This year’s festival will gather world-class artists, with a spotlight on three exceptional women: Linda May Han Oh, Nicole Zuraitis, and Thana Alexa, who is also the co-founder and artistic director of the festival.

The second edition of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival promises an unforgettable musical experience for all visitors, also showcasing performances by three extraordinary artists whose talent and passion enrich the world of jazz. The festival program includes three bands in residence: Linda May Han Oh & The Glass Hours, the Nicole Zuraitis Quartet, and Thana Alexa feat. Antonio Sánchez and Michael League. This impressive group of internationally recognized artists will stay on the island as both performers and mentors throughout the festival. The event not only celebrates music but also bridges cultural differences and promotes artistic collaboration on a global scale.

Linda May Han Oh is a distinguished bassist, composer, and educator. Her innovative expressiveness and brilliant improvisations have made her one of the most dynamic rising stars on today’s jazz scene. She began her musical career playing piano, bassoon, and electric bass guitar before taking up the double bass in 2002 at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where she graduated with the highest honours. Oh was a finalist for the James Morrison Scholarship in 2003, joined the IAJE Sisters in Jazz in 2004, and received the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award in 2008. Grammy-winning bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh performed at the 30th anniversary of Jazz.hr at the Academy of Music in Zagreb in 2020. In the same year, she topped the International Jazz Journalists’ list for best bassists for the third consecutive time. As an associate professor at Berklee College of Music and a member of the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice, Linda has released five critically acclaimed albums.

“I am very excited to come to the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival in Croatia from August 29 to 31. I look forward to spending time and playing with all the musicians. I will hold a masterclass and am eager to share my experiences with all the participants. I also hope that visitors will enjoy the concert of my band, The Glass Hours,” said Linda May Han Oh.

Nicole Zuraitis is a Grammy-winning and two-time nominated jazz vocalist, songwriter, pianist, and arranger based in New York. As the winner of the prestigious American Traditions Vocal Competition in 2021, Nicole is known for her exceptional musical expressiveness and original compositions. She took the music world by storm this year, winning a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album with her album How Love Begins. This award is just one of the highlights of her vibrant career. Nicole and her husband, drummer Dan Pugach, earned a Grammy nomination in 2019 for their jazz cover of Dolly Parton’s Jolene.

“I am incredibly happy to bring my band from New York. We will celebrate my Grammy-winning album ‘How Love Begins’ in a wonderful atmosphere and enjoy the natural beauty of Croatia,” said Nicole Zuraitis.

Thana Alexa is the co-founder and artistic director of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival in Croatia, which aims to connect the rich musical talent of the Balkans with some of the most renowned jazz artists from around the world. Her album ONA received two nominations for a Grammy and is inspired by intergenerational and intercultural stories of Croatian women in her family, evolving into an exploration of contemporary women’s experiences worldwide. One of Alexa’s most significant and ongoing collaborations is with her husband, four-time Grammy winner Antonio Sánchez. Together, they have recorded more than six albums with their own ensembles and projects by other artists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Thana co-founded the “Live From Our Living Rooms” initiative, which raised significant funds to support musicians in need.

Admission to the jazz concerts is free for all visitors. During the festival, from August 29 to 31, free boat transfers will be organized for the audience from Dubrovnik. The Argosy boat will depart daily from Gruž Port (across from the market) and from Lopud in front of the Lafodia Hotel.

The Ponta Lopud Creative Platform hosts and presents three summer cultural programs in 2024, welcoming all art lovers, especially those passionate about film, music, and literature. The Ponta Lopud Summer Screenings, celebrating the art of film, was the first of three events held from June 27 to 29. The second event, which will attract music lovers to the island from August 29 to 31, is the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. The third, new addition to the creative platform is the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, a festival running from September 27 to 29, rounding off the summer festivities and closing Lopud’s cultural-artistic season.

For more information about the program, schedule, and screenings, visit jazz.pontalopud.hr and follow the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival on social media – Instagram i Facebook!