There’s an overflow of good music this time of year around Denmark; Northside Festival, Roskilde Festival, and so on. But if you’re into jazz, the options can seem limited to expensive shows at nightclubs. Until Copenhagen Jazz Festival! The yearly celebration of jazz and blues takes place from 1 – 10 July and comes with a plethora of concerts, workshops and other events worth checking out.
Here are our top picks for this year’s festival:
Phronesis
Catch this Scandinavian/English modern jazz trio to see true “jazz wizardry.”
Friday, 1st July
9:00 pm
Jazzhouse
Niels Hemmingsens Gade 10
1153 København K
Ticket Price: 135 DKK
Hugo for Altid
Legendary Danish bassist Hugo Rasmussen will play all afternoon with some of the best jazz musicians in Copenhagen. A fun afternoon of great music!
Saturday, 2nd July
2:00 – 6:00 (ish) pm
Kongens Have
1350 København K
Ticket Price: Free!
Charles Lloyd
See the renown 78-year old American saxophonist play with his new quartet. Previously an absolute high-point of Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Lloyd’s music is guaranteed to be among this year’s best concerts.
Monday, 4th July
9:00 pm
Jazzhouse
Niels Hemmingsens Gade 10
1153 København K
Ticket Price: 320 DKK
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dee Dee Bridgewater worked with jazz greats like Max Roach and Ray Charles, and her incredible voice needs no introduction. She’ll be performing jazz and pop classics; a real treat for traditional jazz-lovers.
Tuesday, 5th July
8:00 pm
DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen
Ørestads Boulevard 13
2300 København S
Ticket Price: 320 – 370 DKK
Girls In Airports
Combining experimental jazz, indie rock and folk music from all over the world, Girls in Airports are the kind of group that will make you reconsider categories and parameters in music. A must-see one-time concert!
Saturday 9th July
7:00 pm
Frederiksberg Brandtstation
2000 Frederiksberg
Ticket Price: 105 DKK
Marilyn Mazur “Shamania”
See this incredible, experimental all-female jazz group while you can! Featuring the “queen of percussion” Marilyn Mazur.
Saturday, 9th July
8:00 pm
Kulturhuset Islands Brygge
Islands Brygge 18
2300 København S
Ticket Price: 125 DKK (90 DKK if you provide proof that you are under 26)
These recommendations were provided by Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Copenhagen Jazz Festival Fonden also puts on Vinter Jazz (5 – 28 February 2016) and a number of concerts throughout the year. Stay up-to-date!
Have a jazz concert or other event you can’t wait to see at this year’s festival? Tell us about it in the comments!