Superstar Alicia Keys and Grammy winner Herbie Hancock play at the North Sea Jazz Festival that will take place on 11, 12 and 13 July of this year. Last month, we announced that Bobby McFerrin, Diana Krall and Pat Metheny will be present at the festival. Besides the names mentioned above, we are proud to confirm several other acts: the Brad Mehldau trio, Cassandra Wilson, the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, fusion bass player Victor Wooten, the Michel Camilo trio, blues legend Buddy Guy, Omara Portuondo and Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings will also perform in Ahoy Rotterdam.

The multi-talented Alicia Keys is one of the headliners, and she will perform, among others, songs from her new CD As I Am. The theme of this album is a musical journey, where the New York soul singer explores other genres, such as rock and reggae. With her new album; As I Am Keys shows growth over the last years, both personally and musically. Engaging as she is on stage, she will undoubtedly steal many hearts at the festival.

Another musical legend, Herbie Hancock, recently put jazz at the top of the bill in the music world. For the first time since 1965, the Grammy Award Album of the Year went to a jazz album, River: The Joni Letters, the album he released in 2007. For this award Hancock competed with world-class pop acts like Foo Fighters, Vince Gill, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse. During the North Sea Jazz Festival, the pianist will perform with Dave Holland on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Chris Potter on saxophone and Lionel Loueke on the guitar.

The foundation of the coming North Sea Jazz Festival has been laid, and the organization looks forward to the 33rd edition with a great deal of confidence. Jazz in all its shapes and forms, fusion, soul, latin and blues: it’s all there, as always. Of course, true jazz will remain the biggest attraction and with acts like Herbie Hancock, Cassandra Wilson, the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, the Michel Camilo trio and the Brad Mehldau trio, all true jazz lovers will have a really great time. Fusion and the Victor Wooten Band go together like peanutbutter and jelly. Soul and blues are vital to legend Buddy Guy, Alicia Keys and Sharon Jones. Omara Portuonda is the “grand old lady” of Cuban music. With her solo album The Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo she made her reputation as the greatest musical ambassador of Cuban music. The entire program of the North Sea Jazz Festival will be announced 6 May.