Salim/Salim(a) Javaid (they/them) is a Czech-Pakistani saxophonist and improviser based in Cologne.

As a performer of contemporary music, soloist and member/founder of Trio Abstrakt and Duo Galeano/Javaid,   they premiered a number of new works and are in the process of developing exciting new projects and concert formats. Salim(a) either has or will premiere new works by Pierluigi Billone, Giorgio Netti, Isabel Mundry, Franck Bedrossian, Alberto Posadas, Evan Johnson, Milica Djordjevic, Michael Edwards, James Erber, Sam Hayden, Günter Steinke and many more.

Salim(a) performed at festivals & institutions such as the Biennale del Arte Venezia, PGNM Biennale für aktuelle Musik Bremen, NOW! Festival / Philharmonie Essen, IMPULS Graz, aDevantgarde Festival Munich, March Music Days Ruse, Open Music Graz, Dresdner Tage der zeitgenössischen Musik / Hellerau Festival, Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam, Mozartfest Würzburg, Zentrum für Kunst und Medien Karlsruhe, IAMIC Konferenz 2022, Darmstädter Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Stadtgarten Köln, Serious Series Berlin and won first prizes at competitions Biberacher Jazzpreis 2018, Getxo International Jazz Contest 2017 and European Jazz Competition Burghausen 2016.

They studied both classical and jazz saxophone at the HfMT Cologne and hold master degrees from their studies in contemporary music at the Folkwang University of Arts in Essen and improvisation at the HfMT Cologne. They currently study in the excellence program ‘Konzertexamen’ of the Folkwang University of Arts under the guidance of Prof. Barbara Maurer.

Salim(a) is a curator of the ‘Plattform Nicht Dokumentierbarer Ereignisse’ and member of impakt, Cologne’s young collective of improvisers.

As of April 2023,  Salim(a) teaches Music Theory & Studies at the ZZT / Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln.