For decades, the Kölner Saxophon Mafia made waves both on Cologne's music scene and internationally with its intricate ensemble playing. When the Stadtgarten concert hall opened in 1986, the group was among the defining acts of the 50 Null Null festival. For the Night of Stadtgarten, Die Patin – Saxophon Mafia Mash Up revisits this history and carries it into the present. Forty years after the original performance, saxophonist, composer and former NICA artist Luise Volkmann returns to the place where it all began, joined by tenor saxophonists Camila Nebbia and Sakina Abdou, and baritone saxophonist Kira Linn.

Developed in dialogue with the members of the Kölner Saxophon Mafia, Volkmann takes on the role of Die Patin, bringing compositions from the ensemble's original bandbook back to the stage. Through newly created arrangements, these pieces unfold from fresh perspectives, with unexpected twists and subtle acts of homage.

Luise Volkmann (alto & soprano saxophone)
Camila Nebbia (tenor saxophone)
Sakina Abdou (tenor saxophone)
Kira Linn (baritone saxophone)

The trio Earth Tones explores the possibilities of drones on string instruments, opening up an unusual approach to contemporary sound art. Rooted in an open, deeply attentive listening practice, shimmering overtones, delicate rhythmic impulses and subtly modulated harmonic fields emerge, gradually coalescing into a concentrated musical dramaturgy – a dynamically vibrating listening experience situated between contemporary music, improvised sonic exploration and experimental sound art.

Emily Wittbrodt (cello)
Akiko Ahrendt (violin)
Stefan Schönegg (double bass)

• special guest

Whether funk or fusion, earthy soul, deep blues or sparkling straight-ahead jazz, Federation of the Groove refuses to let any single style dominate. Instead, the quartet weaves them together with virtuosity, creating music that grooves with equal measures of precision and passion. Engaging, relaxed yet always full of energy, the four Cologne-based musicians combine their own creative vision with a deep respect for the tradition.

Martin Sasse (piano)
Bruno Müller (guitar)
Claus Fischer (bass)
Hendrick Smock (drums)

Founded in East Berlin, the Fun Horns celebrate their 40th anniversary this year – just like Stadtgarten – making it the perfect occasion to welcome the quartet back to the venue where they first performed in 1990.

Their new programme is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis' birth, with a particular focus on his landmark album Kind of Blue, whose musical language and emotional depth have left an enduring mark on generations of musicians. Drawing on the sound world of a chamber-like improvising horn quartet, the Fun Horns revisit this iconic music with energy, humour and depth – respectful yet free, and animated by the same spirit of openness that made Kind of Blue so groundbreaking.

Holly Schlott (soprano & alto saxophone, flute)
Falk Breitkreuz (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet)
Jörg Huke (trombone)
Nikolaus Neuser (trumpet, french horn)

With Niels Klein, Robert Landfermann and Jonas Burgwinkel, another exclusive line-up comes together for the Night of Stadtgarten. Best known for their own ensembles and international collaborations, the three acclaimed Cologne musicians and long-time friends have joined forces as a trio. Drawing on original compositions, they embark on a musical journey shaped by powerful improvisation and joyful interplay. A special guest – another long-time musical companion – will join them on stage, but their identity will remain a secret until 4 September.

Niels Klein (soprano & tenor saxophone)
Robert Landfermann (double bass)
Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)

• special guest

A close musical dialogue within the band AKI has given rise to a new duo: vocalist Lucia Cadotsch and pianist Jozef Dumoulin distil their collaboration into an intimate and highly focused format centred on the interplay between voice and piano – nuanced, attentive and rich in detail. Drawing on Cadotsch's personal songbook as well as new material, their music moves effortlessly between song and improvisation. Both artists have long-standing ties to Stadtgarten and have appeared on its stages time and again in a wide variety of projects.

