I still vividly remember my first time at the Super-Sonic Jazz Festival. As a former harpist, I jumped at the chance to see Brandee Younger when she came to Amsterdam as part of the festival. Right after my afternoon class at university, I got my ticket for that same night with no research, no expectations, and open ears. That night was the start of it; my addiction to the unpredictable and restless world of contemporary jazz.
Fast forward to a year later, and I’m back full circle. Only this time, I have returned to cover this very event as a journalist. So… shall we get into it?
If you’re a Super-Sonic Jazz regular, you already know the drill: skip ahead to this year’s top 10 picks. But if you’re new here, like I once was, here’s a quick note on what makes this festival unlike anything else.
What is Super-Sonic Jazz?
Born in Amsterdam, the festival is run by Super-Sonic Jazz, a non-profit collective dedicated to supporting artists who “move within the universe of jazz.” Think of it as a jam session where jazz shakes hands with soul, hip-hop, electronic, psychedelic, and everything in between. It’s not your average grandpa’s sip-wine-and-Coltrane kind of night. It’s energetic, experimental, and young at heart.
Held inside Paradiso, the former church turned cultural landmark, the venue naturally becomes one with the performance. Its stained-glass windows and towering arches give the festival a raw, soulful edge.
In the ninth edition, the festival will run from Friday, November 14th, until Sunday, the 16th.
What I am most excited about when taking a glance at this year’s lineup is how alive it feels. It reads like a snapshot of where modern jazz is headed, and who’s daring enough to take it further. We have poetry from Aja Monet, Lagos groove from The Cavemen, Amsterdam soul from Bnnyhunna, and a sense of community from Steam down. This line-up shows how audacious modern jazz can be.
corto.alto
corto.alto is a music project led by Liam Shortall, a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Glasgow, Scotland. Its sound fuses elements of jazz, electronic, and experimental music, and the group treats live shows like controlled chaos: part jazz experiment, part mind game.
Shortall’s 30/108 project, where he wrote 30 tracks in 30 days, inspired his new ethic of making music as organically as possible and embracing the result, imperfect or not. It’s this approach that shaped his instinct for improvisation on stage. “I always try to keep everyone alert,” Liam says when I ask about his band’s onstage energy. “Sometimes mistakes help to keep things fresh. When you play experimental music a lot, it can get a little routine, so I like everyone to feel alive, maybe on their toes sometimes.”
Aja Monet
Aja Monet, the Brooklyn-born poet and musician, has built a sound where poetry, jazz, and spirit collide. Every syllable carries the weight of lived experience; whether it is her New York grit, Caribbean rhythm, or the political urgency of a generation that refuses silence.
At Paradiso, you can expect that same stripped-back honesty. Monet’s sets feel more like a conversation than a concert; confronting you with unfiltered lyricism and reminding you that jazz has always been about the freedom to express.
Illnoledge
The Amsterdam-based duo describe performing live as “a chance to communicate solely through music, our favourite language.” Their shows prove that rhythm really is a universal tongue. Highlife grooves, rich harmonies, and call-and-response vocals that pull everyone into the same joyful current. It’s music that reminds you how easily people from different worlds can move, sing, and understand each other as one.
When I ask what fuels them creatively, they don’t hesitate: “Life itself.” Before stepping on stage, they “give thanks and empower each other,” grounding their energy before letting it expand to their audience.
Correction: An earlier version of this information incorrectly identified Illnoledge as a South African duo. They are, in fact, from Amsterdam.
The Cavemen
Next, we have the Cavemen, who are always ready to pull you onto your feet. The Nigerian brothers Kingsley and Benjamin Okorie bring a sound that’s all heartbeat: highlife rhythms, tight harmonies, and grooves that feel ancestral yet entirely brand new.
Their music carries the pulse of Lagos but stretches far beyond nostalgia. With each song, they fuse storytelling and rhythm into a kind of joyful urgency, the sort that turns any stage into a familial gathering.
Higherlife Jam
The Higherlife Jam was founded by drummer Junior Appiah (also known as Junya) in 2022. So I asked about his favourite thing while performing live, and he responded, “The energy you get back from the crowd is so special. It brings instant joy to my heart.” That exchange between stage and audience sits at the core of what Higherlife Jam does: taking the crowd on a spiritual journey.
The band plays from what Junior calls “a pure, honest place,” and you can hear it. When I asked what he hopes people take away from their set, his answer was simple: love, joy, peace, and hope.
