NICA live special 2026

NICA live special, which takes place on the eve of WINTERJAZZ Cologne, extends its program to two days. On January 8 and 9, all currently active NICA artists will present current projects and music. These evenings are primarily reserved for national and international specialist audiences. Interested audiences can reserve free tickets until January 5.

In addition to the concert hall at Stadtgarten Köln and Club JAKI, the concerts will also take place in two nearby churches, Neu St. Alban and Christuskirche, both of which are within walking distance.

The cooperation between WINTERJAZZ KÖLN and NICA artist development has proven its worth in recent years. With its two-day focus on the young, innovative improvised music scene, the beginning of the year in Cologne has become particularly attractive for an international specialist audience.

NICA artist development is a funding programme of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for musicians from North Rhine-Westphalia who work in the field of jazz and contemporary music and want to advance their artistic profile and professionalization.

Bands and musicians involved:

January 8

Jocra Likra
Jorik Bergman - flute, composition
Clara Vetter - piano, composition

Pollon with Strings
Theresia Philipp - saxophone, clarinet, composition
Axel Lindner - violin
Axel Porath - viola
Elisabeth Coudoux - cello
David Helm - double bass
Thomas Sauerborn - drums

The Mendelssohn-Project
Annie Bloch - organ
Emily Wittbrodt - cello

Thomas Sauerborn MIRABELLE
Carlotta Armbruster - trombone
Nabou Claerhout - trombone
Lucas Leidinger - piano
Tabea Kind - double bass
Thomas Sauerborn - drums, composition

January 9

- etc.: Engel-Tuerlinckx-Comsom
Jonas Engel - reeds
Anais Tuerlinckx - inside piano
Bella Comsom - electronics, lights

RAY LOZANO
Ray Lozano - vocals
Lukas Berg Rohwer - MPC, live samples
Fritz Dinter - bass, guitar
Niklas Schneider - drums

Earth Tones
Akiko Ahrendt - violin
Emily Wittbrodt - cello
Stefan Schönegg - double bass

Felix Hauptmann PERCUSSION
Felix Hauptmann - piano, composition
Roger Kintopf - double bass
Leif Berger - drums

Debacker/Javaid: Convolution II
Marlies Debacker - piano
Salim(a) Javaid - saxophone