Jazz Tage Lenk ohne Nicole Wälti?

Text Simon Holliday & Christian Rannenberg Being a musician, you have to travel a lot to make a living. Sometimes, sadly, you are required to ply your creative trade in less-than-ideal conditions, dealing with ignorant and/or arrogant promoters and struggling to be recognised as a human being. Happily, though, this is not the norm, and certainly not the case at the Lenk Jazz Festival, run by the wonderful Nicole Wälti. She is one of that special breed of person who understands the artistic temperament (no easy task!) and thus has the ability to deal with all those egos brought together in such a small space. She finds equal time for both international stars, upcoming performers, and those of us somewhere in the middle of the field, taking care to visit each stage at least once a day, both to see that all is well, and to introduce the acts. No need to look for Nicole in order to re-schedule a soundcheck if required, organise CD sales space, juggle hotel rooms or – at some venues Mission Impossible – pick up the money! She seems to have a sixth sense for these things and much more, and just as you say “I’d better check such-and-such with Nicole, back in a minute.” there she is! Her wealth of experience and knowledge of music and musicians is second to none, and, without Nicole, the festival would not be the success that it is. There is a saying that goes “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. Well Lenk sure isn’t broke. So let us hope the decision that has been made to oust Nicole from, let’s be honest about this, HER brainchild, will be swiftly reversed. It would be a shame if those musicians who have ‘done’ Lenk several times over the years felt unable to return due to political manoeuvres upstairs. The Lenk Jazz Festival is a happy family, with Nicole Wälti firmly established as mother/aunty. Please let’s keep it that way.