Schedule

Annual trade fair, exhibition, and festival jazzahead! is one of the international jazz community’s most important events. Hosted in Bremen, Germany, jazzahead! brings together musicians, bookers, agents, organizers, jazz experts, and music enthusiasts at the world’s largest jazz event. In 2024, jazzahead! paid special attention to the jazz scene of the Netherlands and invited over forty jazz acts to perform over the course of three days. Among the ensembles presenting themselves at jazzahead! 2024 is the Julia Kadel Trio. German pianist and composer Julia Kadel introduces her new trio, featuring Greek-German bassist Athina Kontou and American drummer Devin Gray. Following the release of their album ‘Powerful Vulnerability’, Kadel describes her music’s central theme as the transformative power of vulnerability, suggesting that it is a source of strength, stability, and deeper connections with oneself and others. With over a decade of leading various projects in European jazz, Kadel is also committed to social advocacy through Future Bloom, a festival network that opposes discrimination. Additionally, Kadel co-founded the Queer Cheer Community, a collective that was honored with the “Sonderpreis der Jury” at the 2023 German Jazz Prize. Queer Cheer, established by Julia Kadel, Erik Leuthäuser, Laura Winkler, and Friede Merz, is one of the first queer communities in the German jazz scene, addressing issues such as diversity, intersectionality, multi-perspectivity, and interdisciplinarity.

Annual trade fair, exhibition, and festival jazzahead! is one of the international jazz community’s most important events. Hosted in Bremen, Germany, jazzahead! brings together musicians, bookers, agents, organizers, jazz experts, and music enthusiasts at the world’s largest jazz event. In 2024, jazzahead! paid special attention to the jazz scene of the Netherlands and invited over forty jazz acts to perform over the course of three days. Among the bands presenting themselves at jazzahead! 2024 is the trio of Swiss-based vocalist, pianist, and composer Yumi Ito. Polish-Japanese-Swiss Yumi Ito navigates the realms of art-pop, jazz, and neoclassical music. Her album ‘Ysla’ (2023) marks a high point in her career, blending personal narratives, remarkable improvisational skill, and a distinctive vocal tone that evokes the image of an isolated, resilient island. Ito has graced the stages of some of the world's most renowned festivals, including the Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Jazzmandu Festival. At jazzahead! 2024, Yumi Ito (vocals, piano) appears with Nadav Erlich (double bass) and Iago Fernandez (drums).

Big hits, booty dancing, stage dives, fan freestyles and of course, controversy, A$AP Rocky's debut Down Under tour had it all! At his sold-out Sydney show, hip hop's hottest star and 5000 rowdy fans got wild for the night at the Hordern Pavilion and we captured it all exclusively.

Anita O’Day boasts two wonderful concerts from 1963 and 1970 that present the “jazz singer supreme” in impeccable form. O’Day’s horn-based approach to singing is in full effect throughout both shows including stand-out renditions in each show of audience favorites “Tea For Two” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” (both reprised from her triumphant appearance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.) This show is a fitting testimony to one of jazz music’s true originals and shows unequivocally why she is ranked in the top tier of vocalists along with Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday.

Having played in New York with jazz icons Dave Liebman, Eliot Zigmund, Ari Hoenig, and Chris Cheek, Catalan bass player Manel Fortià now returns to his roots to reinvent traditional Catalan repertoire. Manel Fortià teams up with Antonia Lizana (saxophones), Pere Martínez (vocals), Max Villavecchia (piano), and Raphael Pannier (drums) to form ‘Libérica’, reimagining Catalan music and Flamenco through the eyes of a New York jazz musician. Their 2021 album ‘Arrels’ explores Catalan hymns, including ‘El cant dels ocells’ and ‘Els tres tambors’, heard here during a live performance at Nova Jazz Cava in Barcelona.

Since 1994, World Music Expo (WOMEX) has been attracting musicians, agents, a great number of press agencies, as well as media companies from all over the world. Its main exposition event has been held in various locations throughout Europe, including Berlin, Brussels, Marseille, Stockholm, Seville, Cardiff, and Budapest. The 2018 edition of WOMEX was held in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. One of its showcase participants, Vishten, has been animating audiences for 15 years with its fiery blend of traditional French songs and original instrumentals fusing Celtic, Acadian and contemporary folk influences with energetic virtuosity. The trio comprises multi-instrumentalists Emmanuelle and Pastelle LeBlanc from Prince Edward Island and Pascal Miousse from the Magdalen Islands.

Innovative contemporary jazz and improvised music, the search for modernity, mind blowing sounds, rock and pop… Indeed PARADOX Tilburg goes beyond jazz, crossing musical boundaries into the unknown soundscapes of electronic music. Indie artists, blues veterans and jazz superstars all pour their hearts and souls at the Paradox. From young, local talents to top national and international artists, PARADOX Tilburg is the most intimate jazz club in the Netherlands, with a devoted audience from all across Europe. In their TV show PARADOX LIVE you get a taste of the greatest concerts and interviews with artists from all around the world. This episode of PARADOX LIVE presents the American saxophone player James Brandon Lewis.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1987, smooth jazz saxophonist and crowd-favorite Kenny G serenaded those attending the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. After beginning his career in the Love Unlimited Orchestra, he now brings his own band for this hypnotic performance.

Maria João and Aki Takase are a musical explosion all by themselves. Combine them with bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted- Pedersen and you've got an amazing jazz concert!

In this DJAZZ Belgium Sessions performance, which was recorded at AED Studios in Lint, Belgium, we witness Europe’s finest jazz musicians at work. A wide variety of international jazz musicians give a creative, up-close and inside insight into their art of playing jazz music. Young talent and established jazz musicians play to their heart’s content: take for instance this unusual performance by the multi-ethnic ensemble Hijaz. This band explores the dialogue between piano and the oud, a pear-shaped stringed instrument from the East. Hijaz is a close-knit quartet that explores the differences and similarities between Mediterranean cultures in order to create moments of harmony, warmth, and great musical beauty.

When Daryl Hall and John Oates took to the stage at Sydney’s Entertainment Centre as the iconic bass line of ‘Maneater’ began to play, the fans knew they were in for a treat. This duo may have been opening concerts with that irresistibly smooth number for years, but it never seems to lose its magic, and the crowd – an eclectic mix of teens and baby boomers alike – lapped it up. Daryl Hall and John Oates wisely reunited a few years ago after a string of solo projects, and although Oates no longer sports his signature ‘tache, they put on the kind of show that makes it hard to believe they even considered going their separate ways. Earworms like ‘I Can’t Go For That’, ‘Out Of Touch’ and ‘Kiss On My List’ were surefire reminders that these guys are absolute hit machines, and their catchy synth-soul classics probably deserve to permeate the airwaves as much today as they did decades ago. These Philly crooners still have it in bucket-loads, so this show should have everyone from diehard Daryl Hall and John Oates fans to kids of the 80's groovin’ along in no time.

This vintage program, ‘Jazz Marmalade’, shows expatriate American musicians plying their trade in two Parisian jazz clubs in 1962. First, American stride pianist Joe Turner (often confused with blues shouter ‘Big’ Joe Turner) opens this atmospheric broadcast with a swinging piano-bass duet recorded at the Mars Club. Joe Turner (1907–1990) would remain in Paris for the rest of his life. From the American-owned Mars Club just off the Champs-Élysées, a hangout for showbiz people and expatriate Americans in Paris, the program cuts to the Blue Note. There, a Paris-based American quartet that includes drummer Kenny Clarke, organ player Lou Bennett, and tenor saxophonist Don Byas performs ‘Salut Les Copines’. Returning to the Mars Club, the American jazz trio of house pianist Art Simmons (1926–2018) performs a jaunty take on ‘C-Jam Blues’. Rounding off the program at the Blue Note, the quartet of drummer Kenny Clarke, organist Lou Bennett, and tenor saxophonist Don Byas returns for a swinging ‘April in Paris’. These recordings offer an invaluable glimpse into expatriate American jazz-making in Paris in the early 1960s.

Rotterdam’s ‘ BIRD’ is a club, café and restaurant with a live music programme that's deeply rooted in jazz, and also branches out towards soul, funk, hip-hop and electronic music as well. Its name ‘BIRD’ refers to the nickname of the legendary New York jazz saxophonist, bebop co-founder Charlie Parker (1920-1955). BIRD serves Neapolitan pizzas, good wines, no-nonsense beers and an all-round metropolitan rawness. Since 2014, this urban jazz club and DJAZZ.tv have been collaborating for a series of music programmes: ‘BIRD.tv’, allowing you to experience the best BIRD concerts and interviews as from a first row seat! In this episode, we present the London-based French-Ghanian soul jazz singer Myles Sanko (*1980). Since his youth, the stage has been Myles Sanko’s second home: he performed in the clubs and bars of his hometown Cambridge (UK), later becoming part of the British funk band Speedometer. His exceptional voice, his lyrics and his modern, cool style have earned him lots of praise as well as a loyal fan base, that extends far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom!

