The French saxophonist and clarinettist Louis Sclavis will be the first jazz musician to perform in this prestigious art gallery (6 April). The undisputed patriarch of jazz on the continent and star of the prestigious catalogue of albums from the German label ECM, the Frenchman will be joined by his quintet to perform highlights from his latest album, “Lost on the way” for the first time in Spain.

The Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal, who also has a new album, “Skywards”, will be stating another major claim for free and improvised music on April 10. The album, completed three years ago, involves a genuine avant-garde group, starring the trumpet player Palle Mikkelborg, pianist and conductor Christian Eggen and drummers Jon Christensen and Paolo Vinaccia.

Meanwhile, Italian pianist Rita Marcotulli (29 April) will also be getting herself into the spirit of this festival, which is new in both Madrid and Europe. This musician from Rome has made a big name for herself alongside classical jazz musicians such as Chet Baker, Billy Cobham and Charlie Mariano as well as more modern musicians including Joe Lovano, Nguyên Lê and Andy Sheppard.

The festival will be completed by two trios, one Spanish and the other Swedish; the first being made up of three of the best jazz musicians on the national scene: pianist Iñaki Salvador, double bass player Francis Pose and drummer José Vázquez “Roper” (8 April), who have just released their first album together, “Espacio abierto” (Quadrant Records).

The second trio is headed by the Swedish pianist Martin Tingvall (25 April), with Cuban double bass player Omar Rodríguez and German drummer Jürgen Spiegel. They will also be playing numbers from their latest album, “Vattensaga” (Skip/Indigo Records).

This will be a short, but without any doubt sweet, demonstration of the different ways in which the heart of contemporary European jazz beats, and will be brought to a close by the Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine (26 June, Puerta del Ángel venue).