Artists

Carole Alston

USA / Austria

The gospel, blues and jazz vocalist was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Maryland. After completing her studies (Bachelor in acting, dance and singing) at the Howard University College of Fine Arts, she began her engagement at the Staatstheater Bern. She played leading roles in many musicals (West Side Story - Anita, The Man of LaMancha - Aldonza, Jesus Christ Superstar - Mary Magdalene) and toured Germany, Belgium, France and Austria. She taught jazz singing at the conservatory in Klagenfurt and at the HMTM in Munich, and now lives in Vienna.

"Charismatic as all hell, Alston can belt like a red hot mamma or lend layers of meaning to "Lover Man" with her smoky, sensual tone."
(VARIETY, Sept 2006)

Carole Alston vocals
Martin Zenker bass
Abhisek Bhadra piano
Lucas Fixel drums

Once We Knew

Switzerland / Nepal

OWK is a new vocal band formation, formed at Jazzcampus, Basel in 2023. The fascination with warm sounds and floating harmonies brought the four singers, Maria von Rütte, Alice Auclair, Martina Henriques Dias and Sneha Lama together.
The band explores polyphony in intricate arrangements inspired by the musical language of the renowned “vocal supergroup” Säje. The compositions and arrangements sway between moments of simplicity and complexity.

OWK’s own sound emerges from the shared immersion in folk jazz - earthly, gentle and interwoven.

Sneha Lama vocals
Martina Henriques Dias vocals
Maria von Rütte vocals
Alice Auclair vocals
Sébastian Rudhard bass
Marcelo Figueiredo guitar

Ya Si Ver & Co

Spain

A collaborative project that reimagines the folk music of the Iberian Peninsula through the lens of jazz. The band creates original compositions and arrangements, exploring what folklore means to each of its members in their distinct cultural and artistic contexts. Improvisation plays a central role—both as a musical practice and as a way of keeping tradition alive and in motion.

The group brings together five artists with diverse backgrounds and a shared commitment to creative exploration: María Fajardo and Nené Álvarez on vocals, Javier Galiana on piano, Javier Delgado on upright bass, and Guillermo Martín-Viana on drums.

María Fajardo vocals
Nené Álvarez vocals
Javier Galiana piano
Javier Delgado upright bass
Guillermo Martín-Viana drums

Fixel Trio

Brazil / Mexico / India

Led by Rio de Janeiro based drummer and composer Lucas Fixel, featuring Jatziri Gallegos on vocals and Siddhartha Gautam on guitar. The group presents a repertoire of Brazilian music, interpreted spontaneously in improvisation, through original arrangements and Fixel's own compositions.

The performance is a celebration of the diverse communities that have shaped the drummer’s journey, capturing the vibrant spirit of Brazilian culture. Musical and extra-musical elements reflect the essence of capoeira circles, Afro-religious celebrations, and musical gatherings across Brazil. Each show offers the audience a taste of these lived experiences, creating a sensory and emotional journey.

More than just a concert, Fixel Trio invites the audience to dream collectively. Through music, a space emerges for imagining new paths, fostering possibilities, and celebrating values such as community, exchange, and mutual support. Improvisation, in this context, is not a hierarchical act but a collaborative game, a horizontal dialogue where each note invites the co-creation of space and the rediscovery of communal practices, which have always been our natural way of being.

Lucas Fixel drums
Jatziri Gallegos vocals
Siddhartha Gautam guitar

Pathorn Srikaranonda

Thailand

The award-winning saxophonist and composer has performed music in more than thirty countries around the world, ranging from classical performances with orchestras in concert halls to music festivals, to intimate settings of jazz clubs. He is considered the champion of the music of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and was a prominent member of the late King’s Au-Sau Friday Band for more than three decades.

Pathorn Srikaranonda saxophone
Abhisek Bhadra piano
Rajat Rai bass
Kasish Shrestha drums

+ Festival guests:
Martin Zenker upright bass
Paul Tynan trumpet
Javier Galiana keyboard

Paul Tynan

Canada

The compositions of Paul Tynan are rich with an esoteric sense of harmonic color and playful rhythmic textures. Full of creative interplay, his music is inspired by the rich tapestry we call Earth.

