Kris Davis joins the faculty at the Institut Jazz

The Institut Jazz FHNW welcomes Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis as new Professor of Piano and Ensembles joining in fall 2026. 

Kris Davis is one of the defining voices in contemporary jazz today. Her music moves between improvisation, composition, electronic textures, spoken word, and experimental forms. At the center of her work is a strong sense of curiosity, collaboration, and artistic risk-taking. 

Over the past years, Davis has released 24 recordings as a leader or co-leader and worked with artists including Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Holland, John Zorn, Esperanza Spalding, Tyshawn Sorey, and Ingrid Laubrock. Her album Diatom Ribbons was named Jazz Album of the Year in 2019 by both The New York Times and the NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll. In 2023, she released Diatom Ribbons – Live at the Village Vanguard featuring Terri Lyne Carrington, Julian Lage, Val Jeanty, and Trevor Dunn. 

Davis has received numerous awards for her artistic work, including the Doris Duke Artist Award and multiple recognitions from DownBeat magazine and the Jazz Journalists Association. 

Education and mentorship are central parts of her practice. She currently serves as Associate Program Director of Creative Development at the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and is the founder of Pyroclastic Records. 

At the Institut Jazz, Kris Davis will contribute her broad artistic perspective and collaborative approach to an environment shaped by exchange, experimentation, and contemporary musical practice. We are excited to welcome her to the community.