Schedule

Estival Jazz Lugano is an annual open-air music festival that takes place over five days at the picturesque city of Lugano, Switzerland. Since 1979, this musical Mecca has been a must-attend event for all jazz and world music fans worldwide. On July 1, 1986, guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Bill Evans, drummer Danny Gottlieb, pianist Jim Beard, and bassist Jonas Hellborg continued the Mahavishnu Orchestra's sixteen-year legacy of impressive jazz fusion at the Estival Jazz Lugano.

‘Jazz a Vienne’ is one of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals. Ever since 1981 it has attracted leading jazz artists, with many of them playing return engagements. Unsurprisingly, the festival's 2013 edition did not fall short of expectations: the lineup was filled with the biggest names in music. Among them were Chucho Valdes and his Afro-Cuban Messengers, the prime example of Latin-inspired jazz music. Together with vocalists Concha Buika and Dreiser Durruthy Bombale, Rodney Barreto on drums, Gaston Joya on double bass, Yaroldy Abreu Robles on congas, and Reinaldo Melian Alvarez on trumpet, the legendary pianist brings the streets of Havana to the festival’s stage.

‘Jazz en Baie’, a whining guitar sound, and the baritone voice of Big Daddy Wilson are the perfect recipe for an emotional and melancholy blues concert. As a young man, Big Daddy Wilson never saw a real blues concert before he walked into a Bremen club as a young soldier. This revelation drove the expatriate to throw himself head over heals into music. A few decades and a couple of studio albums later, he’s well-known as one of the greatest contemporary bluesmen: his baritone voice, of a rare emotional power, recounts the nostalgic stories of his native land. His album ‘I'm Your Man’ brought him his first international success. Always respectful of the blues roots he inherited, the charismatic singer adds soul, funk, country and gospel to his musical range; the memories of his American youth.

In the 1960s, composer Michel Magne transformed the Château d'Hérouville, an 18th-century country house north of Paris and former home of lovers George Sand and Frédéric Chopin, into the first residential recording studio. In addition to its excellent facilities, the complex featured a swimming pool and a beautiful garden, allowing artists to stay for weeks or months at a time. From David Bowie and Iggy Pop to Pink Floyd and Chet Baker, countless stars recorded unforgettable music here until the studio closed in the 1980s. Three decades later, Château d'Hérouville has reopened its doors. This program follows American baritone Gregory Porter as he collaborates with the British electro-pop band Metronomy. The former American football player, who later dedicated himself entirely to music, gives an interview at Hérouville and performs songs including ‘Don't Loose Your Steam’, ‘In Fashion’, and ‘Sunny’. The British band Metronomy contributes songs such as ‘The Look’, ‘Night Owl’, and ‘Mick Slow’. Metronomy consists of Joseph Mount (drums), Oscar Cash (saxophone, keys), and Michael Lovett (keys). Gregory Porter’s own band consists of Lakecia Benjamin (saxophone), Chip Crawford (piano), Jahmal Nichols (bass guitar), and Emanuel Harrold (drums).

Rotterdam’s BIRD is a club, café, and restaurant with a live music program that's deeply rooted in jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, and electronic. Its name BIRD refers to the nickname of legendary New York jazz saxophonist, bebop co-founder Charlie Parker. BIRD serves Neapolitan pizzas, fine 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 programs: BIRD.tv, allowing you to experience the best BIRD concerts and interviews as from a first-row seat! Discover an irresistible live act; STUFF is full of unflagging energy. The Belgian band was founded in 2012 when drummer Lander Gyselinck was asked to play live music between DJ sets at a local bar. He gathered a bunch of friends, who also were musicians. The band could be considered an avant-garde jazz band who play a mix of funk, hip-hop, and electro. Andrew Claes (saxophone), Dries Laheye (bass guitar), Lander Gyselinck (drums), Mixmonster Menno (samples), and Joris Caluwaerts (keyboards) share an exceptional connection in music. They take over every stage and melt the hearts of music lovers.

Since 1985, the Dutch city of Nijmegen has been welcoming the International Music Meeting Festival every Pentecost. Ranging from jazz and improvisational music to traditional music and unique crossovers, this adventurous festival is all about musical encounters and international collaborations. Disrupted by COVID-19, the festival’s 2020 edition had to adapt to new challenges. It now presents this exclusive concert by pianist Ramón Valle and guitarist Reinier Baas, filmed at Concertgebouw De Vereeniging in Nijmegen.

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, prominent guitarist George Benson brought his band to kick off day three of the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Joining him to play songs from their joint album "Collaborations" was Grammy award–winning acoustic guitarist Earl Klugh.