A Canadian trumpeter and composer with a long history in jazz performance and education, Paul is known for his lyrical playing and detailed compositions. For KatJazz Festival 2025, he joins a group of Nepali and international musicians for an evening of improvisation and exchange. A cosy gig at the legendary Jazz Upstairs.

Paul Tynan trumpet & flugelhorn
Rajat Rai electric guitar
Kasish Shrestha drums
Pau Roses bass
Moa Edmunds classical guitar
Tomas Carrasco flute & saxophone
Abhisek Bhadra keyboards

Ser o Duo

Chile

Ser o Dúo started in 2017 in Valparaíso, Chile. They have performed their music in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, India, Nepal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. With Tomás Carrasco on wind instruments and Moa Edmunds on acoustic guitar and electronics, the duo aims to use the possibilities given by a wide range of world flutes (silver flute, quenas, bulgarian kaval, indian bansuri, turkish ney, ocarinas, among others) and a hybrid approach to the acoustic guitar (western classical and south-american with effects) for creating music openly and inclusively, weakening stylistic and cultural borders, where the strict structure of western classical music lives together with improvisation, modern approaches and concepts taken from a wide range of musical traditions.

Moa Edmunds classical guitar
Tomas Carrasco flute & saxophone
Pau Roses bass
Guillermo Martín-Viana drums

+ Festival guests:
Jhuma Limbu vocals
Maria Fajardo vocals
Paul Tynan trumpet

Rajat Rai

Nepal

From his nepali songwriting & folk inspirations to Jazz, Reggae, Afro-Beat and West African grooves, the compositions of Rajat Rai take us on a journey across his roots and his rich musical career.

Rajat Rai vocals & guitar
Chhitij KC drums
Pau Roses bass
Paul Tynan trumpet
Tomas Carrasco flute & saxophone
Abhisek Bhadra keyboards

Sonagi Blues

Nepal

Initiated as an ensemble project by ethnomusicology students from Kathmandu University Department of Music, the band pursues traditional rhythms and melodies with the intention of harmonizing them in a contemporary setting, while deriving creative influences from three distinct genres: Nepali folk, rock, and Indian classical music. The array of instruments extends from traditional ones like the Nagara, Sichya, Bhuchya, Dha, and Sarod to modern ones such as the Guitar and Bass.

Their performances have graced prestigious venues and festivals in the vicinity, such as the Indian Embassy, Nepal Inked Tattoo Festival, Echoes in the Valley and most recently, Nepal Literature Festival drawing an audience of over 500 people.

Apeal Paudel sarod/vocals
Aayush Thapa guitar
Nischal Rai nagara, sichya, bhuchya
Prashant Shakya bass

Nami

Nepal

For her first ever original set, Nami has put together a quintet. Her songs are mostly collaborations with friends and colleagues, along with her own compositions. Nami loves exploring genres, her set consists of songs ranging from jazz & reggae to indie & pop.

Nami vocals
Nishant Shakya keys
Darshan Gece guitar
Sajan Lama bass
Aseas Shyawa drums

Kunzanee

Nepal

Kunzanee explores a Newari transitional style, bridging past and present. The set will feature originals and reimagined Nepali classics, blending tradition with modernity. Through this fusion, Kunzanee hopes to evoke both nostalgia and fresh creativity.

Kunzanee is a singer-songwriter and composer blending pop, rock, jazz, classical, and indie influences. Her music bridges tradition and modernity, crafting resonant melodies. Her debut single, Artha, explores longing and separation in Nepal Bhasa. She has performed with renowned artists like Karma Band, Robin and the Looza, and Bartika Eam Rai, reimagining Nepali classics in jazz. For Kunzanee, music is a language of emotions—each note tells a story of love, longing, and artistic freedom, inspiring listeners to feel, remember, and dream.

Kunzanee vocals
Nishant Shakya keys
Raman Giri guitar
Ravi Shrestha bass
Sudhir Acharya drums

Yaju & Samita

Nepal

Yaju & Samita explore the intersection of heritage and innovation in music. An attempt of connecting generations as they blend the beloved Nepali folk and Eastern classical inspired tunes with contemporary forms of music.

Samita Limbu vocals
Yaju Acharya vocals/flute
Nishant Shakya keys
Semil Lama guitar
Ravi Shrestha bass
Sudhir Acharya drums