Carlos Santana, the guitar legend who needs no introduction, will come to the third edition of Curacao North Sea Jazz with his band! He will be festival headliner on Friday. The Mexican superstar gained his fame in the 60's and 70's when his band Santana pioneered with a fusion of rock, salsa and jazz. Ruben Bladés will again perform at the festival on Friday. Last year the popular Panamanian singer played the Sir Duke stage but due to the enormous interest, not all visitors were able to see his concert.

The third name we can announce is the Dizzy Gillespie™ All-Star Big Band. The band will play on Friday with many Gillespie alumni, such as Paquito D'Rivera who will lead the big band during the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival. The in Havana born Paquito is considered the most creative Cuban jazz musician and one of the best clarinet players in the world. For Saturday, we can announce the presence of James Farm. The brand new band includes saxophonist Joshua Redman who teamed up with a great talent of the new generation of jazz, pianist Aaron Parks. They play with a superb rhythm section: bassist Matt Penman and drummer Eric Harland.

This year not just one, but two free concerts will take place before the festival. On Sunday, August 26th and Monday, August 27th Curacao can enjoy free concerts at the Brionplein. We will soon announce who the artists will be.

On its previous two editions Curacao North Sea Jazz has shown that it’s a world class event. International artists performed at the festival in the Caribbean. Media in various countries have reported about the atmospheric event and praise the hospitality of Curacao.

Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival is supported by Bon Intenshon Foundation. The rest of the artist line-up will be announced in the coming months. Currently, the programmers of the festival and Gregory Elias are talking with various artists in order to create a varied and attractive program.

CURACAO NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Friday, August 31 a.o. Santana, Ruben Bladés, Dizzy Gillespie™ All-Star Big Band & Saturday, September 1, 2012 a.o. Joshua Redman's James Farm,
World Trade Center, Piscadera Bay.

Ticket sales for the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival begin at Monday, April 2
Tickets are available at outlets Mensing Caminada, Mobile Planet, Tik Tak (only credit cards and Maestro), 24 Uur Uit de Muur (credit card, cash and Maestro). It is possible to reserve tickets from February 1 through 522-JAZZ. Payment in instalments is possible with Nafl 15.00 adm. additional cost.

Tickets are $ 195.00 or Nafl 354.90, incl ob day.

International festival tickets sales start from February 1st
As of February 1, international visitors can book accommodations and festival tickets online. One can choose from the widest range of hotels and apartments on Curacao. There are additional services provided from festival tickets on arrival at the airport or hotel and transfer to the hotel. For visitors from The Netherlands and Suriname there are travel arrangements including flights, accommodation, transfers and festival tickets. For more information and reservations go to our exclusive travel partner Does Travel & Tours Cadushi, www.caribbean.nl, mail to tour@doescadushi.com.

The Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival is supported by: Bon Fundashon Intenshon

On Friday August 31st and Saturday September 1st 2012, the third edition of Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival will take place at the World Trade Center. After two successful editions, everyone is really looking forward to organize another great festival edition.

The week before the festival Curaçao North Sea Jazz organizes two free concerts at the Brionplein on 26th and 27th August. Between August 27 and 31 several concerts are organized at the island. More information will follow later. Also later we announced well in advance when the ticket sales start.

The second edition of the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival was another great success, with great artists and an exuberant mood amongst the public. During the two festival days, there was an unprecedented positive and festive atmosphere at the festival area at the WTC.

During the second edition of the festival, the audience was presented with a great program. On Friday, the festival was opened by Chic, who immediately set the mood for the rest of the festival. Then the audience was treated with the relaxing sounds of Levi Silvanie, the huge throat of gospel / soul singer Sharon Jones, the real jazz of Danilo Perez Trio, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, conga king Poncho Sanchez and the party violence of Earth, Wind & Fire. The evening was closed by Sting, who brought singalong filled with big Police hits.

Also a spectacular show packed with hits from Saturday headliner Stevie Wonder. Earlier that day, the public could enjoy pianist Roberto Fonseca, Chucho Valdes and his Afro Cuban Messengers, local talent Ronchi Matthew and a serie of classic hits by Dionne Warwick. The salsa of Rubén Blades and Dominican superstar Juan Luis Guerra made sure that nobody in the audience stood still.

See the pictures of Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival 2011

The tickets for Saturday have sold out. For Friday ther're still some ticksets available. Don't wait for the last minute to buy them.

While the creation of the festival is now in full swing, the festival week begins tonight with a free concert of Los Van Van at the Brionplein. The concert starts at 21.00. Tomorrow Trijntje Oosterhuis performs at the Avila Hotel. This concert also starts at 21.00. Tickets are on sale for 50 Nafl Albert Heijn Curacao, Bruna Curacao and the Avila hotel. On the night self tickets cost 60 Nafl. Selah Sue plays on Wednesday at Mambo Beach. This concert starts at 22.00 hours, tickets are on sale for 45 Nafl. The last pre-program is on Thursday, Sept. 1. Then Eliane Elias is performing at 20:30, at Brakkeput Mei Mei. Tickets are $ 35 and can be bought at Brakkeput Mei Mei and 24 uur uit de Muur. All prices are excluding service charge and tax.