Last night, the third edition of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival officially opened on the island of Lopud, once again affirming the festival’s reputation as a sanctuary for top-tier music and intergenerational creative exchange. The festival brings together world-class artists and no fewer than seventeen young participants from around the globe, who collaborate through shared work and musical dialogue, creating a unique atmosphere in the island’s enchanting surroundings.
The festival’s first official day began with a masterclass led by this year’s resident jazz master, four-time Grammy Award winner and acclaimed music educator Terri Lyne Carrington. In the relaxed setting of the Rector’s Palace, participants and mentors from several countries – including this year’s featured performers Sofia Rei, Ben Wendel, and Michael Mayo, as well as renowned American jazz journalists Sarah Geledi and Simon Rentner – engaged in a conversation on current challenges in the music industry, artistic expression, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, moderated by the festival’s artistic director Thana Alexa. Carrington shared her reflections openly: “Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with many outstanding musicians and experience a wide range of music scenes, even beyond my primary genre. That’s given me a broader perspective and a wealth of experience. After two decades in music, I’m now exploring what I truly want moving forward – I feel the need to seek deeper meaning and find my real purpose as an artist.”
The second masterclass introduced an innovative workshop featuring pianists Shai Maestro and Andrew Freedman, bassists Joe Sanders and Nick Campbell, and drummer Robin Baytas. Through conversation and practical demonstrations, they explored how to maintain one’s artistic voice while simultaneously supporting fellow musicians in the rhythm section – balancing individuality and collaboration, and integrating physical movement with musical expression. The session sparked fresh perspectives and strategies for developing a unique creative identity within multidisciplinary frameworks.
“When I think about finding my own musical voice, I realize it’s not something we’re consciously aware of at first – just like a child doesn’t think about their voice while learning to speak,” Joe Sanders explained. “Our voice takes shape through studying and understanding different musical styles, like rock and jazz, each offering its own concepts and ideas. As musicians, we always need to stay open and communicative within the group, because every note we play affects everyone around us – the drummer, the pianist, our fellow musicians, even the dancers. That’s the essence of musical interaction and expression.”
In the evening, the audience gathered in the garden of Hotel Grand to enjoy a powerful performance by the outstanding Sofia Rei, a vocalist and producer who has been nominated twice for a Grammy. Performing music from her award-winning 2021 album Umbral, and joined onstage by JC Maillard and Tupac Mantilla, Rei brought the sounds of Chile’s Elqui Valley to the heart of Lopud. The night concluded with an open jam session led by artistic director Thana Alexa, infusing the space with the energy of improvisation and shared musical exploration.
The festival continues through Saturday with exceptional concerts, educational masterclasses for participants, and nightly jam sessions. Following Sofia Rei’s opening performance, today’s lineup features Ben Wendel and his band, joined by Shai Maestro, Joe Sanders, and drummer Antonio Sánchez. Their innovative sound and dynamic presence promise to bring a fresh dimension of contemporary jazz to the island. On the festival’s final day, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Mayo will showcase his vocal and instrumental virtuosity in a fusion of jazz and R&B, supported by Andrew Freedman, Nick Campbell, and Robin Baytas – concluding another unforgettable musical journey on Lopud.
Tickets for the evening concerts are available through the Entrio system. Free transportation aboard the Argosy boat is provided for visitors from Dubrovnik, departing daily at 6:00 p.m. from the Lapad coastline, near the bus stop in front of the Faculty of Economics. Return service departs from the main port at 12:15 a.m. on 29/8, and from the pier in front of Hotel Lafodia on 30/8.
The creative platform Ponta Lopud encompasses three cultural programs in the summer of 2025, welcoming all lovers of art—particularly film, music, and literature. The Ponta Lopud Film Festival is the first of these three events, celebrating cinema from 26 to 28 June. The second event, the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, will attract music enthusiasts from 28 to 30 August, while the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge will turn the island into a literary haven from 18 to 20 September, rounding off the season of summer cultural events.
