Mary J. Blige, Maxwell, And More Shine At 2025 North Sea Jazz Festival
The 2025 North Sea Jazz Festival was a revered celebration of great music.
Held in and around Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands, attendees witnessed over 150 performances across 17 stages in a three-day timespan from July 11-13. The festival “celebrates and renews the rich jazz tradition, from swing and bop to free jazz and fusion.”
This year featured storied acts such as Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Mary J. Blige, Sheila E., Maxwell, Lady Blackbird, and Diana Ross. Other iconic acts who graced select stages were Lady Wray (a.k.a. Nicole Wray), Jamila Woods, Samara Joy, Naomi Sharon, Jorja Smith, BLK ODYSSY, Leon Thomas, Durand Bernarr, Norah Jones, Kamasi Washington, and Odeal.
North Sea Jazz Fest organizers praised the latter “standout voices” who “put their own spin on these traditions” and the aforementioned veteran artists who brought “the rich heritage of soul, R&B and gospel to life.” Jacob Collier was the 2025 Artist in Residence and performed a different show every day — once with his band, once with guest artists, and the final one with the Metropole Orchestra.
On Friday (July 11), Sun-Mi Hong was honored with the Paul Acket Award while Kika Sprangers was awarded a free composition assignment, which premiered on Saturday (July 12) 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.
The festival also gave visitors the chance to showcase what they had to offer musically during the sessions on the Open Stage.
Check out more highlights from this year’s North Sea Jazz Festival below.
