‘I saw Herbie Hancock play with D’Angelo, and got my head blown off!’: the festival keeping alive jazz’s golden age
The North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam is celebrating its 50th anniversary, reflecting on its history as a premier destination for jazz legends. Organizers and musicians highlight the festival's growth from a small event to a massive cultural institution that keeps the genre vibrant.
Why it matters
The festival serves as a vital cultural hub for the preservation and evolution of jazz, demonstrating the enduring relevance of the genre in modern music.
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter Copyright Paul Bergen at North Sea jazz festival. Photograph: Paul Bergen Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter Copyright Paul Bergen at North Sea jazz festival. Photograph: Paul Bergen Jazz ‘I saw Herbie Hancock play with D’Angelo, and got my head blown off!’: the festival keeping alive jazz’s golden age From Miles Davis to Count Basie and Etta James to Prince, Rotterdam’s North Sea jazz festival has hosted the biggest names in music. As the event turns 50, musicians and organisers share their favourite memories from past years – and tell us why jazz isn’t dead
This is a feature piece celebrating a cultural event, devoid of political or controversial framing.
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