Nneka, Marcos Valle, Omar Sosa & JazzyBIT & DJ K-lu, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Sandra Sangiao, Jacob Karlzon Trio, Jazz Family Trio “ShekBand,” and David Luca Quartet join the lineup of the festival’s 13th edition.
Following an impressive first announcement featuring internationally renowned artists such as Ibrahim Maalouf, Kokoroko, and Biréli Lagrène, Jazz in the Park returns with a second wave of exciting names and an important update: starting April 3rd, day tickets will be available for each of the three festival days.
Big international names, some for the first time in Romania
Nneka, the Nigerian-born, Germany-based singer-songwriter, brings her powerful voice and unapologetic message to Jazz in the Park. Her music blends soul, hip-hop, afrobeat, and reggae, with lyrics that explore identity, love, politics, and resilience. She’s one of the most anticipated performances in Cluj this year.
Marcos Valle, one of the most influential composers and performers in Brazilian music history, joins the lineup as a true bossa nova icon. With a six-decade career that spans jazz, funk, disco, and psychedelic rock, Valle has collaborated with legends such as Sarah Vaughan and Chicago. Recently rediscovered by younger generations through his work with the label Jazz Is Dead, Valle continues to shape the global jazz landscape.
Omar Sosa, the Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist, offers a genre-blending live experience like no other. His music flows effortlessly between Afro-Cuban jazz, African rhythms, Arabic influences, and electronic textures. At Jazz in the Park, he’ll perform in a special collaboration with the Romanian trio JazzyBIT.
JazzyBIT, the dynamic trio from Timișoara, returns to Jazz in the Park with a special project to celebrate their 13th anniversary—just like the festival itself. Known for their vibrant sound and free-spirited improvisation, JazzyBIT will present a three-day residency, including jam sessions, a collaboration with DJ K-lu, and a unique Sunday concert with Omar Sosa.
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (DLO3) brings back their irresistible soul-jazz-funk grooves after filling the park alleys in 2019. With a classic Hammond B3 organ, drums, and guitar setup, they deliver a vintage vibe that flows from laid-back chill to full-on dance energy.
Sandra Sangiao, former lead voice of Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra, is set to enchant Cluj audiences with her emotionally rich and culturally diverse repertoire. Her multilingual performances bridge Catalan tradition, Balkan roots, flamenco, and Mediterranean warmth.
Jacob Karlzon Trio, led by one of Scandinavia’s most respected jazz pianists, brings a cinematic, introspective sound to the festival. Blending Nordic jazz with electronic and classical influences, Karlzon creates music that feels like a soundtrack for long, poetic nights.
David Luca Quartet, one of the most promising young Romanian bands, returns to Jazz in the Park after impressing both the jury and the audience during last year’s competition. Their contemporary jazz sound is marked by honesty, exploration, and artistic maturity.
Jazz Family Trio ShekBand, formed by three talented teenage siblings from Kyiv, adds a vibrant, youthful energy to the festival. Their fusion of contemporary jazz with Ukrainian folk elements and their remarkable musicality earned them two major awards at the Jazz in the Park Competition: Best Composition and Special Mention for Best Pianist.
First Artist Residency in Jazz in the Park History
To celebrate 13 years of Jazz in the Park and 13 years of JazzyBIT, the festival is hosting its first-ever artist residency. This special collaboration unfolds over three days:
- Friday: Jam session (on the festival’s brand-new stage)
- Saturday: JazzyBIT live with DJ K-lu
- Sunday: JazzyBIT & Omar Sosa – a concert to remember
The Fruit of Jazz in the Park Competition
Two acts from the Jazz in the Park Competition now join the festival lineup.
David Luca Quartet surprised everyone, earning a Special Jury Mention with their mature, curious sound.
ShekBand, the young Ukrainian trio, stunned the jury and audience alike with their powerful performance. Just one day before the war began, they completed their debut album, The Inflatable Ram—now internationally released and featured on Radio France’s Open Jazz. Their courage, talent, and authenticity inspire a whole generation of emerging jazz musicians.
A Daytime Festival: Jazz under the sun
Jazz in the Park is a daytime festival – one that comes alive under the sunlight, surrounded by trees and traditional wooden houses. It’s not just about concerts—it’s about slowing down, sharing meals on picnic blankets, wandering through record fairs, trying a new instrument, or joining a cooking workshop.
As night falls, warm lights take over the park, jam sessions pop up in hidden corners, and wine flows freely. Early birds are greeted with surprises at the entrance, and every corner of the park becomes part of the experience.
Day Tickets Available from April 3
Starting April 3rd, day tickets are available at the reduced price of 219 lei on bilete.jazzinthepark.ro.
Prices will increase:
- April 12: Day tickets – 249 lei | Full passes – 549 lei
- Festival days (June 6–8): Day tickets – 269 lei
Those arriving before 3:00 PM get 20 lei off + a free first beer
You can also buy 2-day passes (days 1+2, 2+3, or 1+3) at a 5% discount.
About Jazz in the Park
Jazz in the Park is a community-driven festival that blends music and values. With over 500 concerts by international artists in its history, it is now one of Europe’s leading jazz festivals. In 2019, it won “Best Small European Festival” at the European Festival Awards—becoming the first jazz festival in Europe (and Romania) to ever win this title. It’s also a five-time finalist at the same awards, most recently for the 2023 edition.
The festival is organized by Fapte, a cultural association focused on creating impact through events. In 2023, Fapte received the AFCN Award for “Cultural Resilience.”
2025 Calendar:
- Jazz in the Park Festival – Ethnographic Park, Cluj-Napoca | June 6–8
- Jazz in the Park Competition – Central Park, Cluj-Napoca | September 19–21
Main Partners: BRD – Groupe Société Générale, Birra Moretti, Purcari
Partners: DIGI, PPC, Pepsi, RMB Inter Auto, Daisler Print House, 8×8, TSV Line, Malfy, Ilie Galben, Mega Image, Mobila Dalin, Olivo Coffee Culture, IARMAROC.com
Co-financed by: AFCN – Administration of the National Cultural Fund
Institutional Partners: Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Local Council, Cluj County Council, The Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, Europe Jazz Network, YOUROPE, BATRA 2025, Babeș-Bolyai University, French Cultural Institute
Media Partners: Rock FM, PRIMA TV, PRIMA News, TVR Cultural, TVR Cluj, The Woman, Cărturești, Radio România Cluj, Kolozsvári Rádió, Ziua de Cluj, Cluj24, Cluj Live, Servus Cluj, Visit Cluj
