Sebastian writes. We congratulate Raimund Meisenberger of the Passauer Neue Zeitung on his scoop, reporting what we believe to be the first jazz festival in the world since lockdown. He reports that Jazzfest Passau 2020 in Bavaria will open on 2 June. The driving force behind this festival is a good friend of LJN, trombonist, festival organizer and head of Pao Records, Paul Zauner. Here is the article: 

Jazzfest Passau at full/previous capacity. Photo courtesy of Paul Zauner

Music is coming back. Jazzfest Passau starts on 2 June

For months, performance venues have been a sad, dead place. But since the announcement from the Bavarian regional government that from 15 June – under strict hygiene and distance requirements – theatre, concerts, cinema and other cultural events would again be possible, things have been moving very quickly.

Arts Minister Bernd Sibler announced the  regulatory framework: From 15 June, 50 guests are allowed indoors, 100 outdoors. But Jazzfest Passau is setting an example and will get going even earlier: the annual open-air series produced by Paul Zauner and Jürgen Waldner in the Rathausinnenhof (inner court of the town hall) begins as early as next Tuesday, 2 June; by the end of August, around 50 events are to take place, as always with free admission, donations welcome.

The programme is to be published in the next few days. “It is important to us that we start as soon as possible”, says Paul Zauner, “and that music is played – under legal conditions”. That means: less than 50 visitors outside, entrance and exit are separate, only one beer bench per person.

It will be a strange sight at the start of the jazz session from guitarist Daniel Wildner‘s trio (with bassist Markus Schlesag and drummer Gerhard Braumandl), but it is a start, and live cultural life continues on its way.

This is Sebastian’s English version of the original German article- LINK HERE 

Jazzfest Passau website