First names announced for North Sea Jazz Festival 2016

The Port of Rotterdam North Sea Jazz Festival has announced the first names to perform across the weekend 8th, 9th and 10th July 2016.

The 41st North Sea Jazz Festival will feature The Roots, Gregory Porter, Jill Scott, Earth, Wind & Fire and Simply Red.

Also confirmed are Buddy Guy, Snarky Puppy, Level 42, Diana Krall and Chick Corea, who celebrates his 75th birthday at the festival with a ‘75th Birthday Celebration Homage To Heroes (Acoustic And Electric).’ Anderson .Paak, Walter Trout, Sabrina Starke, Colin Stetson & Sarah Neufeld and Scofield Mehldau Guiliana will also perform at the three-day festival. Antonio Sanchez and Migration, Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling and Steps Ahead Reunion featuring Mike Mainieri, Eliane Elias, Donny McCaslin, Marc Johnson, and Billy Kilson further bolster was is shaping up to be a tremendous line-up with much more to follow.

The festival takes place in the confines of the expansive Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam, just yards from an efficient and well connected Metro system. Fourteen stages offer up a yearly programme of unrivalled diversity and strength. The full programme so far is below.

• Friday July 8th: The Roots, Buddy Guy, Snarky Puppy, Diana Krall*, Antonio Sanchez and Migration, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah Presents Stretch Music.
• Saturday July 9th: Earth, Wind & Fire, Level 42, Steps Ahead Reunion World Tour featuring Mike Mainieri, Eliane Elias, Donny McCaslin, Marc Johnson and Billy Kilson, Branford Marsalis Quartet featuring special guest Kurt Elling, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Sabrina Starke.
• Sunday July 10th: Simply Red, Jill Scott, Gregory Porter, Walter Trout, Chick Corea 75th Birthday Celebration Homage To Heroes (acoustic and electric), Scofield Mehldau Guiliana, Colin Stetson & Sarah Neufeld.