The 36th edition of the Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar took place from 20 April to 1 May. Opening with a free concert day featuring numerous young talents from MUBA and a standout performance by Kristjan Randalu, the festival delighted audiences with over 140 musical events. Showcasing eight collaborative projects between Estonian and international musicians, Jazzkaar drew more than 19,300 concert visits.
Every concert in the festival’s main programme delivered a distinct experience. “Alongside the electrifying performances of headliners James Carter and Jazzmeia Horn, audiences were equally moved by the subtle and refined playing of the masters known from Snarky Puppy – a powerful contrast on the emotional spectrum. For the first time, the Jazzkaar main programme included a world-class international big band, the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra. Its conductor, Nikolai Bogelund, praised the collaboration with our own singer and composer Karmen Rõivassepp as the best ever,” said Anne Erm, Jazzkaar’s founder and artistic director.
“Estonian performers’ bold international collaborations demonstrated the high level and creativity of our musicians – many have already reached international stages, and others are well on their way,” added Erm. In addition to Karmen Rõivassepp and the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, other standout collaborations included Norwegian guitarist Eivind Aarset, who performed in Kristjan Randalu’s exceptional ensemble; Norwegian and Swedish musicians featured in Kertu Aer’s quintet – Thiery Marazanye (piano), Albert Støver Rygh (guitar), and Benjamin Andersson (drums); and Anni Elif Egecioglu, a versatile Finnish artist and member of MiaMee. Erki Pärnoja performed with his former schoolmate, Swedish composer and bassist Patrik Grundström. Maria Faust brought together young Norwegian trumpeter Oscar Andreas Haug and Danish trombonist Mads Hyhne in the ensemble The Economics, which presented music for the theatre production Moneyland. Mathei Florea and his Berlin-based Nordic contemporary jazz group New Grounds shared a special concert evening with world-renowned, New York-based guitarist Gilad Hekselman. Meanwhile, the Madis Muul Trio delivered a memorable performance with Giridhar Udupa, one of India’s most celebrated and beloved percussionists.
Jazzkaar 2025 was held from 20 April to 1 May at multiple venues, including Telliskivi Creative City, Von Krahl Theatre, Fotografiska Tallinn, and the Alexela Concert Hall, offering music lovers more than 140 events – among them 48 main programme concerts. In addition, audiences enjoyed a free concert day, urban space projects in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Hiiumaa, and – for the first time – Ida-Virumaa, along with Arne Maasik’s photo exhibition, artist talks, and masterclasses. This year’s festival also brought performances to audiences in Haapsalu, Otepää, Tartu, Viljandi, and Võru.
Jazzkaar 2025 recorded over 19,300 visits, including 8,750 ticketed attendees. The festival also welcomed an exceptional number of jazz sector delegates. Leading jazz publications such as All About Jazz, Jazzwise, Jazz’n’More, and Jazzthetik were represented, along with editors from the national broadcasters of Finland, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Jazzkaar 2025 in numbers
– 48 main programme concerts, including 3 home concerts, 7 concerts outside Tallinn, and 13 as part of the free concert day
– 82 urban space concerts featuring over 90 young musicians, with the project reaching Ida-Virumaa for the first time
– 17 events on the free concert day, including 13 concerts, morning yoga, a record fair, a jazz-funk workshop for children, and a one-hour disco
– Over 140 music events across Estonia
– More than 19,300 total concert visits
– 8,750 ticketed visits
– Over 7,900 visits to the urban space project
– Nearly 1,100 visitors braved the rain for the free concert day
– 215 musicians from 17 countries performed
– 4 Klassikaraadio broadcasts and recordings: Kristjan Randalu’s Marginalia and Dividends, Maria Faust & The Economics’ Moneyland, Karmen Rõivassepp & Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, and Kertu Aer 4
– 110 volunteers contributed to organising the festival
– 20 international delegates attended, including journalists, festival directors, and jazz club leaders
– Jazzkaar’s media team of 14 volunteer photographers captured nearly 2,700 festival photos
– Artists and crew consumed 45 kilograms of fresh pickles backstage during the week
Main sponsors: JURA, Jazz Pesulad, and Eesti Päevaleht. Annual supporters: United Motors, Nordic Hotel Forum, Tallink, and Aktaprint. Special thanks to Viru Keskus for bringing Jazzmeia Horn’s concert to Estonia, and Seesam Insurance for presenting the Poetic Ways concert, as well as Telliskivi Creative City, Prike, and Fotografiska Tallinn for helping set up the festival hub. Additional supporters: Reval Café, Kodupaber, MyFitness, RGB Baltic, Estonian Authors’ Society, Piletikeskus, the Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tallinn UNESCO City of Music, and Estonian Business and Innovation Agency.