A spirit of musical openness and ambition is a defining characteristic of our weekly Festwochen concerts at Vienna’s jazz institution Porgy & Bess. A diverse range of musicians takes to the stage with new interpretations of jazz, modern R&B and contemporary electronic music. One of the highlights of the series is a performance by experimental R&B New York singer serpentwithfeet, whose poignant songs explore themes such as Black gay love, companionship and tenderness. Producer Beatrice Dillon is joined on stage for her concert evening by tabla player and composer Kuljit Bhamra, who was also part of Dillon’s LP Workaround (release of the year by The Wire music magazine).

New collaborative formats emerge when Dai Fujikura – guesting with the Festwochen commission Metamorphosis of a Living Room – proclaims on stage an expanded idea of jazz with Jan Bang, Eivind Aarset and Franz Hautzinger. And after the concert, Porgy & Bess itself becomes a Friday meeting place for all, with a DJ line-up; admission is free.