Ever wondered what it sounds like when history and music collide? The Jazz-Schmiede in Düsseldorf is such a place. It is more than just a venue. The Jazz-Schmiede is a testament to Düsseldorf’s vibrant cultural scene.
This is the Jazz-Schmiede. It is a unique concert hall born from industrial roots. The building itself was once a smithy. It was part of the historic Salzmannbau complex. This founding-era industrial site got a new lease on life. In 1994, architect Heiner Siefert transformed the smithy. He was a founding member of Jazz in Düsseldorf e. V.. He turned it into an intimate concert space. It can host up to 200 visitors.
To make the Jazz-Schmiede a reality, Jazz in Düsseldorf e. V. was founded in 1994. Drummer Peter Weiss initiated it. The association oversaw the building’s conversion. Since September 1995, it has managed the venue. Concerts are the main focus. Theater performances also happen here. The association’s goal is to invigorate Düsseldorf’s jazz scene. Peter Weiss has worked towards a new jazz club in Düsseldorf since the early 1990s. He is the long-standing chairman of the association. Since 2000, the Jazz-Schmiede has been a fixture in Düsseldorf’s budget.
Each year, the Jazz-Schmiede hosts at least 50 concerts. Modern jazz, world music, and fusion genres take center stage. Small groups to big bands perform here. Regional and international musicians grace its stage. Weekly jam sessions occur too. These take place apart from the summer break. Other events add to the program.
In its first eight years, the Jazz-Schmiede hosted jazz legends. Tommy Flanagan and the Roy Haynes Trio played here. The WDR Big Band and The Fensters also performed. Till Brönner, the European Jazz Ensemble, and Charlie Mariano appeared. Lee Konitz added to the stellar lineup. Later performers included Bill Evans and Dave Weckl. Steve Gadd and Jimmy Cobb took the stage too. Randy Brecker, Brian Blade, Chris Potter, and Ernie Watts followed. James Moody, Al Foster, Sheila Jordan, and Pablo Held have all played here.
Several musicians play here often in various formations. Pianists Xaver Fischer and Martin Sasse are regulars. Omer Klein, Laia Genc, and Sebastian Gahler also perform frequently. Guitarists Philipp van Endert and Axel Fischbacher appear here. Bassist André Nendza and the Cécile Verny Quartet are familiar faces. Vibraphonists Mathias Haus and Tom Lorenz often play here. Saxophonists Paul Heller and Karolina Strassmayer perform. Reiner Witzel and Angelika Niescier grace the stage. Singers Sabine Kühlich and Inga Lüning perform here. Fay Claassen, Lisa Bassenge, Hannah Köpf, and Tamara Lukasheva have sung here. The WDR Big Band and Six8tyOne have played here. Jeff Hamilton and Peter Baumgärtner are drummers that have performed here. Baumgärtner curated the Friday concert program for over ten years.
Jazz in Düsseldorf e. V. and the Eine Welt Forum Düsseldorf organize Jazz and World Music in the Hofgarten. This concert series occurs every summer. The Jazz-Schmiede’s program has received numerous awards. It has repeatedly won the venue award of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has received the “Applaus” national venue award four times.
Since 1996, the Jazz-Schmiede has been recording radio broadcasts regularly. The WDR Big Band and other jazz concerts have been recorded. WDR radio, WDR television, and Deutschlandfunk broadcast them.
Now, as the final chord fades in our minds, remember that the Jazz-Schmiede is not just a place. It is a living, breathing part of Düsseldorf’s cultural heart. It keeps the spirit of jazz alive for locals and visitors alike.