USA

Grace Kelly an Asian-American jazz saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and bandleader. Kelly became the youngest ever musician voted to the Down Beat Magazine's Critics Poll at age 16. At 18 she released her sixth album, Man with the Hat, a collaboration with jazz legend Phil Woods.

"Grace Kelly plays with intelligence, wit and feeling. She has a great amount of natural ability and the ability to adapt. That is the hallmark of a first-class jazz musician” says about her Wynton Marsalis.

Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer, a five-time Grammy Award winner. His new album "In My Soul" reached No1. in the US Blues Charts this year.

Kirkland "Kirk" Lightsey is an American jazz pianist. Lightsey had piano instruction from the age of five and studied piano and clarinet through high school. After service in the Army, Lightsey worked in Detroit and California in the 1960s as an accompanist to singers. 

Lakecia Benjamin is an exceptional American saxophonist. Prior to her successful solo career, she performed and recorded with artists such as Harry Belafonte, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Gregory Porter, The Roots, Count Basie Orchestra, Alicia Keys, Macy Gray, Kool & The Gang, and Clark Terry. She'll be coming to our festival with her quartet as part of the tour for her new fourth album, Phoenix - jazz magazine Downbeat has already managed to name her record as one of the jazz albums of the year.

Singer Robert Summerfield’s American background, with roots in Chicago and Michigan, is blended with a tangibly European style. As a consequence, ROBB’s music is permeated by smooth, soulful vocals, acting in contrast to beat-heavy, playful, instrumentals.

Hailey Tuck is a jazz singer from the most unlikely of backgrounds. On her 18th birthday, her parents presented Hailey, then at Baptist Military Boarding school, with a college fund to further her education. She promptly did what any teenager with a love of 30s jazz, vintage dresses and Edith Piaf would do: purchased a one-way ticket to Paris.

José James is an American vocalist best known for performing and blending modern jazz and hip-hop. James performs all over the world both as a leader and with other groups. José is the modern version of Terry Callier and Gil Scott-Heron.

John Scofield's guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Steve Swallow is a jazz bassist and composer noted for his numerous collaborations. Bill Stewart is a famous jazz drummer.

Keyon Harrold is a trumpeter, singer, composer and producer. His first professional gig was the Tiny Desk Concert at the White House - he became trumpeter of the band of Common, on the recommendation of his classmate Robert Glasper. He soon made a name for himself as the musician who recorded all the trumpets for "Miles Ahead," a biopic of Miles Davis that also focused on his playing and compositions. The recording for the film won a GRAMMY Award.

Grammy-nominated supergroup Fourplay has enjoyed consistent artistic and commercial success by grafting elements of R&B and pop to jazz, appealing to a broad mainstream audience.