“The JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz and Popular Music is pleased to be the youngest member of the Austrian music universities to participate in the Vienna Ball of Science. Jazz began its journey as dance music of the 1920s and 30s. Since then it has always been reinterpreted. So did our wonderful students, who will contribute their interpretation of this ‘dance music’. Even a musical particle can be in several places at the same time – we want to set both, dance legs and scientific inspiration of the ball guests, in motion. ”

The guitarist and music theorist Marcus Ratka is co-founder of the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz and Popular Music, which was accredited by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy in February 2017. Ratka worked as a musician with Joe Zawinul, Sylvester Levay, Harry Kupfer, Jérôme Savary, Werner Herzog, Hansi Lang, Paul Capsis, Roman Gottwald, Thomas Gansch, Mario Gonzi, Georg Breinschmid, Bumi Fian, Herwig Gradischnig and Erika Pluhar.