The Montreux Jazzfestival is Europe's largest jazz festival, held annually in the lakeside city of Montreux, Switzerland. Founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs, the festival has become a renowned event over the years, offering a unique experience to musicians and audiences alike. Located on Lake Geneva, at the foot of the Swiss Alps, Montreux is known for its picturesque surroundings and incredible views of the lake. At the time of its creation, the Montreux Jazzfestival was a three-day jazz-only event that featured some of the world's most renowned jazz-pioneers, such as Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone.
Today, it has grown to span two weeks and includes a variety of musical genres. The workshops include technical demonstrations, debates and the exchange of personal trips of artists who are scheduled to perform at the festival and are the favorites of true jazzy fans. The Montreux JAZZ Festival Foundation also organizes three international competitions every year on solo piano, guitar and voice. For a truly unique experience, take a ride on the Montreux jazztrains or the Montreux jazzboats.
The Montreux Jazzfestival has been held in various cities around the world such as São Paulo, Detroit, Atlanta, Singapore, Monaco and Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Hangzhou. For more than fifty years, it has been bringing its unique experience and atmosphere to different cities around the world. As a long-time music lover, I try to attend every year for a fantastic music experience in beautiful surroundings.