The biggest in-door jazz festival worldwide, the Northsea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, has announced the first few artists for this year's line-up. The Festival takes place at the tried and tested Ahoy venue in the heart of Rotterdam after moving from capital The Hague a few years ago. The 2009 edition will be held on the weekend of Friday, July 10th to Sunday, July 12th. And although only a few artists have been confirmed up until now, you can bet that this year again will feature every major artist, every up-and-coming talent, lots of local acts, some soul and pop artists as well but mainly this is the best overview you can get when trying to find out what's going on in the current jazz scene. Already confirmed and this is a little sensation I might add is the performance of
legendary songwriter/composer/pianist/arranger Burt Bacharach who has written a lot of milestones and unforgettable gems for Dionne Warwick and The Carpenters like Walk On By or I Say A Little Prayer only to name a few.

John Scofield will perform with his new project, Piety Street, in tow, an album that was recorded in New Orleans and has a lot of the traditional Gospel, R&B, and Blues stuff. Also on the stages in July will be singer Duffy and singer/songwriter James Taylor who also has a fine new covers album out. BB King will once again visit the festival as will Herbie Hancock in a duet performance with classical piano wunderkind Lang Lang. They will be accompanied by the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen. Rounding out the already confirmed artists are Jamie Cullum, Anthony Braxton with his Curtain Wall Trio and McCoy Tyner with Bill Frisell.