More Exciting Lineup Announcements for the 2025 Ottawa Jazz Festival’s 45th Anniversary

The Ottawa Jazz Festival continues to build anticipation for its milestone 45th anniversary with another round of inspiring artist announcements. Taking place at centrally located venues in the heart of downtown Ottawa, this year’s festival promises an unforgettable celebration of jazz, featuring superlative artists and diverse performances from June 20 to June 29, 2025. 

Among the newly announced highlights:

Chris Botti – The Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer will headline the Main Stage at Confederation Park on Saturday, June 28, delivering his signature blend of jazz, pop, and classical influences that have captivated audiences worldwide. 

As one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades, he’s collaborated with some of the biggest superstars on the planet including: Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and others. Botti has topped the jazz charts with numerous albums, earned multiple Gold and Platinum records, performed with symphony orchestras and on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House.

Deborah Davis and Segue to Jazz – The renowned vocalist and her dynamic ensemble will set the mood for a remarkable evening on the Main Stage. Opening for the iconic and legendary Mavis Staples on Saturday, June 21, in a unique happenstance of programming, this performance will showcase the journey of Jazz from its early roots of Gospel music and the blues to the contemporary jazz sounds of today with its Tribute to Jazz; From Africa to New Orleans to the True North Strong and Free.

Folklore to Jazz – This innovative ensemble will take listeners on a genre-blending journey at the National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage on Wednesday, June 25. A clarinet prodigy since age five, Radovan Tariška created a unique combination of Slovak traditional folklore with American Jazz. Folklore To Jazz is a successful multicultural project, in which Radovan involved some of the most successful jazz musicians: Essiet Okon Essiet (bass), Benito Gonzalez(piano), David Hodek (drums).

Nubya Garcia – The acclaimed London-based saxophonist and composer will bring her electrifying performance to the OLG Stage as she closes out the 45th edition of the 2025 Festival on Sunday, June 29 at 10:30pm. Besides headlining major festivals, including Glastonbury and Newport Jazz, her compositions have been featured in Ted Lasso, Atlanta and Fortnite. She has also collaborated with brans like Burberry, Paul Smith and Fossil.

“As we celebrate 45 years of jazz in the nation’s capital, we’re thrilled to showcase an extraordinary mix of iconic legends and rising stars,” explains Executive & Artistic Director Petr Cancura, “With many more exciting announcements still to come, this year’s festival will be one for the books.”

Festivalgoers can expect an eclectic lineup spanning multiple venues, highlighting jazz’s rich history and evolving sound. Additional programming and special events will be announced soon.

Visit ottawajazzfestival.com for tickets and more information. Stay tuned for still more updates.