Henrik Freischlader

Precious Time Tour

Henrik Freischlader is still an insider tip for anyone who has never heard of him. Now the top-class German blues musician is finally returning to Moods - for a special show in a blues rock quartet! The German guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, who has shared stages with B.B. King and Gary Moore, among others, has made a name for himself far beyond the country&#x27;s borders with his unmistakable sound and emotional expressiveness. 2026 now marks a new beginning for him. With a newly formed band, Henrik Freischlader is currently working on his upcoming studio album Precious Time - the first studio long-player since 2022. With Leon Mucke (drums), Gregor Sonnenberg (bass) and Dave Warmerdam (keys), a fresh, yet highly musical unit is emerging that combines blues rock with soul, groove and atmospheric depth. This constellation will be performing live together for the first time on the Precious Time Tour 2026.

Vocals

Guitar

Hammond organ

Keyboards

Bass

Drum Kit

Nik Bärtschs RONIN & Simone Felbers iheimisch – «Wätterglüüt»

Exil und Moods präsentieren Montags 1115

Live Ambient Guitar Support: Joel Gilardini 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. After performing at Moods in October 2025, the artists continued working and developing the program and in turn, will return for another performance.

Piano

Bass Clarinet

Kontrabassklarinette

Cello

Accordion

Zugluft & Altfrentsche Besetzung

Andrea Kirchhofer

For the final Carte Blanche evening of Andrea Kirchhofer&#x27;s tenure, the two groups Zugluft and Altfränkische Besetzung will perform together for the first time, blending elements of Appenzell string music and jazz with imaginary folklore. Violinist Matthias Lincke and Elias Menzi on the Appenzell hammered dulcimer are free spirits of string music who combine their traditional roots with their urge for spontaneous musical expression, joined by Hiasl on bass and yodelling. Since 2023, Altfr Palle Besetzung has performed regularly as a quartet with Andrea Kirchhofer on violin. This has also led to collaborations with an expanded line-up, such as &#x27;Aufhebung der Alpen&#x27; (Suspension of the Alps) and the Klangwelt Toggenburg project. On the other hand, clarinettists Bruno Strüby and Andrea Kirchhofer have been working together for over twenty years in various bands and theatre projects. Together, they develop the music of Zugluft. As a rich ensemble comprising two violins, an Appenzell hammered dulcimer, a double bass, a bass clarinet and a contrabass clarinet, the quintet interprets Kirchhofer&#x27;s compositions and pieces from the repertoires of both bands. - Duration of the concert 50-65 minutes - Children of all ages are welcome at this concert. - We will make sure the volume is appropriate, but we still recommend ear protection for the little ones. - Children under 12 can attend the concert free of charge, but we ask that you reserve a free ticket. - Young people aged 12-16 pay half price. - Can&#x27;t afford a ticket? Email us at info@moods.ch.

Violin

Hackbrett

Kontrabass

Zugluft & Altfrentsche Besetzung für Familien

For this family concert, the two formations Zugluft and Altfrentsche Besetzung will be on stage together, merging elements of Appenzell string music and jazz with imaginary folklore. As free spirits of string music, violinist Matthias Lincke, Elias Menzi on the Appenzell dulcimer and Hiasl as bassist and yodeller combine their traditional roots with their urge for spontaneous musical expression. Since 2023, the Altfrentsche line-up has performed regularly in a quartet with violinist Andrea Kirchhofer. This has also led to collaborations with an expanded line-up, such as Aufhebung der Alpen and the Klangwelt Toggenburg project. Clarinettist Bruno Strüby and Andrea Kirchhofer have worked together for more than twenty years in various bands and (theater) projects. Together they develop the music of Zugluft. As a rich ensemble with two violins, Appenzell dulcimer, double bass, bass and double bass clarinet, the quintet interprets Kirchhofer&#x27;s compositions and pieces from the repertoire of both bands. Concert duration: 50–65 minutes - Children of all ages are welcome at this concert. - We ensure that the volume is appropriate, but still recommend hearing protection for young children. - Children under 12 can attend the concert free of charge, but we kindly ask you to reserve a free ticket. - Young people between the ages of 12 and 16 pay half price. - Can&#x27;t afford a ticket? Send us a message at info@moods.ch.

Angelika Niescier & Mariá Portugal

The alto saxophonist Angelika Niescier, who is always on the lookout for new musical adventures, is one of the most prominent voices on the European jazz scene. The winner of the German Jazz Award 2024 and winner of the Albert Mangelsdorff Prize is characterized as follows in Die Welt: The saxophonist is a furious particle accelerator of atomic chains of motifs with an almost inexhaustible breath, stock of ideas and compositional wit. Mariá Portugal has been active in the Brazilian music scene for over 20 years, now lives in Berlin and has strong connections to European improvised music. Her deep roots in the Brazilian singing/songwriting tradition, coupled with a great interest in electronic music, improvisation and its use in song composition, make her an artist who moves in diverse musical contexts. The interface between song and experiment has always fascinated her. Two musicians with drive, a love of experimentation and a sparkling temperament!

Hamid Drake & Alexander Hawkins

The British pianist and composer Alexander Hawkins is a creative epicenter of the London jazz scene and is one of the most imaginative European pianists with a surprising range of activities. On this evening he will meet the drumming giant of modern jazz Hamid Drake, who wins the hearts of the audience with his voice and drums. Two style-defining musicians and masters of improvisation from two generations, united in South African music and contemporary jazz. We are looking forward to the start of a long-planned collaboration between these two exceptional musicians!

Saxophon

Sarah Buechi Trio

The album &quot;Moon Trail&quot; by Sarah Buechi, Franz Hellmüller and Rafael Jerjen was celebrated by SRF as &quot;The surprise of the year&quot; and the Zurich jazz critic Manfred Papst headlined an extensive portrait of the singer Sarah Buechi: &quot;She creates music for the future.&quot; The trio&#x27;s music shows that Sarah Buechi has traveled far and wide. For over seven years in total, she was on the road in Bangalore, Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Accra, Paris and New York. She has listened to the world and studied all kinds of music in order to develop songwriting, world and jazz in a highly personal way, whereby the balance between composition and improvisation is central. Journalist Luise Wolf describes the trio perfectly: &quot;A strong common feeling and freedom in dealing with the material are the essences that the trio draws from jazz and folk music as well as other global musical traditions. Virtuosity is never presented for its own sake. Rather, it is the underlying, pulsating energy that enables a freer interplay of references.&quot;

Alexander von Schlippenbach Monk‘s Casino

Monk&#x27;s Casino, the quintet around pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, with Axel Dörner on trumpet, Jan Roder on bass, Rudi Mahall on clarinet and Kasper Tom on drums, was formed in its original line-up in the mid-1990s and set itself the remarkable task of recording Monk&#x27;s complete works in 2004. In 2005, a triple CD was released by Intakt, which had been recorded live in Berlin&#x27;s A-Trane the year before. Monk&#x27;s themes are concise, usually quite short and extremely catchy. Just the right playing material for the musicians of Monk&#x27;s Casino: they hijack the Monk titles and don&#x27;t linger long with the traditional sequence of introducing the theme and extensive solo escapades. They take a much faster and more collective approach, using the original angularity of the compositions to interweave them within the pieces. Monk&#x27;s Casino is often fast and sometimes quite turbulent. Nevertheless, everything is well organized and, at least in this respect, under control. So here we go!

Bahamadia with The RuffCats Band & DJ Eclipse

Hip Hop Zoo & Moods present

Bahamadia is an icon of conscious and sophisticated hip-hop. The Philadelphia-born artist established herself as one of the most respected voices in the underground hip-hop scene in the 1990s. In 1996, she released Kollage, a masterful debut album produced by DJ Premier, Beatminerz and others, which is now widely regarded as a genre-defining classic. Her smooth flow, pointed lyrics and instinctive musicianship give each track a rare depth, blending jazz, soul and urban poetry. A close ally of the Gang Starr family, she has collaborated with The Roots, Talib Kweli, Slum Village and Erykah Badu. An authentic visionary, Bahamadia continues to inspire new generations and remind us that hip-hop is all about style, soul and truth. At this concert, her calm, magnetic stage presence will be amplified by a live band and DJ. Bahamadia&#x27;s show lasts 60 minutes. The evening will feature music by DJ Pattmeister and a short set by BShariRoxanne.

Trumpet

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.

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

E-Bass

Percussion

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.

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.

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

Trombone

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

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

Miroca Paris

His virtuosic percussion playing and velvety raspy voice accompanied music legend Cesária Évora for a decade. He recorded a Grammy award-winning album and toured with Madonna. With his solo career, the multi-instrumentalist is finally taking center stage and showing that he is one of the strongest performers in the Lusophone music world. Melancholic and thoughtful lyrics he brings together with his very own guitar style, to longing harmonies.

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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.