Monte Carlo Jazz Festival 2025: When Jazz Frontiers Disappear

From November 20th to 29th, the Principality will vibrate to the rhythm of jazz with the 19th edition of the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival. True to its spirit of openness, the event will bring together generations, aesthetics, and audiences in the intimate and prestigious setting of the Salle Garnier. Between living legends, rising voices, and unexpected crossovers, the 2025 edition promises exceptional moments.

A Youthful Start

As every year, the festival will open with a new lease of life: on November 20th, the young talents of the Rainier III Academy will have the honor of treading the legendary stage of the Monte-Carlo Opera. A tradition that reminds us that the future of jazz thrives on transmission and audacity. Between the Orient, Folk, and Groove
On November 21, Gabi Hartmann's velvety voice will set the tone for a traveling festival, exploring the bridges between jazz, pop, folk, and world music. That same evening, Ibrahim Maalouf will pay tribute to Oum Kalthoum, an iconic figure of the Arab world who passed away fifty years ago, in a project where the spirit of jazz blends with the strains of Arabian Nights.

Monuments and UFOs

On November 22, it's time for a legend: Stanley Clarke, a pioneer of bass and double bass, will recall the very essence of groove before handing the stage over to Deluxe, a wild pop-funk band that challenges conventions.
On November 23, the spiritual and militant energy of the Harlem Gospel Choir will resonate the walls of the Salle Garnier in a performance combining fervor and vocal power.

Jazz in Cinema and Beyond

The festival also celebrates its ties to the 7th art: on November 24, critic and director Thierry Jousse will present a lecture entitled From Jazz to Cinema, in partnership with the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco.
On November 26, the Caribbean soul will be brought to Monaco with Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander, a master of reggae-tinged jazz, followed by the captivating salsa of Yuri Buenaventura, an icon of the Latino scene.

Between elegance, trip-hop, and fusion

On November 27, the sophisticated voice of Lea Maria Fries will open an evening that will mark the return of a cult group: Morcheeba, pioneers of 1990s English trip-hop, authors of the legendary albums Who Can You Trust and Big Calm.
On November 28, the magic will happen with Rhoda Scott, the grande dame of the Hammond organ, accompanied by David Linx. Then comes the emotional thrill of Michel Jonasz, revisiting his classics with his longtime collaborators, Manu Katché and Jean-Yves d'Angelo.

A poetic and visceral finale

On November 29, the festival will close with a rare and precious encounter. The quartet Les Égarés (Sissoko, Segal, Parisien, and Peirani), born from a jam session combining jazz and tradition, will offer a suspended moment before the singular voice of Asaf Avidan brings the festival to a close. Between rugged folk and raw lyricism, he will embody the raw poetry of this extraordinary festival.
The spirit of the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival
Since its inception, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival has distinguished itself by its audacity: crossing styles, blending generations, and creating unexpected dialogues. In 2025, more than ever, it continues to forge this unique path, making Monaco a crossroads where jazz reinvents itself every evening.