This year’s edition, from 13 to 23 March, you can enjoy more than 45 events spread all over the city. Featuring top international artists, emerging talents, and unique collaborations, the festival offers an exciting mix of concerts, jam sessions, and jazz-infused experiences across the city.
Whether you're a jazz aficionado or just looking for a great night out, Leuven Jazz welcomes you to dive into its rhythmic energy!
Headliners
Leuven Jazz serves up some of the biggest names and new sounds on the international jazz scene. Don't miss them!
Gondwana Night (Sat 15 March)
Together with the Manchester-based label Gondwana Records, Leuven Jazz presents three fresh and discoverable acts: Svaneborg Kardyb, Jack Wyllie presents Paradise Cinema and Kessoncoda. All bands will perform in a club format, so you can join them live on stage.
Kessoncoda
Women in Jazz (Sun 16 March)
Three disarming female artists who embrace and cherish melancholy. With her occasional band, The North Sea Drifters, Chantal Acda presents her new album ‘Silently Held’. Naima Joris, with guitarist Vitja Pauwels, delves into the disarming covers that began her musical story. Finally, Caoilfhionn Rose blends jazz, folk and classical into a fairytale sound.
The Last Poets (Fri 21 March)
21 March is World Poetry Day as well as the International Day against Racism and Discrimination. No better band to invite than The Last Poets, the Godfathers of Spoken Word & Hip Hop and their powerful message of poetry, jazz and protest! During the day, the festival also offers a unique Masterclass and a Book Talk with The Last Poets.
The Last Poets
Tom Skinner ‘Voices of Bishara’ (Sat 22 March)
As a new headliner, British drummer and composer Tom Skinner will present his ‘Voices of Bishara’ quintet. Surrounded by leading UK jazz artists such as saxophonist Chelsea Carmichael, he plays in incredible synergy, resulting in intriguing rhythms and surprising breaks. The evening opens with the young Belgian duo Knuets & Idris, followed by rising star saxophonist Emma Rawicz and pianist Gwilym Simcock.
Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade ft. Ravi Coltrane (Sun 23 March)
Pianist Danilo Pérez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade formed a golden quartet with jazz legend Wayne Shorter for 24 years. They pay tribute to their mentor in the company of saxophonist and composer Ravi Coltrane. Afterwards, Belgian-Japanese pianist Alex Koo, in a trio with Dré Pallemaerts and Lennart Heyndels, will present his brand new album.
Belgium's finest
Leuven Jazz will once again show you the diversity of the Belgian jazz scene, with established names and many young and upcoming talents.
From the ‘Opening Night’ with the trio Slagader, to Massot-Florizoone-Horbaczewki and new album releases by Kabas and Donder. But also Merope & KMRU, the Swingmasters and the Belgian All Stars.
In the Predikherenkerk (Dominican Church) you can enjoy a lie-down concert by guitarist Willem Heylen & friends and the Belgian premiere of multi-instrumentalist Joachim Badenhorst's sextet Youran. In the St. Geertrui Church, the sound world of blind composer and cult figure Moondog will come to life again thanks to The Moondog Company.
With the brand new ‘Salut Les Voisins - Jazz bij de Buren’, Leuven Jazz also builds a bridge between the jazz scene in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. With live sets by the Munsch Trio, Under The Reefs Orchestra, Bex, Vaganée-Gerstmans-Verbruggen and Stéphane Galland & The Rhythm Hunters.
The young talents of the Leuven LUCA Jazz School will be featured in several theme combos, and the LUCA Bigband will pay tribute to the music of trumpeter, composer and arranger Bert Joris.
Joachim Badenhorst's Youran
More than music
The new Unwind series focuses on wellbeing, providing a haven of peace in a hectic world. It includes for example the brand new ‘Jazz 'n Run’, a recreational run for young and old driven by live jazz music. Distances vary from 5 km (family run) to 10 or 15 km. Registration is required.
There will also be a new edition of the ‘All That Jazz Battle’ dance event with live music by Bandler Ching. And at the M Leuven museum, you can combine visual art with the sound of Mingo Rajandi and Berlinde Deman.
Cinema ZED is showing a brand new re-release of ‘Let's Get Lost’, the iconic documentary about legendary trumpeter Chet Baker. And at the atelier Re-Né you can combine Kika Sprangers' living room concert with the exhibition ‘Physis’ by Belgian artist Jean De Groote.
Get ready to feel the rhythm - Leuven is turning up the jazz! - discover more here.
