I've had the pleasure of visiting the Northsea Jazz Festival ever since the late 80s when it was still staged at the Congress Centre in The Hague. Several years ago, the whole company moved to Rotterdam where every second weekend in July, the Ahoy is nearly bursting with the top players in Jazz and Soul, plus many locals and newcomers which you've never heard of before.

This year's Festival runs from July 9-11th and several names have already been announced. Watch out for Diana Krall, the Joshua Redman Double Trio, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Pat Metheny Group, Joss Stone, Caetano Veloso, Ron Carter Trio, McCoy Tyner Trio plus Joe Lovano, David Sanborn, Sonny Rollins, Norah Jones, and The Roots. Expect hundreds more in the weeks to come.

The full programme will be announced at a press conference on April 28th and on www.northseajazz.nl