In Austria there is a winter jazz festival held inside museums and churches: the 3 Tage Jazz in Saalfelden

Did you know that in the heart of the Austrian Alps, in Saalfelden, every winter there is a jazz festival with an intimate and sought-after character, but nonetheless known to fans, with concerts inside museums and churches? We’re talking about the 3 Tage Jazz festival in Saalfelden, a schedule with few equals in the European music scene, an event that manages to blend a passion for contemporary jazz with the unspoiled beauty of the Austrian Alps. With a well-established tradition, this festival takes place annually in January, attracting international audiences who want to experience jazz in a unique setting. Although it is a more intimate winter version of the celebrated summer Saalfelden Jazzfestival, the 3 Tage Jazz has earned a distinguished reputation for its artistic quality and atmospheric atmosphere. The Saalfelden Jazzfestival, held as mentioned in the summer, had its first edition in 1978, while 3 Tage Jazz is more recent: in fact, it was born in 2016, but immediately found great success among fans.

The 3 Tage Jazz, born because, the organizers have always said, “one festival was not enough,” is not just a music festival, but an event that celebrates the fusion of nature and culture. Saalfelden-Leogang, located in the Salzburg Alps, just a few kilometers from resorts such as Kitzbühel and Bad Gastein (but Saalfelden itself is a renowned international ski resort), offers an extraordinary landscape backdrop that amplifies the listening experience. Imagine attending a jazz concert surrounded by the silence and majesty of snow-capped mountains. This contrast between the hustle and bustle of music and the stillness of the surrounding nature is one of the most fascinating aspects of the festival, an experience that takes the audience away from convention to fully immerse themselves in the artistic and sensory dimension.

Performances are held at special venues, each of which has its own soul and contributes to the special atmosphere. The Stadtpfarrkirche in Saalfelden, for example, is a historic church that gives the performances a spiritual, almost sacred component, making the evening concerts true rituals of musical sharing. In such a context, the music becomes even more penetrating, touching deep chords and arousing emotions. Another fascinating venue is the Bergbau-und Gotikmuseum in Leogang, a special museum that traces the mining and artistic (!) history of the region, and which becomes the ideal setting for more intimate but no less interesting concerts.

Despite being a relatively short festival, 3 Tage Jazz has always presented a top-notch program. The calendar for the 2025 edition (Jan. 24-26, 2025) will feature prominent artists on the international jazz scene. It will begin on January 24 with a concert by Daniel Erdmann’s Velvet Revolution trio, a lineup that has made experimentation and genre fusion its trademark. The group consists of Daniel Erdmann (saxophone), Theo Ceccaldi (violin) and Jim Hart (vibraphone). Their music is characterized by impressive melodies, rhythmic diversity and experimental sound design, and ranges stylistically from jazz to classical and contemporary music.

The next day, Kunsthaus Nexus, a modern and dynamic cultural space, will host a performance by British trio Enemy, consisting of Kit Downes (piano), Petter Eldh (bass) and James Maddren (drums). Known for their daring forays into free jazz and avant-garde music, the trio pushes the traditional boundaries of jazz, creating sweeping compositions that alternate between pieces of virtuosity and tense moments before returning to dedicated melodies. The choice of Kunsthaus Nexus as the venue for this type of performance is not accidental: it is a space that, with its modern architecture and essential lines, lends itself to hosting bold and experimental performances such as Enemy’s.

Finally, the festival will conclude on Jan. 26 at the Bergbau-und Gotikmuseum in Leogang with the Duo Valcic Preuschl, formed by cellist Asja Valcic and bassist Raphael Preuschl, who will bring innovation through the encounter of classical and modern instruments (such as the cello and ukulele), creating a sonic dialogue that explores new musical horizons. This performance will close the festival with an intimate performance in a setting that invites reflection and attentive listening.

One of the strengths of 3 Tage Jazz is its accessibility. Although the event maintains a cosy atmosphere, with limited capacity and an almost family-friendly aura, it manages to attract a diverse audience from all over Europe. This is made possible by Saalfelden’s strategic location, which is easily accessible thanks to a well-developed public transportation network, including Austrian rail services (ÖBB). Festival organizers provide numerous options to make the experience comfortable and accessible, with accommodation offerings ranging from luxury hotels to more modest bed & breakfasts, integrating the music experience with the tourist experience. In addition, in recent years, the festival has also paid increasing attention to issues of environmental sustainability. The 3 Tage Jazz organization works in collaboration with local authorities and sponsors to reduce the event’s environmental impact by promoting the use of public transportation, recycling collection, and the use of eco-friendly materials for festival merchandise.

For all information you can visit www.jazzsaalfelden.com.

In Austria there is a winter jazz festival held inside museums and churches: the 3 Tage Jazz in Saalfelden

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