Gent Jazz Festival Launches 24th Edition in Ghent
The 24th edition of Gent Jazz kicks starts on Friday at the historic Bijloke site in Ghent, featuring an array of international headliners over the next 12 days.
The festival opens with performances from jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Philip Catherine, setting the stage for a diverse lineup that includes Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt, Max Richter, Ibrahim Maalouf, Massive Attack, Mont Kimbie, and Leon Bridges. Tickets for Max Richter’s concert sold out rapidly, leading organizers to add an additional day to the festival to meet demand.
This year’s event is the third edition organized by Greenhouse Talent, which took over the festival in 2022. “A total of 93 bands will be coming, including twenty international big names,” stated Liesbeth Rubben from Greenhouse Talent. The festival’s format remains similar to last year’s expanded version, but the programming continues to evolve.
One of the key highlights of this year’s festival is the return of the Gent Jazz Talent competition, set for July 18. From 73 entries, three finalists—Bex, Ola Tunji, and Tomas Casella—have been chosen to perform on the Garden Stage before a professional jury. The competition seeks to showcase ambitious and original jazz projects, fostering new talent.
Despite its name, Gent Jazz has expanded its musical identity beyond traditional jazz, incorporating genres such as Americana, trip-hop, and soul. “It’s no longer a pure jazz festival,” organizers acknowledged.
Returning artists like Herbie Hancock and Norah Jones emphasize the festival’s international appeal. “I think it will be the sixth time for Herbie Hancock, and it won’t be the first for Norah Jones either,” Rubben noted. “They really enjoy coming, and you don’t have to ask them twice. They know it so well here.”
The festival runs through Saturday, July 19, and remains a significant event on the cultural calendar, showcasing a blend of established and emerging talent in the world of music, reports 24brussels.
