With Saint Tropez, the duo Subsystem joins forces with violinist Julia Czerniawska to dive into the world of French jazz and swing – from Django Reinhardt to Boris Vian. The result is a surreal collage of faux-Latin grooves, noise improvisations and chamber miniatures, creating a multicultural melting pot somewhere between Paris, New York and Berlin.

The trio creates an unconventional crossover: one moment sounding like a string ensemble, the next locking into a deep funk groove before drifting into free improvisation.

The project was originally commissioned by the Berlin concert series Zugabe!!! Django Reinhardt and French Jazz, supported by the Berlin Senate. Following their first successful performance, the three musicians became fascinated by the possibilities of this line-up and repertoire, turning it into an ongoing working band. Since then, they have continued exploring the creative potential of this unusual, witty and highly virtuosic trio.

Saint Tropez Trio:

Julia Czerniawska – violin
Raised in a musical family, she studied violin in Poland and Austria at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. After performing with various European orchestras, she discovered jazz and improvised music, studying with Didier Lockwood in Paris. She currently leads projects including CBA String Trio and the Julia Czerniawska Group.

Almut Schlichting – baritone saxophone
Based in Berlin for more than 25 years, Schlichting works as a saxophonist, composer and curator across jazz, contemporary music, performance and theatre. She tours extensively with Subsystem and the Insomnia Brass Band.

Sven Hinse – double bass
A graduate of Berlin University of the Arts and Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, Hinse works as a jazz, radio and theatre musician and collaborates with institutions including WDR, RBB and Deutsches Theater Berlin.