Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 29 April to 13 May 2025, the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan, together with UNESCO in Uzbekistan and with the support of several Eurasian embassies, will hold the International Jazz Festival.

Concerts will take place on the open-air stage behind the Palace of International Forums “Uzbekistan”. As tradition, the festival is timed to coincide with International Jazz Day, which has been celebrated on 30 April since 2011 at the initiative of UNESCO.

By establishing International Jazz Day, UNESCO emphasizes jazz's role in breaking down barriers and fostering understanding and tolerance. Jazz reduces tension between individuals, groups, and communities, encourages artistic creativity, improvisation, new forms of self-expression, and the blending of tradition and innovation.

Jazz is an art of bold experimentation and profound emotion, holding a special place among musical genres.

Born as a symbol of freedom, jazz remains unique and authentic to this day. It’s no surprise that jazz continues to unite people worldwide, with festivals held in the USA, the UK, Switzerland, France, Germany, and many other countries.

At the invitation of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art, several renowned jazz masters and rising stars will perform at the festival in Tashkent for the first time. These include Eurovision 2017 winner Salvador Sobral, vocalist Maya Azucena, smooth jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, jazz-rock trio Shalosh, pianist Peter Bence, LRK Trio, and the Sven Hammond Big Band. On International Jazz Day, the program will feature a grand concert by the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra, which has preserved jazz traditions for decades.

With the support of embassies, creative ensembles and performers from France, Indonesia, Switzerland, Israel, and Poland will also take part.

Thanks to support from Yamaha, the festival will include a performance by saxophonist Pawel Gusnar together with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, conducted by Alibek Kabdurakhmanov.

A key component of the festival will be performances by Uzbek jazz musicians. The group Jazzirama will present a new program, and audiences will be introduced to young local musicians, for whom the International Jazz Festival may serve as a launching pad to larger stages.

In addition to concerts, the program will include masterclasses and creative meetings with performers.

The International Jazz Festival in Tashkent serves as a platform for professional development and exchange, aiming to strengthen cultural ties and further integrate Uzbekistan into the global cultural community.

Admission to all festival concerts is free.

Headliners of the Festival:

The Glenn Miller Orchestra (USA) – April 30
The big band founded in 1937 by trombonist and arranger Glenn Miller remains the embodiment of swing. The signature “Glenn Miller sound” comes from instrumental groupings within the big band: four saxophones with a lead clarinet, trombones and trumpets, bass and percussion, and finally the piano.

The band became immensely popular thanks to its unique sound and unforgettable arrangements, which became classics of orchestral jazz. Miller and his band pioneered numerous innovations in arranging and performance for large jazz ensembles. The band, along with its leader, appeared in films like Sun Valley Serenade (1941) and Orchestra Wives (1942).
Today, under the baton of Wil Salden (note: the original says Uli Plettendorf, but in real life it's often Wil Salden or Nick Hilscher depending on the lineup), the orchestra has performed more than 5,000 concerts using original arrangements and continues to preserve the authentic Miller sound — still as fresh as it was nearly a century ago.

Salvador Sobral (Portugal) – May 1
A Portuguese singer and trumpeter known for his work in soul and jazz, Salvador is a devoted admirer of Chet Baker and bossa nova. Since childhood, he’s taken part in numerous music competitions, and in 2017, he won the Eurovision Song Contest with Amar pelos dois, earning the highest score in the show's history.
Having released several successful solo albums, Sobral is now one of the most internationally recognized artists from Portugal.

Pawel Gusnar (Poland) – May 7
A renowned Yamaha international artist, saxophonist, chamber musician, and educator, Gusnar is the founder and conductor of the Warsaw Saxophone Orchestra. A versatile artist, he bridges classical, jazz, and contemporary music. He has premiered over 70 works written specifically for him, including compositions by Penderecki, Knittel, and Mozdzer. He has performed with Poland’s top orchestras, including Sinfonia Varsovia and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and collaborated with leading big bands and recording artists.

Chris Botti (USA) – May 10
One of the world’s most popular instrumentalists, Chris Botti has performed smooth jazz for nearly three decades. He rose to fame through his collaboration with Sting and has worked with a host of major artists including Steven Tyler, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli, Mark Knopfler, Barbra Streisand, Katharine McPhee, John Mayer, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Botti has released over ten commercially successful solo albums. Three of them reached No. 1 on Billboard's jazz charts. He’s been nominated for the Grammy Awards four times and won in 2013 for Impressions.

Maya Azucena (USA) – May 6
Renowned singer and social activist Maya Azucena travels the world on cultural and humanitarian missions. Her dynamic four-octave voice traverses the raw emotion of blues, gospel, and rock, captivating audiences worldwide. Her debut album Maya Who? (2003) was hailed as a soul breakthrough of the year.
Azucena is highly respected by artists across genres including reggae, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and dance music. She has collaborated with Stephen Marley (on his Grammy-winning album Mind Control), as well as Marcus Miller, Roberta Flack, Jonathan Peters, Immortal Technique, and Cormega.

Sven Hammond Big Band (Netherlands) – April 29
Sven Hammond Big Band delivers raw soul, jazzy vibes, and funky grooves — a blend of pure energy and elegant melodies. Founded in 2006, the group has released seven studio and five live albums over 19 years, and their music remains as vibrant as ever.
The heart of their sound is the iconic Hammond electric organ, played masterfully by band founder Sven Figee.