Jazz Showcase

7-9 February 2025

With this 18th instalment of Jazz Showcase, one of Europe’s most important jazz talent exchanges is coming of age. The free event, which starts at 4.30 pm on each of the three days, will once again bring to the stage six extremely promising up-and-coming bands selected by a preliminary jury from a host of applicants.

Each of these 50-minute concerts will be preceded by a discussion led by László Jazzkovács to help us get to know these young talents better, and anyone who finds themselves unable to attend this invariably unforgettable event will also be able to follow it online. Apart from the prizes awarded by the international jury made up of renowned professionals, the audience can also vote for their favourites, with winners gaining valuable opportunities to perform.

The evening concerts will once again shift the spotlight to familiar established artists. On Friday, 7 February, Junior Artisjus, Junior Prima and Creative Art award-winning multi-instrumentalist Petra Várallyay will open the series with her brand new material Circles in Motion. Usually performing alone – supplying vocals, violin and keyboards – with the help of a looper, at this concert she will be accompanied by musicians who have never been on stage together before. On Saturday the 8th, pianist/composer Zsigmond Gerlóczy, who has attracted the attention of several world-famous artists, will present his album Future Sounds, recorded in Los Angeles, in the company of French guitarist Antoine Boyer, who himself is celebrated throughout Europe. The two will also perform some new songs for the first time, as well as joint compositions of theirs. Taking the stage on Sunday will be the musicians of France’s Underground Canopy, joined by figures from the Budapest improv scene, including Fanni Zahár and Ádám Klausz, as well as Dombeats and Mukunda Papp, who are regular guests of Jazzbois.

Admission to the afternoon events is free of charge.