The Copenhagen Jazz Festival was founded in 1979, and since then it has attracted more than 250,000 visitors every year in July. It is one of the largest musical events in Europe. More than 1000 concerts are held at 100 festival venues. Jazz sounds everywhere – on the streets and squares, in cafes, concert halls and clubs. There are also special performances for young guests. Ray Charles, John Scofield, Keith Jarrett, Annette Peacock, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and other world-class stars have been among the festival’s headliners at various times.
The festival is committed to different types of jazz, especially since many of the musicians presented continue to contribute to the innovation of music. For example, 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner Ornette Coleman brought his trademark – now classic – style that revolutionized music fifty years ago, while others, such as Anglik Kijo and Cassandra Wilson, fused jazz with a variety of music including Afro-funk, samba, salsa, gospel, blues and folk. There are also viconauts of ambient electronica, such as Cluster and Efterklang. The list of festival events also includes children’s concerts and music exhibitions.
The venues are scattered throughout the city and are quite diverse, ranging from theaters and the opera house to outdoor venues and various more intimate venues. Big artists, especially international artists for the Giant Jazz category, usually perform at venues such as the Copenhagen Opera, Glassalen, and the Royal Theater. These performances usually require tickets.
You can check the performance schedule to decide which concerts you want to go to, but it is also advisable to explore Copenhagen, on foot or by bike if possible, to maybe stumble upon some other interesting show happening in any bar or street corner. When the festival is in full swing, you won’t have any trouble finding something great to watch anywhere in the city. You will also find out how Copenhagen is really suitable for a jazz festival. This city is as cool and cosmopolitan as the music itself.