NN North Sea Jazz presents 2023 lineup

Today we disclose the complete lineup for this year. Ben l'Oncle Soul, Brad Mehldau, Róisín Murphy and 41 more new names have been added to the program. In total, more than 150 performances will take place on 7, 8 and 9 July, divided between 16 stages in and around Rotterdam Ahoy. This year's overarching theme is 'Sounds of Diversity – A Shared Musical Heritage'. The time schedules are available online now.

Previously announced names include Buddy Guy, Jill Scott, Little Simz, Lizzo, Pat Metheny Side-Eye, Seal, Snarky Puppy, Stormzy, The Teskey Brothers, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and Artist in Residence esperanza spalding.

Sounds of Diversity – A Shared Musical Heritage
This year the festival brings a special theme, Sounds of Diversity – A Shared Musical Heritage, as 150 years ago slavery was abolished in the Netherlands’ former colonies. The festival’s overarching theme highlights the diversity of people and music that history has given the Netherlands.

On Friday, 'The Diaspora Suite' will be performed, compiled by the Metropole Orkest and curator and theme initiator Mike Bindraban. Under the baton of Jules Buckley, national and international artists, writers and musicians join the orchestra in telling in sound and word the story of the diaspora as it stands in the year 2023.

On Sunday, the Metropole Orkest with guest artists will pay homage to the Curaçao composers Jacobo 'Coco' Palm and his family and Rudy Plaate with 'Palm & Plaate Classic And Popular Compositions From Curaçao'. The festival has also asked Monica Akihary, Typhoon and Vernon Chatlein to not only perform, but also put together a program as a curator.

Composition project

Every year, the NN North Sea Jazz Festival awards a free composition commission to a talented Dutch jazz musician. This year it was awarded to jazz violinist and composer Yannick Hiwat. According to the jury, Hiwat is broadening the Dutch canon with his new sound and personal signature. In addition, he shows courage by treading paths that are yet untrodden in the Netherlands. The premiere of Hiwat's composition 'Frimangron' will take place on Friday 7 July.

Art, photography and design
In addition to music, every year a prominent place is reserved for visual art in various forms at the festival. There’s an art fair with more than fourteen galleries from the Netherlands and Belgium. Participants include Rademakers Gallery, Project 2.0, Gallery Untitled, Caption Photo Gallery, Nono Gallery, SinArts Gallery, Galerie Wilms, Galerie Mia Joosten, Root Gallery and Galerie 10a. Artists whose work will be on show are, among others: Hans van Bentem, Studio Irma, Chris Rijk, Anne Mei Poppe, Maayke Schuitema, Sangmin Oh, Bas Meeuws, and Sebastiaan Spit. In addition, design is showcased in presentations by Woth Gallery and Priveekollektie Contemporary Art | Design. As a first this year, the festival and ANP have a joint exhibition of jazz photography. Also, there will be street art by Mr. Maestro, Digital Does and Mr. June, and Het Mauritshuis will present their musical project ‘What does a painting sound like?’.

Open Stage and Paul Acket Award
Every festival day, the festival also offers visitors the opportunity to showcase their musical talents during the sessions on the Open Stage. On Saturday 8 July, the Paul Acket Award “Artist Deserving Wider Recognition” will be presented to the French pianist Eve Risser.