Written by Saturday featured WAAN’s euphoric mixture of electronic grooves and jazz improvisation alongside Yuri Honing’s intimate acoustic quartet, providing a balance of energy and reflection. Eric Vloeimans premiered his Dutch Jazz Suite, an ambitious composition celebrating the country’s jazz heritage, delivered by a quintet featuring cello and guitar soloists.
The famed ICP Orchestra’s tribute to Misha Mengelberg was a festival highlight, mixing composed and free-form methods with Han Bennink’s powerful return to the stage despite recent injury, showcasing his dynamism at 83.
Orange Jazz Days set a high standard, spotlighting Dutch jazz’s depth, innovation, and future promise through its thoughtfully curated and adventurous programme.
Canarias Jazz Y Mas 2025
Original Review Written by Larry Pryce
The 34th edition of Canarias Jazz Y Más took place across all eight islands of the archipelago in July, continuing its reputation as one of Europe’s most ambitious jazz festivals. Organizer Miguel Ramírez’s vision to blend local Canarian talent with internationally renowned artists was vividly realized through 59 concerts in 28 diverse venues.
Singer Aurora Garcia & flamenco dancer Sara Sanchez of Patax pic @canariasjazz
The festival’s opening featured legendary three-time Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater and her all-female quartet in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, setting a confident and celebratory tone. On Gran Canaria, the Museo Elder hosted Las Albitas, a promising duo of trumpeter Alba Careta and saxophonist Alba Gil Aceytuno, blending progressive jazz fusion with elements drawn from hip hop and Canarian folklore. Their passionate, original compositions and intricate improvisations earned enthusiastic audience acclaim.
In the outdoor Plaza Santa Ana, the Joven Canari Jazz Big Band, comprised of young musicians aged 13 to 30 under saxophonist José Vera Bello, paid tribute to iconic female jazz vocalists with swinging arrangements and spirited performances. Dutch electro-funk band Zuco 103 stirred the crowd with their infectious Brazilectro beats and captivating vocalist Lilian Viera. The palpable energy marked the arrival of the festival’s dancing spirit.
Finally, the fiery fusion project Patax, led by percussionist Jorge Perez, combined flamenco dance, funk, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms for a dazzling, visually engaging performance in Las Palmas.
On Tenerife’s scenic Lago Martiánez, guitarist David Minguillon showcased flamenco-inspired jazz, while New York’s Kennedy Administration brought soulful grooves and powerful vocals, closing the festival on a high note. Ramírez affirmed the festival’s continuing dedication to diverse, creative programming, anticipating a milestone 35th anniversary in 2026.
Ystad Jazz Festival, Sweden 2025
Original Review Written by Angela Ballhorn
For 16 years, the Swedish coastal town of Ystad has hosted a summer jazz festival that defies the town’s literary image as portrayed by Henning Mankell’s Inspector Kurt Wallander. This year’s edition, detailed by Angela Ballhorn, took place in late July across a variety of atmospheric venues, including the neoclassical Ystad Theatre, medieval St. Mary’s Church, and the Baltic Sea spa hotel Saltsjöbad, embraced by warm sunshine and vibrant local color.
Mike Stern | Photo by: Markus Fagersten
The festival parade, led by the Danish NB! Brass Band, enlivened the pedestrian streets with brass-powered celebration and drew a sizeable audience. Bassist Hans Backenroth’s trio combined jazz history with a scenic garden setting, while pianist Jan Lundgren, Ystad’s artistic director, celebrated the 20th anniversary of his group Mare Nostrum, blending French chanson, Italian opera, and Swedish folk influences.
Notable highlights included Lundgren’s Bill Evans tribute trio, Norway’s trumpet virtuoso Paolo Fresu, and guest appearances by Richard Galliano and Anders Jormin. Former Miles Davis collaborators Dave Holland and Mike Stern delivered riveting performances, with Holland’s trio playing tight, elegant interplay despite a reduced lineup, and Stern’s band igniting the stage with energetic fusion.
Saxophonist Magnus Lindgren’s arrangement for chamber ensemble Musica Vitae infused classical and jazz elements, offering a fresh take on well-known works. Vocalist Catherine Russell impressed with material spanning American Songbook standards and personal history, earning multiple encores.
The Bohuslän Big Band closed the festival with a spirited Quincy Jones tribute, joined by vocalists Ida Sand and Viktoria Tolstoy, and trumpeter Nils Landgren, the festival’s Jazz Ambassador. Their lively performance, complete with dance-inducing tunes, ensured a memorable finale beneath the open summer sky.
Jazzbaltica 2025
Original Review Written by Angela Ballhorn
The expectant silence—the moment between notes and chords—was a defining feature at Jazzbaltica 2025 in Timmendorfer Strand, a festival curated by Nils Landgren. The quartet Les Égarés, with accordionist Vincent Peirani and soprano saxophonist Émile Parisien, mesmerized audiences with nuanced interplay and haunting interpretations of pieces like “Esperanza” and Joe Zawinul’s “Orient Express.”
Singer and trombonist Rita Payés and her quintet delivered gentle lullabies and intimate duets, embodying the festival’s quieter, reflective moments. In contrast, Electro Deluxe fired up the crowd with energetic French soul and a vibrant brass section.
Big bands played a central role: the Latvian Radio Big Band impressed with a Charlie Parker tribute featuring John Beasley’s Grammy-winning arrangement of “Confirmation.”, while the NDR Big Band, under Geir Lysne’s final leadership, offered a more challenging program. The Swedish band Umbaji brought funky energy, linking jazz with Nordic and Icelandic influences.
Young talent was spotlighted with captivating sets from IB.SH Jazz Award winner Lennart Meyer and Mongolian pianist Shuteen Erdenebaatar’s quartet. Trombonist Janning Trumann’s ensemble and trumpeter Michel Schröder’s large group, including a string quartet, also stood out.
Michael Wollny’s trio masterfully alternated between composed and free improvisations, shaping moments of silence and intensity. Despite a slight decline in female artist presence, projects by Céline Bonacina and Erdenebaatar highlighted the festival’s artistic diversity.
Last modified: May 5, 2026