Reuben James
Up next, we have Reuben James, a British singer, pianist, and producer. His sound is entirely his own, carried by buttery vocals, tight keys, and an easy groove. It’s a formula that gives him a wide palette of styles, all orbiting within Reuben’s universe.
His music sits at the meeting point of R&B warmth and jazz sophistication (think Herbie Hancock with a UK twist). As a jazz junkie, I’m especially excited to see what Reuben brings to the stage on the 14th. Whether it’s his effortless improvisation or powerful synergy with band and audience, I’m expecting a set that will hit that sweet spot between precision and experimentation.
Summer Pearl
The London-based singer-songwriter Summer Pearl blends neo-soul, reggae, and R&B into an ensemble that amplifies the spirit and empowers the soul. Her latest single, “The Rebound,” captures that energy. Not your typical breakup song, but more of a conversation with yourself once the dust settles. Summer writes the way we think; her lyricism makes it memorable, relatable, and tender.
My favourite song of hers, “Not My Child,” shows that balance even more clearly. Though I implore you to check out her 2023 album outmysystem, there’s something for everyone in this track.
When we speak, she tells me performing live is when she feels “the most free.” “At times it’s just me and God up there,” she says, “releasing everything onto the stage, fuelled by the backup of my band.” She hopes the audience leaves her set “feeling like they’ve been on a journey” —one that mirrors her own.
Bnnyhunna
Now, let’s take it back to home base —Amsterdam. And with that, we’re proud to call Bnnyhunna ours. A producer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer, Bnnyhunna builds worlds rather than songs. He blends jazz, hip-hop, gospel, and traditional African rhythms.
“Communicate” from his album Echoes of Prayer says everything you need to know about those traits: restrained, layered, and expansive. “Sorry Not Sorry,” on the other hand, shows his playful side: slick, self-assured, and groove-heavy.
His discography offers a range like an intercontinental breakfast buffet. Ever watch Key & Peele? It’s that skit where Jordan Peele is completely overwhelmed by joy at an endless spread of breakfast foods. That’s exactly what diving into Bnnyhunna’s discography feels like. It’s all flavour, no filler.
Anton de Bruin
As we stick close to home, we’ve got Anton de Bruin, one of Amsterdam’s most exciting keys players and producers. Vaguely reflective of this very city, his sound is meticulous, mischievous, and experimental, with a tinge of psychedelic.
If you’re a listener of Pedro Martins or Domi & JD Beck, then you’re sure to enjoy his latest album, “Sounds of the Eclipse.” This album tells a story through its mood, rise, and release. De Bruin turns rhythm into movement, offering less of a recital and more of an invitation to loosen up. His set is one I’ll be sure not to miss.
Steam Down
Now… to the fans of Alfa Mist, Yussef Dayes, Ezra Collective, Kokoroko, Robert Glasper, and all that jazz (ha, get it?), you’re sure to enjoy Steam Down. They’re the heartbeat of London’s jazz renaissance and a perfect finale to this feature.
What started as a weekly jam night in Deptford has become a full-blown movement: part band, part community. Steam Down’s shows aren’t just gigs; they’re eruptions of sound and spirit, built on call-and-response, improvisation, and the kind of raw joy that makes you forget where the stage ends and the crowd begins.
Their music stretches across jazz, grime, and soul, and is all interconnected by one thing: connection. Each performance feels like a collective release, a reminder that jazz, at its core, has always been about togetherness.
Bonus: Would You Rather with corto.alto, Illnoledge, Junior from Higherlife Jam, and Summer Pearl.
E: Would you rather be slightly out of tune or always a little too early on beat?
Illnoledge: We’d rather be slightly out of tune.
E: Would you rather your houseplants harmonize with your practice or give you musical advice?
corto.alto: Advice is what I need. They would probably be quite critical…
corto.alto: I need an angry houseplant that I haven’t watered in weeks to tell me what I need to hear. I’ll listen first, then I might actually water it.
E: Would you rather teleport to gigs but lose a memory each trip, or drive everywhere and keep all your memories?
Junior: Drive everywhere and keep my memories!!!
E: Would you rather jam with your musical heroes or have them watch you front row?
Summer Pearl: Ooo. I’d like to say jam, but I just know I’d get too nervous and sound shit for ages until I got over myself. Both.
That’s a wrap for now, don’t forget to get your tickets before it’s too late! Oh, and here’s a playlist with all your favourites.
See you at the festival!
