“Unplugged”, the concert series conceived by MTV, has been in existence since 1989. It invites successful and exciting musicians from all over the world to present a selection of their songs acoustically in a relaxed, individually designed atmosphere. Among those artists is now Max Raabe & Palast Orchester, who thereby join an illustrious pantheon of star musicians from a wide range of genres. MTV Unplugged concerts traditionally make use of evocative locations. Many of them were never before used for music, but all have a special connection to the artists concerned. This soon gave Max Raabe & Palast Orchester an idea for a perfect spot: the “shabby chic” Hall of Mirrors in Clärchen’s Ballhaus. So why not plunge into the special atmosphere of MTV Unplugged with Max Raabe & Palast Orchester at a spot that seems tailor-made for the occasion. Accompany the Palast Orchester in yet another chapter in its successful international history. Here, in this gathering of valued musicians and friends, that his¬tory reaches another zenith and adds yet another radiant and euphonious facet to the iridescent gems of MTV’s Unplugged series.
John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension in Sofia
Join us on the stage of the A to JazZ Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, and witness the stunning virtuosity of legendary guitarist John McLaughlin and his band The 4th Dimension. This promises
to be an intense and captivating evening of music with poignant tributes to Pharoah Sanders and Paco de Luci a.
British guitarist and composer John McLaughlin has been an emblematic figure of the world jazz stage since the 1970s, known for his frequent excursions in the fields of rock, Indian
music, and flamenco. He notably played on Miles Davis’s first jazz rock albums, In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. In the early 70s, he also founded groups such as Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti with Indian musicians L. Shankar, Zakir Hussein, and Ragahvan.
Other collaborations include Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Haden, Dave Liebman, Carlos Santana, Chick Corea, and Paco de Lucia, to name just a few.
John Scofield’s Long Days Quartet in Rome
After experimenting with different ensembles, John Scofield has configured a new group for the summer of 2025. Naming it Long Days Quartet in honor of the long daylight hours of July, this group is forming now to debut Scofield’s groovy new compositions and revisit some of his classics with fresh perspectives. Twenty-six years after their first collaboration (Scofield’s “A GoGo” album), keyboardist John Medeski and Scofield continue their fantastic collaboration together. For this concert at Casa del Jazz in Rome inside the SUMMERTIME Festival, they will be joined by the brilliant and versatile bassist Vicente Archer and a new team member, Seattle’s Ted Poor on drums.
ECM Explorations: Shai Maestro in Paris
The ECM Explorations series evoke the diversity and abundance of a label with over a thousand records. Discovered in the early 2010s, pianist Shai Maestro’s musical language is rich in nuance and lyricism. For ECM, he has chiselled The Dream Thief (2022), a jewel recorded with Jorge Roeder (double bass) and Ofri Nehemya (drums). In occasion of this concert at the stunning Philharmonie de Paris, Shai Maestro shares the stage with Barak Mori at the bass and Francesco Ciniglio at the drums.
ECM Exploration: Avishai Cohen Quartet in Paris
The Philharmonie de Paris celebrates ECM, the legendary record label founded by Manfred Eicher that explores diverse musical horizons, with elegance as its only compass. In gravitation since the late 1990s, trumpeter Avishai Cohen – not to be confused with his compatriot double bassist of the same name – practices a fervent music striving for purity. Formed with Yonathan Avishai (piano), Barak Mori (double bass) and Ziv Ravitz (drums), his acoustic jazz quartet presents Ashes to Gold, a superb album of evolving chiaroscuro released by ECM in 2024.
ECM Exploration: Anouar Brahem in Paris
Inspirational oud master Anouar Brahem is joined by three esteemed colleagues to present music from his new album, “After the Last Sky”, in this concert filmed live at the Philharmonie de Paris. Eight years after his previous project, “After the Last Sky” marks the first time that Brahem features a cello in his group music, with Anja Lechner – a cellist as well versed in classical music as in improvisation and in Brahem’s unique sound world – taking a leading role alongside pianist Django Bates and bassist Dave Holland.
The Cubop City Big Band
The Cubop City Big Band is known as the most prominent European Latin orchestra of the past three decades. It has been a leading force in the international salsa and Latin jazz scene. With their innovative interpretations and arrangements of the Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz repertoire, the orchestra brings the rich cultural heritage of this music to life. In this live recorded concert ‘El Gran Concierto’, the Cubop City Big Band celebrates it’s 25th anniversary and presents the best of their repertoire that includes music by Machito, Beny Moré, Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente and many more.
Steve Gadd Band at Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival
Regarded as one the most influential drummers in contemporary music, Gadd can play anything, easily bridging different musical styles. His feel, technique, and musicality on such tunes as Paul Simon’s “Fifty Ways”, Steely Dan’s “Aja”, and Chick Corea’s “Nite Sprite”. Today, Gadd is as busy as ever, balancing frequent recording dates with a hectic touring schedule that includes high profile artists such as Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Kate Bush, and Paul Simon. He also has been equally passionate about producing some personal projects on which he also plays drums: The Gaddabouts (w/Edie Brickell, Andy Fairweather Low, & Pino Palladino), Steve Gadd & Friends and Steve Gadd Band. Steve Gadd Band includes Grammy nominated pianist Larry Goldings, Michael Landau/guitar, Travis Carlton/bass, Walt Fowler/trumpet and flugelhorn.
Ron Carter “Foursight” Quartet special guest appearence Marcus Miller at Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival
Nobody sounds like Ron Carter. An obvious sound, strings that vibrate sensitively to create the longest jazz notes that seem to dance in weightlessness… While his double bass produces a lively groove similar to an electric bass, Payton Crossley resonates his cymbals, Jimmy Green his tenor saxophone and pianist Renee Rosnes her choruses. This is the recipe of the Foursight Quartet. The quartet pays tribute to the late pianist Geri Allen with the bluesy “Nearly”, and Chet Baker, the antipode of Miles Davis, with “You And the Night”. Every Marcus Miller appearance on stage is an event in a world that is somewhere between Funk, Soul and modern Jazz… His many collaborations with the greats – Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Carlos Santana to name but a few – have shaped his musical environment.
Billy Cobham’ Spectrum 50 project at Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival
This architect of rhythm is considered one of the world’s finest drummers. A leader in jazz rock and fusion, and now reconverted to acoustic jazz, we are talking about Billy Cobham, of course! In 1973, the musician left the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra to release his first solo album, Spectrum. Although he had a clear idea of what he wanted to do, he never imagined that he’d be giving shape to one of jazz rock’s landmark recordings, and celebrating it on tour 40 years later…A collaborator of Miles Davis, George Benson and Quincy Jones, he also signed numerous albums as a leader, notably with his group Spectrum Band in the early 70s. A master in the art of polyrhythm and the key drum of jazz rock, Billy Cobham has illuminated with his science hundreds of sessions that, from Miles Davis to the Mahavishnu Orchestra via Dreams with the Brecker brothers, cover a staggeringly wide spectrum. In 2009, the artist released Drum ‘n’ Voice 3, a return to the jazz-funk sound of the 1970s, with guests such as Brian Auger, George Duke and Gino Vannelli.Cobham plays his drums using the open-hand technique, which allows the musician to play without crossing his right hand over the snare drum. His concert at the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival is certainly be one to watch.