up has of course changed, but what makes Orchestra Baobab what it is today has remained the same: An irrepressible joy of playing and the unmistakable mix of Afro-Latin American styles, international pop and traditional griot music. Tour presented by ByteFM

Afreekaya & Voilà Tim

Afreekaya, who shuttles tirelessly between Latin America and the Middle East, between the Caribbean and Africa, makes audiences sweat with his Afro-tropical, funky or raw sounds with a psychedelic or electronic twist. Tim Waller, alias Voilà-Tim, first became aware of South African music in 1985. He was immediately captivated by the beats and the energy, and since then he has taken every opportunity to browse through Africa&#x27;s rich palette of musical styles and bring this lively music closer to the dancing public.

Congas

Jay-Jay Johanson

Jazz, trip hop, pop and even easy listening: these are the building blocks of Jay-Jay Johanson&#x27;s musical universe. For almost 30 years, the Swedish musician, singer and composer has inspired reflection with his melancholy lyrics. From jazzy vocals on bizarre film noir arrangements to electroclash, Johanson has reinvented himself time and again since the &#x27;90s. This is also evident on his latest album, Backstage, which he will be presenting at Moods. This 15th album features tones not heard on previous releases. For instance, he has recorded an entire song in French for the first time. He also surprises with sounds of a soul genre he has never explored before, or with a piece that culminates in a house track. It promises to be an evening full of surprises.

Chip Wickham

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