Welcome! Jonathan Zielke is now part of Jazz Palace

What Jazz Means to Me

by Jonathan Zielke

What does it mean today to be a jazz musician? For me, it is more than playing concerts—it is an attitude: moving through life improvisationally, embracing uncertainty, and turning detours into new paths.

I am 29 years old, a jazz guitarist, and recently completed my Master’s degree at the University of Music “Carl Maria von Weber” in Dresden. I have also had the opportunity to teach music on the Galápagos Islands. It was precisely these experiences beyond the “traditional career path” that showed me how much we musicians can learn from one another—if we create spaces for that exchange.

Improvisation, being fully present in the moment, and seeing mistakes as opportunities—these are core principles of jazz that I have long since applied to my way of life. That is why it is a matter close to my heart to contribute to Jazz Palace and help shape a platform that I, as an artist, have always wished for.

The beginning of my career in jazz was marked by many organizational challenges within the German music landscape: booking, funding applications, PR and marketing, album production, attracting students, reaching out to labels—all of these are responsibilities that freelance musicians must handle independently today. Much of this is not taught within the sheltered environment of a music degree, but learned in the field—often through trial and error.

This is exactly where Jazz Palace comes in. We don’t just want to attract audiences to jazz events; we also want to make musicians visible as artists, connect them with one another, and support their creative work. The platform aims to provide guidance—whether through information about funding programs, joint PR initiatives, or targeted connections to organizers and festivals.

What we envision is more than an event calendar or a simple concert overview. We want to tell stories: of musicians who live their art with dedication, of organizers who create spaces for live music against all odds, and of audiences longing for genuine exchange. Interviews, concert recommendations, background articles—perhaps even a podcast series or video formats—are just some of the ideas we would like to integrate into the platform in the long term. Our goal is to make jazz in Germany visible—not as a dusty museum piece, but as a vibrant, contemporary art form rooted in everyday life. Because this music is alive—and it has much to say.

I am convinced that a modern society needs contemporary music that encourages reflection, raises questions, and dares to confront uncomfortable truths. Especially at a time when billion-dollar streaming corporations are flooding the market with AI-generated music, it is all the more important to strengthen the alternative: handcrafted, artistically ambitious music that builds community and keeps cultural spaces alive.

Jazz Palace aims to be exactly that kind of place: a platform that creates visibility—for jazz musicians, organizers, and listeners alike. We want to bring people together again, foster connections, and lead more audiences into the jazz clubs of this country.