The 36th Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar has unveiled its main programme, featuring over 30 concerts from 26 April to 1 May, with musicians from 14 countries. This year’s lineup brings together rising Estonian talents and renowned jazz artists who have already made their mark in jazz history. In addition, the festival will showcase some of the most highly anticipated names from the global jazz scene, alongside exciting emerging talents. Ticket sales open at 10:00 AM – be among the first to buy and enjoy a 40% discount!
The festival’s headliner, American “jazz princess” Jazzmeia Horn, will captivate audiences with her velvety voice and soulful compositions at Alexela Concert Hall on 1 May. The rest of the jazz celebration will unfold from April 20 to 26 on the stages of the Von Krahl Theatre and Fotografiska Tallinn at Telliskivi Creative City. This year’s lineup features renowned jazz instrumentalists from around the world. The experimental world of rhythms will be explored by a drum trio featuring Christian Lillinger (Germany), Arkady Gotesman (Lithuania), and Kresten Osgood (Denmark). Audiences will be mesmerised by the saxophone virtuosity of Lakecia Benjamin (USA), while the James Carter Organ Trio (USA) takes listeners on a journey through Detroit’s rich musical heritage. Bringing an electrifying touch to the festival is Anomalie (Canada), a leading force in electronic jazz. For fans of minimalism, Jazzkaar welcomes back Lambert (Germany) – the enigmatic masked pianist, returning after more than nine years. Additionally, Bill Laurance & Michael League (UK–USA), known from Snarky Puppy, which left a lasting impression at last year’s festival, will present their critically acclaimed duo project.
The programme also showcases charismatic vocalists. For those who appreciate tradition, the French quintet Poetic Ways will present modern interpretations of chanson and jazz classics, while Luísa Sobral (Portugal) – the songwriter behind the 2017 Eurovision-winning song Amar pelos dois – will bring a touch of warm southern charm to the festival. For those drawn to modern grooves, the festival features Roseye (Netherlands), a genre-blending ensemble of ambitious young musicians, as well as the soulful singing bassist Adi Oasis(USA), whose performance will coincide with the birthday celebration of Telliskivi Creative City!
Jazzkaar has always been committed to showcasing collaborations between Estonian musicians and acclaimed international artists. Nordic-inspired sounds will be delivered by Kertu Aer 4 (Estonia–Norway–Sweden), the ensemble led by the 2024 Young Jazz Talent award winner, as well as by former schoolmates Patrik Grundström (Sweden) and Erki Pärnoja, who will perform alongside Ahto Abner. Estonian musicians will also share the stage with artists from even farther afield –world-renowned guitarist Gilad Hekselman(Israel) will join pianist Mathei Florea’s ensemble New Grounds, while Madis Muul will introduce his trio’s new album in collaboration with Indian percussionist Giridhar Udupa.
As always, Jazzkaar’s program is brimming with exciting new music! The 36th edition of Jazzkaar will open with pianist Kristjan Randalu, who, together with a special quintet, will present Marginalia and Dividends, a work inspired by Jaan Rääts’s small-form compositions. Jazz Musician of the Year 2024, Karmen Rõivassepp, will premiere a specially commissioned piece at the Jazz Awards 2025 gala, performing alongside the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (Denmark). After a long hiatus, alternative pop ensemble MiaMee will return with fresh material, while the dark indie pop quintet Anna Kaneelina also makes a powerful comeback, delivering a more intense, rock-infused sound than ever before!
Estonian jazz greats at this year’s festival include Maria Faust & The Economics , who will perform music originally composed for the Estonian Drama Theatre’s acclaimed production Moneyland – now also released as an album. Living legend and composer Tõnu Naissoo will take the stage with his quintet to present his latest album, Naissoo Freeform Quintet, which was released in November last year. Meanwhile, Keelepeksjad and Jaan Pehk will treat festival audiences to brand-new music. Jazzkaar will also shine a spotlight on rising jazz talents during the Nota Bene concert night, featuring experimentally driven string player Kristjan Kannukene, the quintet of high-energy pianist Mikk Kaasik, and, for the first time, the poetic duo Anett Tamm and Anna-Regina Kalk, performing as Anemoon.
The 36th Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar will take place from 20 April to 1 May across Estonia. While Jazzkaar’s home base remains in the inspiring Telliskivi Creative City, festival concerts will also be held in Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi, Otepää, and Ida-Virumaa. A limited number of early bird tickets are available at a 40% discount, excluding previously announced concerts by Jazzmeia Horn, Kristjan Randalu, and Lakecia Benjamin. Discover the full festival programme and artist lineup on our website, and stay connected with Jazzkaar on Facebook and Instagram. Tickets are available at Piletikeskus!
The main sponsors of the festival are JURA, Jazz Pesulad, and Eesti Päevaleht, with annual supporters including United Motors, Nordic Hotel Forum, Tallink, and Aktaprint. The concert of Jazzmeia Horn is made possible with the support of Viru Keskus, while the performance of Poetic Ways is presented by Seesam Insurance. The festival hub is brought to life with the help of Telliskivi Creative City, Prike, and Fotografiska Tallinn. Additional supporters include Reval Café, Kodupaber, ERR, the French Institute, Pro Helvetia, the City of Pärnu, the Ministry of Culture, the Estonian Cultural Endowment, Tallinn UNESCO City of Music, and the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency.