The LOFT recording project
a competition initiated by 2ndFLOOR e.V.
Prizes: for the best 3 applications on a concert date at LOFT including live recording plus an additional studio day.
Over the past 35 years, the LOFT in Cologne has developed into one of the most prominent venues for jazz and improvised music in Germany. In addition to the outstanding acoustics, the special atmosphere and, of course, the two excellent concert grand pianos (a Steinway D and a Yahama C3), the recording studio, which is known far beyond the borders, has contributed to this success. More than 1,000 recordings from the LOFT have been released on CD or digitally to date.
The recording project has now been successfully carried out five times (2019, 2021-2024), and many of the resulting recordings have also been published.
The space and studio were made available free of charge by the association, while additional funds came from the NRW venue program prize, which the LOFT has always received since it was awarded 16 years ago, among other things for the promotion of regionally effective bands and up-and-coming artists.
The recording project 2025 competition has changed slightly in 2025: the 3 prizes are each a concert date with a live recording, plus an additional studio day each for pre-/post-production.
The concert (plus recordings) should take place in the 2nd half of 2025.
The program is aimed at jazz musicians from North Rhine-Westphalia and jazz students at the universities in Cologne, Essen and Mainz.
Bands with an average age of up to 25 years and soloists who are not older than 25 years can apply.
Applications with two pianists are possible.
The application deadline is Friday, April 10th of 2025.
Required application documents:
• short curriculum vitae of the applicant
• two recordings (self-made documentary recordings – e.g. with Zoom or similar – are also welcome)
• short concept (max. 1,000 characters)
• Overview of the line-up including the ages of the musicians involved
please send via email to: info@loftkoeln.de – Subject: recording project 2025
A jury consisting of the chairmen of 2ndFLOOR e.V., Prof. Shannon Barnett and Prof. Sebastian Sternal, as well as the sound engineers Christian Heck and Stefan Deistler, will decide on the award.