Zaragoza, that Aragonese gem pulsing with the unmistakable rhythm of cultural innovation, is preparing for its annual jazz appointment. From November 14 to 23, 2025, the Multi-Purpose Room of the Princess Leonor Auditorium will host the 42nd edition of the Zaragoza Jazz Festival, an event that year after year establishes itself as a benchmark in the Iberian and European agendas. Under the implicit slogan of Afro-Latino fusion and contemporary aesthetics, this cycle promises an elite lineup where living legends, bold innovators, and sound legacies that transcend borders converge. With tickets already on sale at the Auditorium’s website, Ibercaja, and box offices, the Zaragoza City Council invites you on a sound journey that not only celebrates jazz but reinvents it.
In a landscape where jazz is increasingly globalized, this edition stands out for its balance between tradition and experimentation. Artists such as Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, New York saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and Texas vocalist Jazzmeia Horn bring not only their virtuosity but deep narratives: from Afro-Cuban roots to British soul with Ghanaian echoes. And there’s a nod to new generations, with family sessions that ensure the perpetuity of this eternal genre. If Miles Davis had walked these lands, he would undoubtedly have found in Zaragoza a stage perfectly suited to him: vibrant, inclusive, and overflowing with improvisation.
An electrifying start: From the blues of New Orleans to sound ancestors
The curtain rises on Friday, November 14, at 9:00 PM with the Zaragoza debut of John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, a project that encapsulates the raw and street essence of contemporary jazz. Medeski, the master of the Hammond organ and veteran of formations like Medeski Martin & Wood, leads this quartet alongside Will Bernard (guitar), Kirk Joseph (sousaphone), and Terence Higgins (drums). Imagine the infectious groove of New Orleans —that sousaphone evoking Mardi Gras parades— interwoven with layers of electric blues, psychedelic rock, and R&B. Medeski, with over three decades exploring the boundaries of jazz, has collaborated with icons such as John Scofield and Bill Frisell; here, his Mad Skillet promises a night of urban catharsis, ideal for those seeking jazz that sweats and dances.
On Saturday, the 15th, the fever continues at 9:00 PM with the Kenny Garrett Sextet and their album Sounds from the Ancestors (2019), awarded a Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz Album. Garrett, the saxophonist who forged his legacy alongside Miles Davis in the eighties and with Chick Corea in the nineties, elevates his usual quintet by incorporating Havana vocalist Melvis Santa. Her voice, with shades of son and rumba, adds a spiritual dimension to pieces that pay homage to the African roots of jazz. Garrett is not just an impeccable instrumentalist —his alto sax is a prophetic lament—; he is a bridge between hard bop and world music, a musician who has influenced generations with his commitment to African heritage. This performance will be a sound ritual, a call to the ancestors that will resonate within the walls of the Auditorium.
On Sunday, the 16th, at 8:00 PM, the scene lights up with Jazzmeia Horn and her quartet: Santiago Vázquez Viñas on piano, Ameen Saleem on double bass, and Enrico Morello on drums. Winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition (2015) and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (2016), Horn is the voice of contemporary female jazz: powerful, versatile, and anchored in the gospel of her Texas roots. Her repertoire ranges from whispering ballads to explosive swings, with touches of hard bop reminiscent of Dinah Washington or Abbey Lincoln. At 35, Horn not only sings; she composes empowerment anthems like Voice of the Drum (2021), where she fuses jazz with African rhythms. Her performance in Zaragoza will close the first week with a warmth that invites the soul to dance.
Second week: Renewed soul and an eclectic closing
After a brief intermission, the festival returns strong on Friday the 21st at 9:00 PM thanks to the Something Else Septet, a supergroup that revives 1970s soul-jazz with fresh arrangements and fiery solos. Under the direction of Vincent Herring —alto and soprano saxophonist who has played with Art Blakey and Freddie Hubbard—, the septet includes Wayne Escoffery (tenor sax), Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Dave Kikoski (piano), Paul Bollenback (guitar), Essiet Essiet (double bass), and Joris Dudli (drums). This ensemble evokes the era of the Jazz Messengers but with a contemporary polish: funky grooves that could have captivated Grover Washington Jr. Herring, with over 20 albums as a leader, is a guardian of the soul-jazz legacy; his collective energy will transform the stage into a 1970s New York club, bursting with vitality.
On Saturday the 22nd, it will be a double day: at 6:00 PM, the family event Jazz for Kids / Jazz en Familia, directed by local bassist Dani Escolano, will bring together young talents aged 10 to 18 for a playful immersion in jazz. Escolano, a key figure in the Aragonese scene, promotes accessible improvisation, turning standards like «Take the A Train» into interactive adventures. At 9:00 PM, the spotlight returns to greatness with Chucho Valdés in a solo piano format. The Cuban pianist, seven-time Grammy and six-time Latin Grammy winner, is a titan: son of the founder of the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music, he has revolutionized Latin jazz with albums like Bilongo (1998). His eclectic recital will intertwine Afro-Cuban danzones, bebop improvisations, and echoes of Chopin or The Beatles, all with a virtuosity that seems to defy physics. Valdés does not just play; he evokes the island in every key, and this concert will undoubtedly be the emotional climax of the festival.
The final curtain falls on Sunday the 23rd with Myles Sanko (time to be confirmed, around 8:00 PM) and another session of Jazz for Kids at 12:00 PM. Sanko, born in Accra (Ghana) and based in France, is a multifaceted soul: singer, songwriter, producer, and even a cinematographer. His jazz-soul, tinged with Ghanaian highlife and French chanson, exudes resilience in albums like Stay Soul (2023). With a voice that navigates between the lament of Otis Redding and the warmth of Gregory Porter, Sanko closes the cycle with a cultural tapestry that unites Africa, Europe, and jazz in a celebration of the diaspora. His performance will be a poetic golden finishing touch, reminding us that jazz is, above all, a universal language of passion.
A legacy that transcends: Why Zaragoza and jazz are inseparable
In its 42nd edition, the Zaragoza Jazz Festival not only offers a stellar lineup —with weekly and general passes available for budgets
