Associação Sons da Lusofonia, through an International Cooperation Agreement established by DGARTES, is enabling the participation of the largest Portuguese delegation to date (comprising representatives from the jazz and improvised music sectors) at Europe’s leading jazz trade fair, the Bremen International Jazzahead! Trade Fair & Festival, which will take place from April 22 to 25, 2026, in Bremen, Germany. Events of this nature play a vital role in the internationalization of Portuguese talent, fostering meaningful connections with the European music scene and creating opportunities for artistic exchange and collaboration.

The participation includes a dedicated stand at the trade fair, highlighting Portugal’s presence and providing information aimed at promoting jazz and improvised music created in Portugal, as well as fostering international networking opportunities.

The Portuguese delegation brings together nine key institutions representing the national music, jazz, and improvised music sectors, including educational institutions, festivals, labels, distributors, and other cultural stakeholders.

For the artistic programme, Portugal’s participation also features 12 musicians across three projects selected for the Clubnight programme, which will take place on April 24 from 18:30 at FLUX / Kukoon. The selected projects are: Isabel Rato Quintet, José Soares Quarteto “Soma”, and Marcelo dos Reis Trio “Flora”.

The Portuguese artistic programme features three distinctive projects that reflect the diversity and vitality of the country’s jazz and improvised music scene. The Isabel Rato Quintet celebrates a decade of creative work by pianist and composer Isabel Rato, blending jazz with Portuguese tradition and classical influences in a lyrical and deeply expressive musical language. The José Soares Quarteto “SOMA” presents a contemporary and internationally rooted project, combining composition, improvisation, and visual elements, shaped by the artist’s strong connection to the European jazz scene. Finally, the Marcelo dos Reis Trio “Flora” showcases an intense and exploratory approach, merging avant-garde jazz, sonic rock, and European improvisation into dynamic and highly interactive performances. Together, these projects highlight the richness, innovation, and international relevance of Portuguese musical creation today.

Photo: Marcelo dos Reis FLORA by David Dias