Lucia Cadotsch (vocals)
Jozef Dumoulin (piano)

Anyone willing to leave behind the clichés of saxophone and drums may well arrive at Hayden Chisholm and Manos Tsangaris. The duo's music is fluid and transparent, moving between modal and abstract harmonies with refined sonorities and a distinctive sense of wit. Long associated with Stadtgarten, the two musicians promise "a fresh little breeze" for their audience.

Manos Tsangaris (percussion, recitation)
Hayden Chisholm (saxophone, div.)

Saxophonist Angelika Niescier and pianist Marta Warelis perform without a safety net. Their music thrives on the risks of the moment, where improvisation and composition intertwine, musical ideas emerge, dissolve and take unexpected turns – focused, adventurous and charged with intensity.

A musician on a mission, Niescier has been redefining the contours of the international jazz scene through her rich tonal palette and virtuosic technique. Warelis's fearless experimental approach opens up new pathways between jazz, avant-garde and free improvisation, making her one of the defining voices of a new generation of improvising musicians in Europe.

Marta Warelis (piano)
Angelika Niescier (alto saxophone)

After setting the stage ablaze at Winterjazz 2024, MOLASS return to do it again for the anniversary celebration. The band takes neo-soul into bold new territory with a vibrant fusion of funk, jazz and electronic influences, driven by the multifaceted voice of Marissa Möller. Inspired by artists such as Hiatus Kaiyote, Moses Sumney and The Alan Parsons Project, MOLASS creates a "groovy fairytale" that balances hypnotic warmth with striking contrasts.

Marissa Möller (vocals)
Jan Lammert (keyboards)
Julian Schwiebert (bass)
Lambert Windges (drums)

To mark our 40th anniversary, Nils Petter Molvær returns to Cologne for one of his rare open-air solo performances, presented exclusively as part of the Night of Stadtgarten. A pioneer of the electroacoustic jazz that later became known as Future Jazz or Nu Jazz, the Norwegian trumpeter has spent decades shaping the dialogue between improvisation and electronic music. His unmistakable sound blends melancholic trumpet lines with atmospheric soundscapes and richly textured electronics. Yet despite his lasting influence, Molvær continues to push the boundaries of his musical language, remaining one of the most compelling voices at the intersection of jazz and electronic music.

Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet, electronics)

The sound of Neue Grafik, aka Fred N'thepe, is a distinctive fusion of jazz, house and hip-hop, shaped by his African heritage, his roots in Paris and a deep affinity for London genres such as broken beat and grime. His latest project, Rachael—inspired by the Blade Runner character of the same name—explores love in all its forms: intimate, raw, powerful, organic and deeply honest.

Fred N’thepe (keyboards, composition)
Demba Ndoye (bass)
Elle Shimada (violin)

"Art is supposed to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable" (after Cesar A. Cruz). Guided by this idea, Rebekka Salomea brings together an exceptional group of voices for a first-time collaboration, curated especially for Stadtgarten's 40th anniversary. In 2026, the singer was named Artist of the Year at the German Jazz Prize.

The many-layered connections within this promising constellation stretch across the music scenes of Cologne, Amsterdam and Berlin. Some emerged through Stadtgarten's own NICA artist development programme, others through shared band projects or simply a common musical sensibility. And friends—both on and off stage—have never been a bad thing. A concert as a reflection of our times, or perhaps a counterproposal to them—we shall see.

Rebekka Salomea (vocals)
Fabian Dudek (soprano & alto saxophone)
Pablo Giw (trumpet)
Arne Braun (guitar)
Chaerin Im (piano)
Leif Berger (drums)

In 2026, not only Stadtgarten and pianist Pablo Held celebrate their 40th birthdays – Cologne bassist Oliver Lutz also turns 40. A defining figure on the city's music scene, Lutz has created a band with re that, in the words of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, "effortlessly defies gravity through virtuosity and exuberant sonic imagination." Deeply rooted in melody yet driven by energy and openness, Lutz's compositions generate a compelling momentum that turns every concert into a journey of discovery.

