NN North Sea Jazz presents program 2025

We're excited to announce the NN North Sea Jazz 2025 lineup today. With the addition of 30 more names, the program is complete. In total, more than 150 performances will take place on 11, 12 and 13 July, spread over 17 stages in and around Rotterdam Ahoy. The full schedule can now be viewed on the website.

The festival celebrates and renews the rich jazz tradition, from swing and bop to free jazz and fusion, brought to you by greats such as Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis and Lee Ritenour. Musicians such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Sullivan Fortner and Emmet Cohen honor classic styles; Matteo Mancuso and Julian Lage break new ground and blend various jazz styles into a new whole. Free jazz and improvised music are represented by veterans David Murray and Arild Andersen, while a younger generation of musicians such as Mary Halvorson, Zoh Amba and Guy Salamon experiment in new directions. In addition, groundbreaking acts such as Kassa Overall, Makaya McCraven, Ezra Collective and Dana and Alden provide fresh, hybrid forms of jazz that promise the future of the genre.

The festival also gives attention to artists from non-traditional jazz countries, including South Korean singer Song Yi Yeon, Mongolian pianist Shuteen Erdenebaatar and pianist Tigran Hamasyan from Armenia.

Vocalists will play a leading role at this year’s festival, with standout voices such as Jacob Collier, Samara Joy and Lady Blackbird, and promising newcomers such as Christie Dashiell, Ganavya and aja monet. Big names including Diana Ross, Norah Jones, Mary J. Blige and Maxwell will bring the rich heritage of soul, R&B and gospel to life, while artists such as Celeste, Jorja Smith and Thee Sacred Souls will put their own spin on these traditions. There will also be plenty of room for vocal ensembles such as ZO! Gospel Choir and Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers. Martin Fondse will bring his Voice Orchestra, including the six-piece vocal group Vox Sturnus.

Artist in Residence

Jacob Collier is Artist in Residence this year and will perform a different show every day. On Friday he will perform with his band; on Saturday he will give a clinic, Jacob’s Room, in the afternoon and is set to perform solo with guest artists in the evening. On Sunday, he will perform with the Metropole Orchestra.

Composition assignment

Every year the festival awards a free composition assignment to a promising Dutch jazz composer. This time the honor goes to Kika Sprangers. The premiere of Sprangers’ composition will be on Saturday 12 July with Nederlands Kamerkoor and an ensemble with Alistair Payne (trumpet), Reinier Baas (guitar), Tijs Klaassen (double bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums) and Sprangers herself on saxophone.

On Friday 11 July the Paul Acket Award “Artist Deserving Wider Recognition” will be presented to drummer, composer and bandleader Sun-Mi Hong. Visitors will also be able to show what they have to offer musically during the sessions on the Open Stage. There are clinics and interviews with performing artists and in addition to music, a prominent place has again been reserved for visual arts in various forms.