Legendary performer Tony Bennett made his debut appearance at London's iTunes Fest at the Roundhouse and this stellar performance features the multi-Grammy award winner performing his biggest hits, among them, "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Fly Me to the Moon," and his signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

Embark on a remarkable journey through the world of jazz piano as we showcase some of the most iconic and influential pianists in history. This collection of extraordinary performances captures the unique essence and brilliance of legendary pianists Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and others. Revel in Oscar Peterson’s virtuosity as his trio plays “C-Jam Blues” in Holbaek, Denmark, on May 2, 1964. Let the sublime artistry of Art Tatum captivate you as he interprets Antonín Dvořák's “Humoresque” in 1953. Discover Thelonious Monk’s enigmatic genius as his quartet performs his iconic composition “Round About Midnight” in Poland on April 4, 1966. Experience the timeless appeal of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's odd-metered “Take Five", recorded live in Brussels, Belgium, on October 10, 1964. Delight in the lyrical beauty of Bud Powell's solo performance of “Sweet and Lovely” at the Antibes Jazz Festival of July 13, 1960. Witness the fusion of jazz and funk in Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters' exhilarating studio performance of “Sly” in Bremen, Germany, recorded on November 6, 1974. Lastly, enjoy the soulful grooves of Horace Silver's “Song for my Father” performed by his quintet at the Umbria Jazz Festival of July 20, 1976. Tune in and let these legendary jazz pianists transport you on unforgettable musical adventures!

Annual trade fair, exhibition, and festival jazzahead! is one of the international jazz community’s most important events. Hosted in Bremen, Germany, jazzahead! brings together musicians, bookers, agents, organizers, jazz experts, and music enthusiasts at the world’s largest jazz event. In 2025, about forty international jazz acts performed over three days, with a special focus on the RE:CONNECT theme, celebrating the vibrant jazz scenes of returning partner countries Spain, France, and Switzerland. Among the bands representing Switzerland in the festival's RE:CONNECT showcase is the quintet of Swiss pianist and composer Manon Mullener. Their performance is a sensory voyage, weaving musical stories between jazz, Latin music, and melodies of her native Switzerland. The quintet features Lucien Mullener (drums), Rodrigo Aravena (electric bass), Pere Molines Tur (trombone), Manuel Schwab (alto saxophone), and Manon Mullener (piano).

In 1971, the camera crew of the Western series Gunsmoke travelled from Hollywood to the Pacific Northwest to capture blues greats Muddy Waters, Big Joe Turner, Big Mama Thornton and George “Harmonica” Smith during their tour. This documentary shows some of their best performances at the University of Oregon followed by footage and interviews on the road.

Modern jazz with a twist, based on a group effort rather than on personal virtuosity: meet Misc! Composer and pianist Jérôme Beaulieu, double bassist Philippe Leduc and drummer William Côté met during their college years at the Université de Montréal. Their Trio Jérôme Beaulieu quickly made a name for itself, winning the Montreal contest Jazz en Rafale and the Grand Prix du Festi-Jazz in Rimouski within the same year. Since their 2012 debut album L'homme sur la lune was nominated for the Opus Prize for Jazz Album of the Year, the trio has been praised for its musical experiments and its contemporary jazz repertoire. The trio’s music boasts wide-ranging musical influences: from acoustic music enhanced with electronic rhythms and textures, to a palette of diverse textures accented with samples, eccentric percussion, effects and prepared instruments. With unabated musical enthusiasm yet under the new name Misc, the trio launched its self-titled third album in 2016.

‘Jazzgipfel’ was Stuttgart’s leading jazz festival for five years, since 1988. In 1994 it became ‘Jazz Open Stuttgart’. To this day it is one of the leading jazz in Germany, with an always rich lineup of musicians from different musical genres, whether it is jazz, blues or world music. The festival’s reputation grew since the early days and the 1993 edition, which ran under the old name ‘Jazzgipfel’ for the last time, is a great example of it. By incorporating names such as Chick Corea, Moondog, or Modern Jazz Quartet in its lineup, the festival paved the way for its leading status among European jazz festivals.

World-class Dutch jazz pianist Peter Beets has shared the stage with jazz greats Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, “Toots” Thielemans, Elvin Jones, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Benny Golson, and John Clayton. His mother a music teacher and his father an Oscar Peterson and Art Blakey enthusiast, Beets was surrounded by music from an early age. And though music was in their blood, neither parent associated the word “musician” with a career. In this broadcast, Peter Beets teams up with gipsy jazz heros Stochelo Rosenberg, Martin Limberger and Frans van Geest. The strength and precision of Van Geests' rhythms and tempo, and the ease with which Stochelo's lead guitar soars above them, make this band a cohesive collective - unique in their renditions of standards, Django's classic compositions, and original tunes composed by Stochelo himself.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1982, the Superstar Quintet, which consists of the otherworldly American trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Joe Henderson, drummer Tony Williams, bassist Ron Carter, and pianist Kenny Baron performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. The star-studded fivesome put on a concert of cosmic proportions.

Four exceptional musicians team up to perform classic pop and soul songs made famous by the likes of Gregory Porter, Stevie Wonder, U2, Seal, and many more. Pianist Alfio Origlio signed up to do the arrangements. Walter Ricci, an accomplished jazz vocalist from Naples, eases us into his musical universe with his stunning sensitivity. He is accompanied by an exceptional rhythm section composed of Manu Katché on drums, Jérôme Regard on bass, and Alfio Origlio on piano. This concert was recorded at Festival Jazz au Sommet 2020 in France.

They are three siblings, born in Israel, passed through New York, each leading brilliant careers. The youngest, Avishai, has established himself as one of the most original trumpet players of the moment, author of highly acclaimed albums on the ECM label. The second youngest, Anat, saxophonist and clarinetist, in love with Brazilian music and Benny Goodman, is one of the great "jazzwomen" of today. Less visible, but no less active, the elder Yuval, who plays soprano sax, is one of the most respected musicians in Israeli jazz. Under the name "Three Cohens", they periodically get together for the pleasure of swinging together, as they did as teenagers.

American jazz tenor saxophonist Stan Getz (1927-1991) was nicknamed "The Sound" for his warm, lyrical tone. Performing in bebop and cool jazz groups, he popularized bossa nova in America with the hit 'The Girl from Ipanema'. In the summer of 1983, Getz brought his working quartet to the Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa Valley, California, for a set that included Over The Edge, Answer Without Question, Sippin' At Bells, Tempus Fugit, and a bossa nova medley of Desafinado and The Girl From Ipanema. Getz (tenor saxophone) is joined by bassist Marc Johnson, drummer Victor Lewis, and pianist Jim McNeely.

Amsterdam, February 6th, 2018 - The short documentary Rebirth in The Amsterdam Red Light District illustrates how brutal Richard Lems' life as an addict was and his struggle to unshackle himself from the shame. Filled with fierce, freighting, and sad moments, Richard relives his stabbing, stay in jail, drug test, and drug use. Richard expresses himself verbally but mainly relives the moments through drumming, which renders the documentary an intense and unique experience. Addiction doctor and musician Gerard Alderliefste: “If he dares to bottom out, he will see it was the drugs and not himself. Music can bring those emotions to the surface”.

Explore the music of one of the most influential and innovative saxophonists in jazz history: John Coltrane! Immerse yourself in this collection of remarkable performances from the early 1960s that showcase Coltrane's unparalleled artistry and unique sound during a transformative period in the artist’s career. Recorded in various European cities, Coltrane is seen playing the songs “Autumn Leaves”, “Hackensack”, “My Favorite Things”, “I Want To Talk About You”, “Vigil”, and “Naima”. Tune in and experience why the music of John Coltrane has touched the lives of so many!

The legendary hard-bop group Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers performed in Olympia Hall in Paris, France on March 16, 1963. Led by drummer Art Blakey, the Jazz Messengers consisted of Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Reggie Workman on double bass, and Cedar Walton on piano. Each of these players became jazz legends in their own right. The group performed Cedar Walton's arrangement of That Old Feeling (written by Sammy Fain), Wayne Shorter's arrangement of I Didn't Know What Time It Was (written by Richard Rodgers), and Caravan (written by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington).