Schedule

The Flying Pickets are a British vocal group that was formed in 1982, transferring the art of a cappella to the pop music scene. These five gentlemen scored a number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their version of 'Only You'. Performing live in Stuttgart, vocalists Hereward Kaye, Gary Howard, Michael Henry, Nick Godfrey and Ricky Payne have many surprises in store for their appreciative audience.

This selection of unforgettable performances by some of the most iconic and influential male jazz and pop vocalists in history showcases these legends’ unique essence. Delight in the expressive beauty and emotional depth of Chet Baker's rendition of “Time After Time” and “You Don't Know What Love Is", recorded live in Brussels, Belgium in 1964 and in Rome, Italy in 1956 respectively. Revel in Frank Sinatra's iconic version of “I've Got You Under My Skin". Immerse yourself in Dizzy Gillespie's dynamic performance of “Let Me Outta Here”, recorded live in Denmark in 1970. Enjoy Tony Bennett's unforgettable performance of “It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)” at London’s majestic Royal Albert Hall in 1974. Let the haunting beauty of Nat King Cole's 1957 performance of “Autumn Leaves” and Louis Armstrong's performance of “Basin Street Blues” from 1959 delight you. Dean Martin’s smooth vocal stylings will enthrall you as he performs the jazz standard “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams". Witness the electrifying energy of Sammy Davis Jr.'s performance of “Too Close For Comfort”. Join us for this unforgettable musical experience that you'll surely cherish!

The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is a world-renowned concert hall, known for its first-rate acoustics. It has attracted many famous performers over the years and is one of the Netherlands' most treasured musical institutions. On November 2, 1958, American jazz titan Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performed two concerts at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Among the many talents in the Orchestra were trumpeter Clark Terry, trombonist Quentin Jackson, saxophonist Johnny Hodges and violinist Ray Nance.

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 acts presenting themselves at jazzahead! 2024 is Boi Akih. The ensemble, led by vocalist and 2023 Boy Edgar Prize winner Monica Akihary, presents Niels Brouwer’s composition ‘From and to Infinity’. This four-movement piece is inspired by the Island of Ambon and explores themes of connection and contrast through its musical narrative. This performance features a diverse instrumentation including organs, recorders, kora, guitar, and vocals, blending traditional and contemporary sounds. The ensemble includes Nora Mulder on portative organ and analogue synth, Hungarian recorder player Dodó Kis, kora player Sekou Dioubate from Guinea, and percussionist Bintou Kouyate, also from Guinea.

A two-part documentary, narrated by Dee Dee Bridgewater. Part 2: From Highlife to Musette On the road where European and African music converge, we discover the diverse influences of Jazz and her offshoots that exist today. New styles and revivals of past traditions enrich Jazz and render it the essential element of our entire music culture.

Does a crisis stimulate creativity? When COVID-19 prevented the Robert Jay Band from performing for live audiences in 2021, the idea for ‘Paradiso Sessions’ sprang forth. Funk, rock, and soul guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Robert J. Reinders mused, “if our audience will not come to see us, then we must go to see them”. Hence the Robert Jay Band settled down in an atmospheric Paradiso in Amsterdam to perform for nine cameras. Among the twelve recorded songs is 1994’s monster hit ‘Red Bullet’. The remote audience gets to enjoy spirited musical contributions from Tollak Ollestad (vocals, keyboards, harmonica), Danjil Tuhumena (guitar, percussion, vocals), Roni Jonker (bass), Sietse Huisman (drums), and visiting band members Jasper Westerhof (keyboards), Dewi Pechler (backing vocals), and Merel van Eldik (backing vocals).

‘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.

Aki Rissanen's interest in jazz came after he started taking classical piano lessons. His deep interest in improvised music placed him among top jazz pianist in his home country - Finland. While composing and performing his own music, Rissanen has also collaborated with Verneri Pohjola and Dave Liebman, and today his name appears among the top European jazz musicians. Live from 'Jazzclub Unterfahrt' in Munich, Germany, together with Antti Lotjonen on bass and Teppo Makynen on drums, Rissanen showcases the best of Scandinavian jazz and its DNA - the Nordic Tone.

