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Sarah Chaksad, born in 1983 in Lucerne, is a versatile artist with a wide range of musical activities. She works as a saxophonist, composer, producer, bandleader, manager and curator in various musical contexts.  In 2016, she released her first album with the Sarah Chaksad Orchestra entitled ‘Windmond’. In 2017, the album was presented as part of performances at the Schaffhausen Jazz Festival and the Offbeat Jazz Festival Basel. In 2019, the orchestra released its second album, ‘Tabriz’, which won international acclaim. In 2021, her septet released their debut album ‘Songlines’, which also received international praise. From 2017 to 2019, Sarah Chaksad was responsible for the Schaffhausen Jazz Talks. In 2018, she was awarded a grant from the Aargau Board of Trustees, followed by a work grant in 2020. In 2023, she released the album ‘Together’ with the Sarah Chaksad Large Ensemble and played an extensive tour of Europe with her ensemble in 2024. 
Sarah Chaksad currently runs the unique Focusyear programme at the Jazzcampus Basel together with guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel. She also founded the management and booking agency Esteam Music GmbH and, together with Patrik Zosso, the label Clap Your Hands.  As part of her founding and co-management of the Kulturstunde project, she is committed to promoting access to culture and art for primary school pupils.

Yumi Ito (born 1990 in Basel) uses her voice to create worlds far beyond all borders. This Polish-Japanese Swiss is considered one of the most outstanding representatives of vocal improvisation, moving effortlessly between genres such as art-pop, jazz and neoclassical music as well as her roles as singer, pianist, composer and improviser. Her music is an ocean of sound colours: powerful, reflective and with a unique energy that she uses like a Zen master. SWR2 Jazz named her one of the vocal discoveries of the year, and Jazzthing and Bandcamp voted her album Stardust Crystals one of the best releases of the year. Yumi Ito lives and works in Basel, performs worldwide (e.g. Blue Note Jazz Festival (NY), Jazzmandu Festival (NP)) and has shared the stage with artists such as Al Jarreau, Becca Stevens and Mark Turner. A prize winner of the Montreux Jazz Competition, she has completed the Focus Year Basel and received priority jazz funding from Pro Helvetia (2022–2024).

Marc Perrenoud was born in Berlin in 1981. The Swiss pianist and composer is regarded as one of the most important figures in contemporary European jazz. He studied at the Lausanne Conservatory (HEMU), where he received his diploma in 2004. With his virtuosity, his sense of improvisation and his own musical language, he quickly made his mark on the jazz scene.
He has won several competitions, including the Montreux Jazz Chrysler Award in 2003 and the prize for best soloist at the International Jazz Festival in Bern in 2006. In 2010, he won the ZKB Jazzpreis competition in Zurich with his trio.
As leader of the Marc Perrenoud Trio, he can be heard on stages all over the world: from Jazz at Lincoln Centre/New-York (USA) and Snug Harbour/New Orleans (USA) to the London Jazz Festival (UK) and the Marciac Jazz Festival (FR).
His critically acclaimed albums include ‘Logo’ (2008), ‘Two Lost Churches’ (2012), ‘Vestry Lamento’ (2013), ‘Hamra’ (2015), ‘Nature Boy. (2016) and ‘Morphée’ (2020).
In 2023, Marc Perrenoud collaborated with trumpeter David Enhco for the ‘Chet’ project, a tribute to Chet Baker featuring a mixture of reinterpreted standards and original compositions. For the 2022/2023 season, he was appointed Artist in Residence at the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR), which testifies to his musical openness.
Marc Perrenoud is also a teacher and teaches at the Geneva University of Music. He also heads the Pulse Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting jazz in Switzerland.