© Berliner Festspiele

Surprises are sprung each year at this eagerly-awaited festival, held in a handful of venues across the city. Recent years have seen forays into the Italian jazz scene as well as offerings from the pulsating metropolis of Istanbul. Acts range from the top drawer to the 'yet to be discovered' category, but the bill is always entertaining and thought-provoking. Recent favourites have included Joe Zawinul with WDR Big Band of Cologne, Maria Schneider, Enrico Rava, Bill Frisell, Hermeto Pascoal and the Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra with Carla Bley. Besides regular guest bands from the USA, the festival keeps true to its policy of presenting European bands which are still largely unknown.

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Various.