The poster, designed by Casaú Estudio and featuring a trumpeter in the middle of a concert, hints at a strong female presence in the upcoming edition of the San Javier International Jazz Festival, as revealed in the preview announced today by its director, David Martínez. The program preview, which highlights the presence of the great Marcus Miller —considered one of the best bassists of all time— also includes female artists such as Melody Gardot, who will perform a concert revisiting her successful career; singer, pianist, and composer Judith Hill; jazz violinist and vocalist Eva Slongo; and Mar Vilaseca, a standout figure of the latest generation of Spanish jazz musicians. Flamenco singer Mayte Martín is also invited to the 27th edition of Jazz San Javier, where she will perform her latest project, which brings together great universal songs from different genres. Finally, today's program preview also includes the American southern rock band Parker Barrow.

The presentation took place at the San Javier Museum with the participation of the Mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo, and the festival director, David Martínez, who announced a diverse festival that will include blues, soul, rock, and other related genres. The full program will be announced next April, when tickets will go on sale. The festival, which will take place from June 27 to July 24, will be held as usual at the Almansa Park Auditorium. However, it will also include performances at the Teatro de Invierno del Parque Almansa (Winter Theater) and open-air venues such as the Explanada Barnuevo de Santiago de la Ribera (Barnuevo Esplanade), Puerto Tomás Maestre de La Manga (Tomás Maestre Port), and Plaza de España for free concerts. David Martínez also revealed that the upcoming edition of Jazz San Javier will pay tribute, as always, to artists who have passed away in the last year, including Russell Malone, Lou Donaldson, John Mayall, Roy Haynes, and Jordi Bonell. Mayor José Miguel Luengo highlighted the quality of the announced program and the importance of culture "to continue promoting San Javier." Luengo also thanked the festival's public and private sponsors, emphasizing that "it remains municipally managed." Jazz San Javier is sponsored by the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia and companies such as FCC, Flexa, Heineken, CaixaBank, and La Opinión de Murcia as the official media partner.

Announced Artists

Marcus Miller, considered one of the best bassists of all time, leads the program preview revealed today by festival director David Martínez. Marcus Miller returns to Jazz San Javier after six years to showcase, alongside his band, why he remains one of the most influential musicians of his generation. Miller has left his mark on the careers of major stars such as Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, and Wayne Shorter, among many others. Notably, he toured the world with Miles Davis and collaborated on legendary albums such as Tutu. As a composer and bandleader, he has released several acclaimed albums, including Afrodeezia, influenced by African, South American, and Caribbean sounds, and his latest work, Laid Black, which incorporates more modern and urban sounds, reaffirming his status as a global star in the fusion of funk, soul, and jazz.

Another star announced for this edition of the festival is American singer Melody Gardot, a true diva on stage. She captivates audiences with her voice, piano, and guitar, effortlessly moving between jazz, funk, rhythm and blues, and Brazilian music. Having lived in Paris for years, Melody Gardot returns to Jazz San Javier at a mature stage of her career, reflected in her latest album, The Essential. This compilation, personally curated by Gardot, includes 25 songs spanning 14 years of her career, featuring original compositions and iconic covers such as La Vie en Rose, sung in French, and La Llorona, in Spanish.

Another artist joining the festival lineup is Judith Hill, an African-Japanese American singer, pianist, and composer considered one of the new divas of soul. She arrives at Jazz San Javier with her fourth and latest album, Letters from a Black Widow, a deeply personal and self-composed work. Judith Hill has been one of the most sought-after vocalists by major artists such as Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and George Benson. She was also selected by Michael Jackson for his final This Is It tour and had her debut solo album, Back In Time, produced by Prince, launching a highly respected career as a bandleader.

Swiss violinist Eva Slongo, based in Paris and known in Europe as "the Benson of the violin," will make her debut at Jazz San Javier with her jazz quartet and Italian pianist Giovanni Mirabassi as a guest artist. Slongo and Mirabassi have previously collaborated on stage and in Slongo's album Souffle, which blends classical music and jazz. A rising star in jazz violin, Slongo transitioned from a classical background to jazz through improvisation, including jazz manouche, which she discovered in Paris. Winner of the Best Improvisation Award at the Stéphane Grappelli International Violin Competition, she impresses audiences with her unique ability to combine voice and violin, improvising both simultaneously.

Southern rock makes its way into Jazz San Javier with the American band Parker Barrow, led by the married duo of singer Megan Kane and drummer Dylan Turner. After four years of living on the road in an RV and fulfilling their rock and roll dreams through highly acclaimed live shows, Megan and Dylan channel those experiences into their album Jukebox Gypsies, which they will present at the Almansa Park Auditorium. Inspired by bands like The Black Crowes and The Allman Brothers Band, Parker Barrow delivers energetic tracks like Count Your Dollars as well as intimate acoustic pieces such as Desire, both featured on the album.

Flamenco singer Mayte Martín, one of the most prestigious cantaoras today, will showcase at Jazz San Javier why, despite being a flamenco icon, she is an unclassifiable artist with exquisite versatility. A lover of classic bolero, to which she brings her unique interpretation, Mayte Martín recorded her second album, Free Bolero, with jazz pianist Tete Montoliu. She has performed alongside Omara Portuondo and collaborated with fado singer Dulce Pontes and Cuban musician Silvio Rodríguez, among others. Her latest project, Tatuajes, which she will present for the first time in San Javier, is described as "a gesture of respect to the immense composers who created these extraordinarily beautiful and timeless works." The repertoire includes classics such as Te Recuerdo Amanda by Víctor Jara, Lucía by Joan Manuel Serrat, Ne Me Quitte Pas by Jacques Brel, and La Bien Pagá by Ramón Perelló and Juan Mostazo.

The final artist announced today by festival director David Martínez is vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Mar Vilaseca, who will perform in San Javier with her jazz quintet. With a strong classical background and a youthful passion for rock, gospel, soul, and funk, Mar Vilaseca was always exposed to jazz through her father, renowned pianist Jaume Vilaseca, with whom she began her professional career on stage. Her debut album, Find My Way (2020), features exclusively original jazz compositions that also reflect her love for gospel and soul. In addition to her own work, Mar Vilaseca enriches her repertoire with jazz standards that she arranges herself.