Marta Wajdzik (soprano & alto saxophone)
Pablo Held (piano)
Oliver Lutz (bass)
Peter Gall (drums)

New York-based trombonist and vibraphonist Selendis Johnson works across a range of musical traditions, with a particular focus on the history and legacy of experimental, improvised Black American music. Constantly seeking new forms of collective creation, her pieces grow out of traditional practices in which musicians and instruments first merge into a shared musical language before dismantling established structures, challenging conventions and creating something entirely new together.

For the Night of Stadtgarten, Johnson has been invited to develop a new work and perform it with her dream line-up. Joining her is fellow New York-based percussionist Orchid McRae, alongside three musicians who are deeply rooted in Cologne's vibrant music scene: Moritz Wesp, Jonas Engel and Florian Herzog.

Selendis Johnson (trombone, vibraphone)
Orchid McRae (drums, percussion, electronics)
Moritz Wesp (trombone)
Jonas Engel (alto saxophone)
Florian Herzog (double bass)

Created especially for Stadtgarten's 40th anniversary, Arve Henriksen and Stian Westerhus reunite as a duo for a rare encounter between two exceptional musicians who have not shared the stage in many years. Both artists have a long-standing connection with Stadtgarten, and this anniversary performance renews that relationship through music that embodies openness, curiosity and artistic freedom while looking resolutely towards the future.

Stian Westerhus (guitar, vocals)
Arve Henriksen (trumpet)

Is it Alpine jazz, yodel funk or Ukrainian folk music? Matthias Schriefl and Tamara Lukasheva bring together musical traditions from southern Germany and Ukraine, combining the groove of the alphorn with the vocal traditions of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and blending improvisation and artistic freedom with the folk heritage of both countries.

Originally from the Allgäu region and now long based in the Rhineland, Schriefl is as well known for his irrepressible musical imagination as for his offbeat humour. Born in Odesa and also now living on the Rhine, Lukasheva most recently released her solo album Rilke Vertont, setting German poetry to music. Her remarkable vocal precision and versatility make her the perfect counterpart to Schriefl's spontaneous flights of invention. Together, Matria creates witty, boundary-crossing music that belongs to no single tradition.

Tamara Lukasheva (vocals, piano)
Matthias Schriefl (trumpet, reeds, diverse instruments)

Open, fearless and fully immersed in the moment: at the intersection of song-based and text-driven improvisation, grunge-rock energy and collective ecstasy, The Resonators create a sound all their own. For drummer, composer and NICA artist Thomas Sauerborn, the trio represents "the closest possible abstraction" of the music that has inspired him since childhood.

Together with vocalist and performer Jelena Kuljić and pianist Achim Kaufmann, the Cologne- and Berlin-based ensemble shapes an urgent collective sound interwoven with poems by Lola Ridge and Alice Dunbar-Nelson—a musical narrative that moves between quiet fragility and eruptive force. Shifting effortlessly from delicate, floating passages recalling the early ECM aesthetic to high-voltage moments evoking Anthony Braxton, Jimi Hendrix, Annette Peacock and Miles Davis's Bitches Brew era, the trio forges a distinctive collective voice.

Jelena Kuljić (vocals)
Frank Gratkowski (saxophone)
Sebastian Müller (guitar)
Achim Kaufmann (piano)
Reza Askari (bass)
Thomas Sauerborn (drums)

From midnight – All Area

DJ Money & MK Braun (Cologne Sessions)
Tobias Thomas (Total Confusion)
DJ AssTits, Slaymira & Juno.J (Hyperlove)
DJ Coco María, Buteo & Tom-Tom Discotec Special Crew

About the anniversary graphic: On September 4, 1986, the Kölner Jazz Haus initiative opened the then-newly built concert hall in the Stadtgarten, creating a venue that quickly became a major hub for creative and improvised music in Europe. Our anniversary graphic reimagines this history as a “hidden object” image, bringing together musicians, contributors, concert moments, and encounters from the past and present, and inviting viewers to explore. All photo credits can be found here on the website under the “Press” menu item.