The Hugo Fernandez Quintet appeared at the renowned Greve Studio in Berlin in October 2022. Fortunately for those who could not attend the event, it was captured on video. The ensemble's unique blend of contemporary jazz infused with the vibrant sounds of New Orleans will transport you to the heart of the Crescent City. Mexican guitarist and arranger Hugo Fernandez, who is known for his full-bodied, rich sound, is joined by Thomas Hähnlein on tenor and soprano saxophones, Marleen Dahms on trombone, Max Leiß on double bass, and Mathias Ruppnig on drums. You won’t want to miss this exciting musical journey!

Instead of children’s songs, the sound of jazz standards was always present. They practiced intricate drum rhythms instead of Bach etudes: Simon Oslender and Jérôme Cardynaals have jazz running through their veins! Under the name ‘Twogether’ both youngsters celebrate a very unique and soulful style of funky blues-jazz. They create a sound that leaves even renowned jazz artists speechless. The two, exceptionally talented boys met in a youth big band, and before long they became a musical team. Immediately after that, they won the first prize in the Prinses Christina Jazz Concours in Amsterdam, which got the whole thing started. In this concert, they perform with wonderful artists such as the Dutch saxophonist Benjamin Herman and the American vocalist Madeline Bell.

Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn’s 2019 Malta Jazz Festival appearance was a celebration of jazz’s future, infused with the soul of its past. Featuring Keith Brown (piano), Rashaan Carter (bass), Irwin Hall (flute and saxophone), and Anwar Marshall (drums), the young singer’s performance was a reminder of jazz’s enduring power to speak to the heart. Situated at the Valletta waterfront outside Our Lady of Liesse Church, Horn’s concert was a truly spellbinding experience.

Since 1977, Estival is a summer jazz festival in Switzerland, Lugano. Estival offers a thrilling and particularly surprising line-up that explores the rich world of contemporary music whilst promoting the understanding of different cultures, tolerance, and co-existence. Discover the special bond between pianist Carla Bley and bassist Steve Swallow. The two have performed in the same bands since the '60s and have been romantic partners for more than two decades. Watching them perform is the definition of musical telepathy. Together with musicians Wayne Krantz, Victor Lewis, Larry Willis, and Don Alias, they form an amazing sextet at Estival in 1986.

World-renowned American blues singer and guitarist Magic Slim performed an electrifying set at the French festival Jazz à Vienne 2012. With bandmates John McDonald (guitar & vocals), Andre Howard (bass), and Brian Jones (drums), the blues giant played a string of classic Chicago blues hits. Ever energetic, the veritable blues veteran put on a dynamic show for an enthusiastic audience in the atmospheric ancient Roman theatre of Vienne.

A programme featuring the children of three celebrated musicians making a name for themselves. With a solid, tongue-in- cheek style, this ensemble knows how to entertain an audience.

Following a highly successful small-group jazz concert at New York Town Hall on May 17, 1947, Armstrong's manager Joe Glaser dissolved the Armstrong big band on August 13, 1947 and established a six-piece small group. This group was called the All Stars, and in 1964 Louis Armstrong recorded his biggest-selling record, Hello, Dolly! He made assorted television appearances, especially in the 1950s and 1960s – the recorded film was a TV Show in Australia when Armstrong was at the peak of his career. Armstrong kept up his busy tour schedule until a few years before his death in 1971. He also toured Africa, Europe, and Asia under sponsorship of the US State Department with great success, earning the nickname ‘Ambassador Satch’.

The Newport Jazz Festival, first established in the North-American town of Newport, Rhode Island in the summer of 1954, has now grown to become one of the largest multi-day celebrations of jazz worldwide. It has resulted in numerous famous live albums from top-rate jazz stars, and has spawned several worldwide tours, including editions of the Newport Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In October 1968, two former colleagues met again on stage, this time leading their own bands at the Newport Jazz Festival in Rotterdam: drummer Art Blakey and pianist Horace Silver were both co-founders of The Jazz Messengers.