Photo: Kinga Glyk © Peter Hönneman

Whether you prefer a vibe closer to a New York jazz club or sounds with a 1970s punk edge, each evening of this year’s Echter’Jazz Festival promises a unique experience for even the most discerning jazz fan. 

Each evening of this year’s three-day lineup, running 26-28 February, includes performances in the main hall followed by after-club sessions, designed to mimic a relaxed jazz lounge, where listeners can unwind with a drink in hand. 

The festival aims to attract a mix of local and international attendees—the split, according to Trifolion director Maxime Bender, normally tends to be around 60%/40% Luxembourg/international split, though this year he was excited to share that visitors will be coming in from as far as Amsterdam, even London. He adds that the festival is becoming increasingly “known in the scene”, especially amongst jazz lovers, with each evening offering a slightly different vibe. 

First evening: New York vibes

Kicking off Thursday’s lineup is the Pablo Held Trio, a German group which includes bassist Robert Landfermann and drummer Jonas Burgwinkel. Maxime Bender, a composer and instrumentalist who himself is well-known in the European jazz scene, studied with Pablo Held two decades ago in Cologne and calls the trio “one of the best jazz piano trios in Germany”. The trio, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, invites to the stage special guest Chris Potter, a jazz saxophonist who has played with a variety of bands, including The Rolling Stones and U2. “It’s a great match for the festival,” Bender adds, “because Chris Potter already played here with his own trio, so he knows the place.”

Also on Thursday: the Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio. The New York Times has praised American jazz guitarist Rosenwinkel for having “spent most of his career perfecting an aerodynamic yet pensive style”. Having both these trios in Thursday’s lineup promises, per Bender, “a New York kind of vibe. We’re going to have magic on stage.”

The Belardi – Dahm – Possing Standards Trio rounds out the evening’s after-club session. This Luxembourg trio performs standard jazz works by Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and more. 

Second evening: French and fusion

French accordionist Vincent Peirani starts Friday evening’s lineup with his quintet and what Bender calls “an amazing lineup”, which includes Émile Parisien, Tony Paeleman, Yoann Serra and Julien Herné, with their sound exploration “Living Being IV: Time Reflections”, a project born at the start of the covid-19 pandemic. 

The next act is Ozma, which Bender calls a “more fusion-esque band”. With eight albums to its name, Ozma combines electronics to perform jazz that might sound closer to a rock concert. Founded in Strasbourg, Ozma has strived to push boundaries in modern jazz and build cross-cultural bridges through its sound. 

Olga Olmachenko, whom Bender calls “an amazing saxophone player”, will provide the after-club ambience. A Russian who now lives in Paris, Olmachenko’s works have been shaped not just from her years living in Germany but also by legends such as John Coltrane. 

Third evening: ladies, Luxembourg in the limelight                                                                         

On Saturday, the Francesca Tandoi Trio takes to the stage. Bender calls Italian Tandoi “an amazing be-bop pianist”, and she has taken to many stages of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals, dazzling with her elegance and refinement. 

Next up: Polish bassist and composer Kinga Glyk playing with the Luxembourg Jazz Orchestra. “That will be a big highlight of the festival,” Bender explains, adding that her music has a punk, 1970s flair to it. “You’re going to dance that night, for sure.”

Part of the new generation of Luxembourg jazz talent, Jambal plays the last after-club session at this year’s festival. “I think we have quite a strong jazz scene for this small country,” Bender adds. “We also have a lot of young people [on the scene].”

Festival tickets

Each evening of jazz begins at 7pm at Trifolion Echternach, trifolion.lu.