Festival magazine Zettbe: Art of listening in the focus of the jazz festival!

Festival magazine Zettbe: Art of listening in the focus of the jazz festival!

On March 5, 2025, the new festival magazine "Zettbe" of the Bonn jazz festival was released. This magazine is devoted to the current key topic "The Art of Listen" and offers a variety of perspectives on 64 pages. The magazine is available free of charge in the region and can also be ordered by email (office@jazzfest-bonn.de). According to kabinett-online.de , the festival manager Peter Materna attaches great importance to listening, which he sees as fundamental for interpersonal relationships and social interaction.

In the new edition, renowned journalists from various disciplines have their say. In addition to music journalistic, neuroscientific and political perspectives, poetic contributions are also represented. The magazine contains essays, features and interviews with musicians who are part of the festival line-up. The design took over the design of Bonn's graphic designer Axel Grundhöfer, who gave the magazine a modern layout. Materna also emphasizes that the explanation of music and its meaning is crucial for a broader accessibility.

views of listening

The theme of the new season looks at hearing from different perspectives, including medical-technical, intellectual and enjoyable aspects. In an essay, the author Jason knows that active hearing creates a deep connection with the world. Drummer Eva Klesse emphasizes that she prefers to enjoy music "live and in color". Pianist Vana greedily describes how he organizes intimate concerts on his terrace in the East Village of Manhattan.

A quote from Henry David Thoreau, which is printed in the magazine, indicates that sound is closely related to silence and that this represents a sign of the strength and fertility of subliminal currents. The saxophonist Sofia wants to share her experience while enjoying a five-hour train trip to Basel with noise-canceling headphones and the sight of castles and valleys. These perspectives show that listening is not just a passive process, but can be actively experienced and felt.

a festival for the senses

The Jazzfest Bonn, which has been taking place annually since 2010, has established itself as a significant festival that promotes contemporary creative jazz. The event usually runs over three weeks in May and includes double concerts with international stars, national artists and promising young musicians. The musicians present their own compositions or creative interpretations of existing works. In 2017, for example, 23 concerts took place on twelve evenings, which underlines the high level of response.

venues include the Beethoven House and the Bundeskunsthalle. The artistic director and managing director, Peter Materna, pursues the goal of establishing Bonn as an important place for jazz. Sponsors from the economy and public institutions support the festival. All concerts were already sold out in 2013, which underlines the popularity and relevance of the jazz festival. The festival not only offers a well-known acts a platform, but also promotes creative styles beyond the mainstream, as can be read on Ga.de In summary, the new magazine "Zettbe" not only shows the importance of listening, but also supports the missionary role of the Jazzfest Bonn, to emphasize the cultivation and mediation of music in society. It runs parallel to the dynamic contact point for jazz and contributes to enriching cultural life in Bonn.