Over four evenings, the festival will showcase a vibrant mix of jazz, funk, and soul — blending celebrated legends with bold new voices across 15 concerts.

What began as an intimate gathering for jazz enthusiasts a quarter century ago, has evolved into one of Zurich’s most anticipated musical fixtures, attracting a diverse audience in a cross-generational celebration of jazz and jazz-inflected genres.

Opening the festival on Wednesday, Oct 29, jazz icon and Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater—often called the “grande dame of jazz” — will lead the show with new compositions and her commanding stage presence. She will be followed by Spanish jazz-and-bossa vocalist Rita Payés and bassist Vincen Garcia, whose tight grooves are already earning attention.

Grammy and Tony Award-winning Dee Dee Bridgewater. Photo: Zurich Jazznojazz Festival FB

Thursday shifts into jazz-fusion territory with the Mike Stern Band, led by the guitar veteran famous for his stints with legends like Miles Davis. They will be joined by funk-bass heavyweight Marcus Miller and Polish groove artist Kinga Glyk, promising an evening of high-octane fusion and funk.

Friday becomes a UK-music night with Afrobeat band Kokoroko leading the charge, followed by rising soul-pop voice Maya Delilah, the veteran hip-hop group Stereo MC’s, and singer-songwriter Kat Eaton.

The London Afrobeat band Kokoroko. Photo: Kokoroko FB

Saturday, Nov 1, closes the festival with a blend of soul and fresh voices: British soul star Beverley Knight leads off, followed by promising new talent Gaidaa and U.K. singer-songwriter Samm Henshaw, as saxophonist Sam Greenfield rounds out the night with his energetic performance.

Behind the scenes, the festival is organized by AllBlues Konzert AG, with Zürcher Kantonalbank continuing its long-standing role as main sponsor since 1998. The event is further supported by Migros-Kulturprozent as co-partner, held under the patronage of the City of Zurich Culture, and accompanied by the Tages-Anzeiger as its media partner.