Hot and Free. Jazz im geteilten Berlin, 1950–1970“: Heißer Klang der Nachkriegsjahre – Hot Jazz 1950–1960 THE HOT CLUB OF BERLIN

Kickoff of the concert series “Hot and Free: Jazz in Divided Berlin, 1950–1970”: 

 The Sizzling Sounds of the Postwar Years – Hot Jazz 1950–1960

THE HOT CLUB OF BERLIN

Rodrigo Bauzá – violin

Francisco Batista – lead guitar

Fredi Gebhardt – rhythm guitar

George Birkett – rhythm guitar

James Banner – rhythm guitar

What did jazz sound like on both sides of the Berlin Wall? What creative freedoms did it open up—and what political constraints did it face?

With the concert and discussion series “Hot and Free? Jazz in Divided Berlin, 1950–1970,” Jazz am Helmholtzplatz e.V. embarks on a musical journey through the history of jazz in divided Berlin. Six concerts, conversations with eyewitnesses, historical introductions, and a podcast bring a fascinating chapter of Berlin’s musical and contemporary history to life.

Before bebop and free jazz took the stage, it was hot jazz that shaped musical life after 1945. Danceable and virtuosic, it built on the traditions of swing, Dixieland, and the French jazz manouche style pioneered by Django Reinhardt. This sound could be heard in both West Germany and the GDR during the early postwar years and served as the starting point for many musicians who would later play a decisive role in shaping German jazz history.

To kick off the series, The Hot Club of Berlin brings this fascinating era back to life. The internationally cast quintet ranks among the leading ensembles of jazz manouche, draws inspiration from the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and regularly thrills its audience—including at Berlin’s Zig Zag Jazz Club.