I'm new here but haven't found much comment on live Jazz & Blues in Switzerland. But please correct me if I'm wrong!

Just thought I'd let you know there's a Jazz Festival in Sargans (www.jazz-sargans.ch) - it looks like every 2 years (and it was last year so we'll have to wait to 2008) they also have a great little jazz club in a hotel in the town (details on the above web site). I saw a great Blues band there a few weeks ago, Don P & The Blue Jags (www.donp.ch)

Anyone else know of good bands, venues and events?

Rapperswil have a very good yearly festival.
http://www.bluesnjazz.ch/txt/home/index.asp?navid=1
End of june

DC

Montreux has a big jazz festival every July. Have never been there yet, maybe this year....

http://www.montreuxjazz.com/index_en.aspx

Montreaux I know of of course, and I'll also try to get there this year. I guess I was meaning the smaller venues. The place in Sargans was pretty lively and they have gigs there almost every other Friday, I'm sure the big cities must have plenty of bars and clubs where you can catch some real music!

Thanks DC - just had a look at the Rapperswil web site, looks like another must see!

Marian's in Bern has a great monthly jazz line-up. I would highly recommend it.

Anyone know if there are live jazz jams in the Lausanne area?

I have been to the Piazza blues festival in Bellinzona a few times.

It usually has one or two big names and is in a beautiful setting in the old town. Well worth a look even if you're not a big blues fan.

There's no line up for this year available yet, but check out the archive to see the usual standard.

http://www.piazzablues.ch/site/index.php

I went to this a few years ago to see Keb Mo and BB King. It was a great night although the headline act didnt get on until gone midnight and it was standing room only in the Piazza. I wouldn't advise travelling back the same night either.

dave

I haven't been to the others but I've been to JazzAscona (www.jazzascona.ch) for the last 3 years. It's a great venue with small stages all along the waterfront and you can just walk along and check out the different bands.

No big names, usually, but just a very relaxed atmosphere and good traditional jazz.

Here are some photos I took last year:







The last is of Annie Ross, who is reasonably well known in jazz circles.

Thanks everyone, I'll be checking out some of these events. If anyone is in the Sargans area and fancies meeting for one of the Friday night gigs I'll be there
Mike

Estival in Lugano is a good pick as well... and for free.
Problem is that it takes place in July in parallel with the on in Montreux .

Theres always the Cully Jazz Festival, 10mins from Lausanne, at the lakeside....
www.cullyjazz.ch

There's also the Blue Balls Festival in Luzern
http://www.blueballs.ch

I forgot this one, its a small (really small) place in Lausanne that has Jazz concerts amongst other things.
http://www.theatre-colombe.ch/

Just read about the Birds Eye jazz club in Basle

www.birdseye.ch

seems pretty good too

Sud des Alpes in Geneva, the club that belongs to the AMR (http://www.amr-geneve.ch/) has excellent if at times quite hermetic stuff. They also organise a festival in the Parc des Cropettes just behind the train station.

You can check out Geneva's oldest squat, Ilot 13, a buzzing little place with a nice bar serving cheap food. Another squat, Cave 12, has regular shows (http://www.cave12.org/) and you can also try the Rhino squat, I saw there some Bulgarian woman choir in the 90's that ended up semi-famous (Mystere des voix Bulgares).

Le Chat Noir is a cabaret bar in Carouge that has a good choice of jazz and blues, often with a twist.


Otherwise Fetes de la Musique in Geneva (orgnanised on the nearest week-end to the official start of summer, on the 21st of June) has countless music stands dotted all over the city.

That aside, there is nothing to do in Geneva...

Can anyone recommend any dixie/traditional/swing jazz bands who are youthfull (not necessarily young) and prefer jamming and improvisation as opposed to well rehearsed sets ?

I was at one of the farewell party of Herb Miller, a legendary Swiss band. Although lacking in spontanaeity, they were highly entertaining and versatile. Their repertoir included not only New Orleans classics, big band numbers. Because these are their last shows (tonight as well if you're interested), they have added some beyond jazz fun stuff as well (e.g. Herb Alpert, rock & roll, Ländlermusik). Previous members of the band were also given the spotlight. I was hoping for an almighty jam session at the end with all the musicians present and past, but it didn't happen. I enjoyed the evening but I'm now yearning for some originality and 'real' jazz.

The concerts that have most impressed me in recent times were

The Blue Birds of Paradise at the Salzhaus in Brugg.

The New Orleans Hot Shots at the Laufenburg Jazz festival this year.

Breiti & Wark at the Baarer Altstadt festival.

Saw Alvin Queen at the Widder Bar in Zürich on Tuesday - fantastic.
They have regular performances on a Tuesday night - you will need to book in advance, and I think the ticket was CHF 45. Drinks predictably expensive, but it was a great night. I'll be going again soon - check out the Widder Hotel website for programme details.
Lindsay

Thanks Lindsay.... and welcome to the Forum!