The publicity focus of this year’s NSJF is on the appearance of “the legendary Queen of Motown” Diana Ross on the closing Sunday night of the festival, which runs 11-13 July at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Centre. Also appearing on Sunday will be the multi-million-selling US singer, songwriter and pianist Norah Jones, whose album Vision recently received a Grammy as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
The festival, which says it presents “jazz, blues, soul, pop, and more”, also features Herbie Hancock, the jazz-inflected Ezra Collective, singer Samara Joy, guitarist Julian Lage, pianist Tigran Hamasyan, singer Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets (performing a tribute to Weather Report), trumpeter Avishai Cohen, singer Jazzmeia Horn, the Lionel Hampton Big Band (featuring Jason Marsalis), and the saxophonists Kamasi Washington, Immanuel Wilkins, Branford Marsalis and Lakecia Benjamin.
Founded in 1976 by Paul Acket, the North Sea Jazz Festival was renowned in its 1980s heyday for packing into three days a summer’s-worth of high-quality core jazz from still-living legends of the music and contemporary innovators, including Dizzy Gillespie, Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, MJQ, Joe Pass, Lee Ritenour and Thad Jones. The publicists today see its reputation as grounded in appearances by “iconic artists like Miles Davis, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, and Adele”.
The full lineup for NSJF 2025, tickets for which are at northseajazz.com/en/tickets, is below.
Friday 11 July: Mary J Blige • Avishai Cohen (trumpet) Quartet • Branford Marsalis Quartet • DeWolff • Ezra Collective • Jacob Collier (artist in residence) • Jordan Rakei • Judith Hill • Julian Lage • Madeleine Peyroux • Omah Lay • Victor Ray • ANOHNI & The Johnsons • Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers • Bnnyhunna • Dana & Alden • Daoud • Emmet Cohen Trio feat. Patrick Bartley • Ganavya • Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge • Herbie Hancock • Jerron Paxton • Johnathan Blake & Pentad • Julie Campiche Quartet • Melissa Aldana Quartet • Sullivan Fortner Trio • The Philharmonik • Van Bavel Teepe Jackson • Zoh Amba Sun Quartet
Saturday 12 July: Aja Monet • Fujii Kaze • Ghost-Note • Jacob Collier (artist in residence) • Joe Bonamassa & Metropole Orkest • Jonathan Jeremiah • Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis • Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet • Maxwell • Naomi Sharon • Samara Joy • Alfredo Rodríguez Quintet • Bela Fleck, Edmar Castaneda, Antonio Sanchez • BLK ODYSSY • Celeste • Cory Wong • Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Adam Cruz • David Murray Quartet • Lee Ritenour • Mark Turner Quartet • Matteo Mancuso • MRCY • Nduduzo Makhathini • Queralt Lahoz • Sanne Sanne Song • Yi Jeon Nonet & Samulnori Newdot • Terri Lyne Carrington ‘We Insist’
Sunday 13 July: Anoushka Shankar • Diana Ross • Immanuel Wilkins Quartet • Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jazzmeia Horn • Jorja Smith • Kamasi Washington • Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrate Weather Report • Lady Blackbird • Lakecia Benjamin • Norah Jones • Thee Sacred Souls • Tigran Hamasyan • Ambrose Akinmusire • Benin International Musical • Dominique Fils-Aimé • Christie Dashiell • Dora Morelenbaum • Karja Renard Wandinger • Kassa Overall Quartet • Linda Sikhakhani Quartet • Makaya McCraven • Mourning [A] BLKstar • Nubya Garcia • Ronnie Flex & The Fam spelen Rémi • Sarah-Jane & The Black Excellence Kawina Orchestra • Shuteen Erdenebaatar • Sophye Soliveau • The Cookers • WAR
