"Treffpunkt Jazz!" is a program that brings jazz from the university into the city and gives students a platform to perform live in a "safe space" outside of the campus – on the renowned stage of the Frankfurter Hof – and often with star guests, such as American jazz singer Al Jarreau. The successful concert series was initiated by the head of the Cultural Department, Marianne Grosse, along with Professor Sebastian Sternal from the Jazz and Popular Music Department and Ludwig Jantzer, the program director of the Frankfurt Hof in Mainz. The concept: A moderated, themed concert of approximately 60 minutes which is followed by a 60 minute open jam session that features an established professional musician as a surprise guest - the "session cat." Concerts focused on different themes such as "Tribute to Ella & Louis," "Lars Reichow Explains Jazz," "The Three Tenors," "Remembering Paul Kuhn," and "Funk & Soul Jazz Night" offer fantastic music as well as interesting background information on the theme of the night. In this way, the series also serves a cultural and educational role. Alexander Gelhausen, an experienced speaker and moderator is often involved. The series enjoys large audiences and has quickly developed a name for itself in the city and the region, generating a great deal of interest in the press, radio, and television.
One of the numerous ensembles offered each semester is the educational jazz combo "Jazz Messengers of Rhineland-Palatinate," founded by Alexander Gelhausen. Under the guidance of Thomas Bachmann, students make a small tour through our beautiful state, playing "Hands on Jazz" for pupils at general education schools or music schools. The result? Inspired students, articles in relevant media, a radio feature on SWR, and credit Points.
Led by Professor Jesse Milliner, the weekly Jazz Forum is intended to serve as an artistic and educational platform for students and teachers from the Jazz Department. Students and professors from other departments are also cordially invited.
Events range from concerts to workshops, presentations by renowned guest lecturers, media events, symposia, academic talks on jazz, and other interdisciplinary projects.
These forums serve to give the Jazz Department a cohesive identity, as well as to promote internal and external social and artistic communication. The forums are also public, providing important, effective external representation of the Jazz Department and the university at large. The events that take place in the forums – e.g. workshops, symposia, or the presentation of academic work – provide students and the public an easily accessible opportunity for further education.
This semester, Jazz Forums take place every Thursday at 12:30 pm in the Jazz Room of the Mainz School of Music. You can find further information in the event calendar of the Mainz School of Music.
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