With a sound that slips between jazz, club and experimental, Glasgow outfit corto.alto is hard to pin down — and all the more exciting for it. Headed by trombonist and producer Liam Shortall, the group brings raw energy and genre fluidity to the stage. Ahead of their show at XJAZZ!, Anna Grubauer spoke to him about live shows, creative freedom, and the friendships that keep it all moving.
OFFKEY reports back from the heart of Kreuzberg, where jazz wasn’t just played—it was lived, stretched, bent, and reimagined at XJAZZ! 2025. Over five days, the festival transformed Berlin into a humming epicenter of improvisation, resistance, and radical joy. From breakout debuts to soul-igniting jam sessions, we witnessed a city vibrating in rhythm with a global community of artists and listeners.
Once again, we have the pleasure of covering one of Berlin’s festival gems: XJAZZ!. This year, the festival returns for a bold new edition, running from May 14 to 18 at Festsaal Kreuzberg and surrounding venues. With a finger always on the pulse of boundary-pushing sound and community-driven energy, XJAZZ! 2025 promises to be a week-long celebration of everything that makes Berlin’s music scene so electrifying — and so globally relevant.
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