A Week in Montreux: Music, Mentorship & Magic by the Lake
October 2025 took me to one of the most beautiful places on earth — Montreux, Switzerland — for the Montreux Jazz Artists Residency (October 17–24). Imagine spending a week surrounded by mountains, Lake Geneva, music, and some of the most inspiring people in jazz!
The residency brought together emerging artists and world-class mentors for a packed (and joyfully exhausting) week of workshops, performances, and late-night jam sessions in Le Petit Palace that stretched well past midnight.
I was invited by the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) to moderate three sessions: “How to Present Oneself as a Band,” “How to Deal with Interviews,” and a joint session with speech therapist Marine Doliveux (Vovox) called “Health & Well-being for Jazz Musicians & Be Your Voice.” Each session had its own energy — lively, honest, and full of those “aha” moments that remind you how much music is about connection, communication, and caring for the person behind the sound.
And then there were the mentors — what an incredible group to be part of! I had the chance to share conversations and moments with Ida Nielsen (Prince), Lizz Wright, Christian Sands, Orphy Robinson MBE, Mádé Kuti, Jas Kayser (Lenny Kravitz), Binker Golding, and Cherise. Each brought their own perspective, energy, and generosity to the week.
One of my favourite parts of the week was having the opportunity to watch the mentors during their sessions with the young musicians — watching ideas spark, confidence grow, and music take shape in real time. Every conversation felt meaningful, full of honesty, laughter, and a shared love for the art that connects us all.
Montreux has this magic about it — maybe it’s the lake, maybe it’s the legacy of the festival — but being there, surrounded by so much talent and energy, was something special. I came home full of ideas, gratitude, and a renewed love for the beautiful chaos of music-making.
