New additions: See the headliners at Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2023
Updated June 1
Copenhagen Jazz Festival’s line-up at the more than 120 venues participating with more than 1200 concerts is continually revealed during this spring. Here you will find a preliminary overview of some of the greatest confirmed artists for this summer’s edition – ticket sales are underway
Copenhagen Jazz Festival and DR Koncerthuset present an international concert hall schedule led by guitar legend Pat Metheny, the big new West African singer/guitarist Fatoumata Diawara and one of these year’s most popular singers in soul and jazz music, Gregory Porter.
The festival will also host a score of modern jazz artists who have recently put out new material – or who will do so before performing. You can look forward to acts such as up-and-coming saxophone talent Lakecia Benjamin, having just released the much-talked about “Phoenix” with guests Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Angela Davis and others, American guitar icon Bill Frisell (nb. “few tickets left”) touring with recent album “Four” on Blue Note Records as well as the Grammy-nominated harpist Brandee Younger, presenting the music from “Brand New Life” on legendary Coltrane label Impulse!
Living legend of bass, Marcus Miller, is headlining Amager Bio. Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke envelops Jazz by the Sea in his warm vibes while pioneer and kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh, new American voice Somi and rising star saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins all showcase their immense talents at the outdoor stage as well. Bowie drummer Mark Guiliana visits Copenhagen Jazz Festival with his fellow album mates from “the sound of listening” (Shai Maestro and others) at Jazz by the Sea. This unique outdoor venue will also host masterful Brazilian funkjazz trio Azymuth, while expressive bass player MonoNeon‘s performance marks the end of Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2023 in Amager Bio. Norwegian capacities Mathias Eick and Tord Gustavsen visit Jazzhus Montmartre and Brorsons Kirke respectively – Eick with his quartet of fellow Norse artists, Gustavsen joined only by his piano and electronics.
The coming edition also means a warm welcome to alternative jazz artists like British trumpet player/composer Yazz Ahmed, Chicagoan guitarist and Tortoise staple Jeff Parker, politically aware songwriter Samora Pinderhughes, Norwegian-Brazilian songstress Charlotte Dos Santos, Japanese koto player Michiyo Yagi with Johanna Sulkunen, spiritual jazz-influenced London Odense Ensemble as well as Bristol collective Ishmael Ensemble with their first ever performance at Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Perennial guitarist for Tom Waits, Marc Ribot, will also join the festival line-up af Loppen with his noisy trio Ceramic Dog. A singular female voice in Brazilian rap, Tássia Reis, visits ALICE cph @ Stairway in Vanløse, who also welcomes London-based, experimental post-punk/dub outfit Holy Tongue. Norwegian-Mexican producer and musician Carmen Villain rounds off the festival schedule at Loppen with her ambient soundscapes, vibey harmonies and dub-heavy beats.
Danish acts are always a huge part of Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and this year is no differenct with the return of GinmanBlachmanDahl ft. Fredrik Lundin celebrating the music of late great Wayne Shorter, Palle Mikkelborg / Jakob Bro / Marilyn Mazur presenting the music from popular album “Returnings” in historic Bremen Teater, der præsenterer musikken fra det populære album “Returnings” i historiske Bremen Teater “Milton på Svenska” (trans.: Milton in Swedish) led by Steen Rasmussen, Josefine Cronholm and Brazilian guest star Celso De Almeida, DR Big Band & Annisette, Søren Ulrik Thomsen & Det Glemte Kvarter, Bremer/McCoy, Snorre Kirk European Quartet, and the younger generations showing new avenues in jazz like Baryl, Dame Dearest (Emma Sehested Høeg), Svaneborg Kardyb and others.
A whole slew of other artists will be announced in the coming months both here at Jazz.dk and via the festival’s Facebook page. Sign up for Copenhagen Jazz Festivals newsletter to get the latest news as well as access to the exclusive presale for a wide variety of festival acts.
The 44th edition of Copenhagen Jazz Festival takes place at 120 venues from June 30 to July 9. Thanks to Nordea-fonden, The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen Municipality and Frederiksberg Municipality.
