Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival

Chic
Anyone from the era of disco music will get goose bumps when they hear the name Chic. Thé disco band of the seventies and early eighties caused clubs all over the world to go crazy. With tremendous hits like Good Times, Dance, Dance, Dance and Le Freak Chic earned great worldwide fame that lasts till this day on.  In 1984, founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards decided to end Chic when the sales quickly deteriorated. Both of them became successful producers working on albums of Madonna, David Bowie, Duran Duran and many others. When the formation played their old hits for an enthusiastic crowd on a birthday party in 1992, they decided to re-establish Chic. 

When Edwards died in 1996 during a tour in Japan, Chic abruptly came to an end. Nile Rodgers however could not resist the urge of making music and decided to bring Chic back to life with a complete new formation in 2003. In this new formation Chic is still performing their old hits with just as much passion as in the disco era.

Terence Blanchard & Poncho Sanchez
Five-time Grammy winner Terence Blanchard is known for his peculiar and unique style that made him one of the greatest trumpet players of our time. The ease and pleasure with which Terence Blanchard shares his beautiful music with the world, even makes jazz-haters respect this leading jazz musician.

All-rounder Poncho Sanchez is not only very skilled when it comes to playing the conga, but his voice also causes goose bumps. Since his first album in 1982, Sanchez plays in one of the most popular and influential Latin jazz bands of the world. Whether it's Salsa, Latin Jazz, Jazz or music with soul and blues elements, Sanchez tells the story of his childhood and his life with his music, in the most creative and unique way.

Dionne Warwick
Five-time Grammy winner Dionne Warwick proved to be a true legend in the field of R&B and soul music during the last decades. With over 60 major worldwide hits during her 48-year career, Warwick managed to settle in the hearts of many fans and music lovers, where she has stayed ever since. 

With great hits like Don’t Make Me Over, Anyone Who Had a Heart and Message to Michael Dionne Warwick settled in the music business since the start of her successful solo career. Still, she found her greatest success many years later when she proved to be a true pioneer by becoming the first major artist, along with Elton John and Steve Wonder, to join the fight against AIDS with the worldwide number 1 hit That's What Friends Are For.

Chucho Valdes & Afro Cuban Messengers
One of the best jazz musicians from Cuba. When he was just 3 years old, little Chucho started playing the piano. Thirteen years later this leads to his first band. But it wasn’t till 1973 that he became successful with his third band Irakere.

Valdes and his band made over 85 albums and he became a rollmodel in the jazz world. He also cooperated on 33 albums of fellow artists and toured around 50 countries only in 2009. Be amazed, like millions before you, by the unique sound of this amazing Cuban.

Roberto Fonseca
Roberto Fonseca is one of the young Cuban musicians who are privileged to work with the golden generation of this Caribbean island. Born in 1975 and raised in a musical family, he played piano since he was eight. However, he preferred percussion, which is still noticeable when you hear him play. His percussion-driven piano style became Fonseca’s trademark over the years.

His musical career took a huge leap forward when he was invited to support Rubén González in the Orquesta de Ibrahim Ferrer. That opened doors to celebrities like Omara Portuondo, Cachaíto López and many other Cuban All Stars, with which he has performed throughout the world. This wealth of musical encounters can be heard on his last two albums ‘Zamazu’ and ‘Akokan’.