For music lovers in Jordan, the annual Amman Jazz Festival is an absolute must. Bringing regional and international talent to the kingdom, the festival is the sole event dedicated exclusively to the eclectic sounds of jazz.

This year the festival is in its seventh edition and runs between April 26 and May 1. Seven acts will grace multiple locations around Amman and one performance will be headed to the common tourist destination of Umm Qais. In addition to Haya Cultural Center, other venues hosting concerts are Blue FIg and Maestro.

The festival kicks off on Thursday with French saxophonist and composer Sylvain Rifflet, who will perform in Haya Cultural Center. The sounds of his saxophone will be complemented by an electro-acoustic guitar and percussions, creating innovative and captivating music and capturing the pulse of our time. Their modern jazz will juggle with swirls of New York minimalism.

Spanish pianist and composer, Moisés P. Sánchez, will be bringing his award-winning eponymous quartet to town as the second performance of the evening. In addition to the piano, double bass, drums, percussion and a female lead singer are also in store for the following night. The composer has been described as “the most original and surprising performer of his generation” by his peers and audiences can expect him to improvise and oscillate between the symphonic rock of the 70’s, classical music and contemporary styles.

On Friday, Amman-dwellers will be able to enjoy three acts. In addition to Sanchez, Swiss artist Yves Theiler and his trio will be the first act of the evening. The pianist composes all their music and their immaculate timing and technique is characterized by depth and lightness. The trio has five albums under its belt and is considered one of the greatest young talents of the Swiss jazz scene.

Hungarian drummer and composer Balázs Bágyi has been leading different bands for over two decades. He has created music in various music styles and alongside the saxophones, piano drums and bass, he will present pure acoustic jazz based on post-bop elements. He has toured the USA several times and is the only Hungarian jazz musician to regularly play in China.

On Saturday, Swedish guitarist Leo Krepper, accompanied by piano, drums and bass, will take audiences through music grounded in the jazz tradition and influenced by a wide range of genres such as pop and hip hop. The band is bound to provide a joyful and welcoming concert experience by improvising and talking to each other musically. If you miss the performance on Saturday you can also catch him in Blue Fig on Monday.

Sebastian Studnitzky is a well-established and internationally acclaimed performer on both trumpet and piano. The Dresden University of Music professor initiated and took charge as musical director of the XJazz Festival Berlin in 2014, making it the city’s largest event of its kind. You are in for a memorable performance which, in addition to Studnitzky, will be joined by drums, base and an electric guitar.

Skip the first 30 seconds of the video if you want to go straight into his heartfelt simultaneous performance on the piano and trumpet.

The only musicians to present Jordan at this year’s festival are Ukrainian-born singer Kateryna Krasova accompanied by Ghassan Abu Haltam on clarinet, Helmi Fanni on guitar and Ali Fanni on drums . The act is a regular in Amman Jazz Festival and their concerts are not to be missed. The Ukrainian Music Academy alumna is the recipient of numerous awards and has lived in Jordan since 2005.

The final day of the festival, which also coincides with the Labour Day holiday, cannot beg for a better performance. Umm Qais will hold the grand finale and Palestinian Laila Sabbagh is no stranger to Jordanian crowds or Amman Jazz Festival. This “mojer Palestina con un alma Latina,” which translates to “A Palestinian woman with a Latin spirit” will definitely put a smile on your face. The fusion between Arabic and Latin sounds and sensual singing are her signature traits. Expect to hear tango and bachata tunes followed by traditional Arabic motifs; no improvisation is off limits.

Jazz is in another category when it comes to experiencing music, especially when live. Its depth and emotion can leave you feeling uplifted and then sorrowful within the span of minutes.

The genre exposes you to centuries of culture and allows musicians to experiment and improvise. Seeing jazz performers lost in their world and getting in the “zone” is an entertaining and unique sight to behold.

To sum it up, jazz is music for the heart and soul that will give your ears a break from the monotonous tunes of mainstream music.

Finally, check out the event Facebook page to book and buy your tickets and find out the exact time and location of each concert.