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 RĂŒtte, Alice Auclair, Martina Henriques Dias and Sneha Lama together.
The band explores polyphony in intricate arrangements inspired by the musical language of the renowned âvocal supergroupâ SĂ€je. The compositions and arrangements sway between moments of simplicity and complexity.
OWKâs own sound emerges from the shared immersion in folk jazz - earthly, gentle and interwoven.
Sneha Lama vocals
Martina Henriques Dias vocals
Maria von RĂŒtte 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 roleâboth 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: MarĂa Fajardo and NenĂ© Ălvarez on vocals, Javier Galiana on piano, Javier Delgado on upright bass, and Guillermo MartĂn-Viana on drums.
MarĂa Fajardo vocals
NenĂ© Ălvarez vocals
Javier Galiana piano
Javier Delgado upright bass
Guillermo MartĂn-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 drummerâs 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
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
Moa Edmunds classical guitar
Tomas Carrasco flute & saxophone
Pau Roses bass
Guillermo MartĂn-Viana drums
+ Festival guests:
Jhuma Limbu vocals
Maria Fajardo vocals
Paul Tynan trumpet

Rajat Rai
Nepal
Rajat Rai vocals & guitar
Chhitij KCÂ 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
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 emotionsâeach 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
Samita Limbu vocals
Yaju Acharya vocals/flute
Nishant Shakya keys
Semil Lama guitar
Ravi Shrestha bass
Sudhir Acharya drums