Jazzmean Festival: Where Music Meets Meaning
The Cultural Club Tahar-Haddad will host the second edition of the Jazzmean Festival from October 24 to 27, 2025. This event, held under the patronage of the Regional Delegation of Cultural Affairs of Tunis, marks the opening of the 2025-2026 cultural season with a program that is both educational and artistic.
The Name Behind the Festival
The name "Jazzmean" was not chosen by chance. It is a clever combination of the word "jazz," a musical genre synonymous with freedom, improvisation, and creativity, and the English word "mean," which means "to signify" or "to have meaning." This linguistic fusion gives the festival a strong symbolic dimension: Jazzmean is literally "the meaning of jazz," a quest for depth, significance, and dialogue through music.
Going Beyond Musical Performance
By choosing this name, the organizers affirm their desire to go beyond simple musical performance. The goal is to make jazz a language, a means of expression that carries messages, stories, and emotions, accessible to all, at the crossroads of cultures and generations. The festival becomes a space where jazz regains its full cultural and human weight, far from superficial entertainment, and anchored in a thoughtful artistic approach.
Festival Program
For four days, jazz enthusiasts will be able to attend a series of masterclasses led by renowned musicians, as well as concerts that will showcase the richness of the Tunisian jazz scene. The festival will kick off on Friday, October 24, with a masterclass at 11:00 AM led by Omar Elouer, followed in the evening at 7:00 PM by a concert of his project Musk Trio, which combines modern improvisations and Mediterranean sounds.
- On Saturday, October 25, Wassim Ben Rhouma will lead a masterclass at 11:00 AM, before taking the stage at 7:00 PM with his own group for a performance exploring contemporary jazz textures.
- The program will continue on Sunday, October 26, at 7:00 PM, with the highly anticipated concert of the Ahmed Ajabi Sextet, titled Bop Elation, a tribute to hard bop and its iconic figures, revisited with freshness and virtuosity.
- Finally, the festival will close on Monday, October 27, with a concert by the Taqasim Revival Sextet, led by the master of Tunisian guitar Fawzi Chekili. This formation combines jazz, oriental maqâm, and improvisation in a refined and introspective atmosphere.
A Space for Transmission
Beyond the concerts, "Jazzmean" aims to be a space for transmission. The masterclasses, organized every morning, offer young musicians and curious individuals a rare opportunity to exchange with experienced artists, dive into their universes, and discover the technical and expressive subtleties of jazz.
Contributing to the Cultural Dynamic
By being part of the cultural dynamic of the Medina of Tunis, the festival contributes to strengthening the presence of jazz on the national scene, while giving it a distinctly Tunisian touch.
