RIJF 2026

October 22 - 24

RIJF at the Palace of the Knights, Rhodes (Craig Bailey & Cincinnati University Jazz Faculty, Gent Rushi Trio, Flowtet, Flying Root Quartet, Erika Soteri, Vicky Almazidou, Guido Spannocchi, Tomorrow’s Warriors).

Thursday, October 22

20:00 - SONNY & TRANE TRIBUTE
Willy Rodriguez – Fathers and Sons

A distinctive intergenerational meeting celebrating the legacies of two iconic jazz figures, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Latin Grammy-winning Puerto Rican drummer and percussionist Willy Rodriguez joins two musical families on stage: Slovak double bassist Štefan “Pišta” Bartuš and his son, pianist Alan Bartuš, alongside Greek saxophonists Dimitrios Vassilakis and Nestor Vassilakis. Two fathers, two sons, and an international guest come together through the great jazz tradition and the creative freedom of improvisation.

21:00 - UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Jazz Faculty Ensemble | USA

Scott Belck - trumpet/Director of Jazz Studies
Craig Bailey - saxophone
Ryan Hamilton - trombone
Brad Thomas Myers - guitar
Sergio Pamies - piano
Aaron Jacobs - bass
Art Gore - drums

A major academic and artistic collaboration between RIJF and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), one of the leading centres of higher music education in the United States.

This seven-piece all-star faculty ensemble brings together accomplished jazz performers and educators, bringing contemporary American jazz and Cincinnati CCM’s strong educational tradition to Rhodes. Among its members is saxophonist and arranger Craig Bailey, who spent many years performing and arranging with the legendary Ray Charles Orchestra. The concert also creates a direct bridge between the Rhodes International Jazz Festival and the academic jazz community of the United States.

Friday, October 23

20:00 - NEW GENERATION GREEK JAZZ
FLOWTET | Greece

Konstantinos Nikogiannis – trumpet
Dimitris Kassavetis – guitar
Panagiotis Zarris – piano
Alexandros Kassavetis – electric bass
Henry Chuckuma Onuchucks – drums
Special guest: Nestor Vassilakis – saxophones

Flowtet represents a dynamic new generation of the Greek jazz scene.

Drawing on jazz, funk and hip-hop, original compositions and a contemporary approach to improvisation, the quintet brings the sound of today’s emerging Greek jazz scene to RIJF. Their participation reflects RIJF’s longstanding commitment to creating opportunities for young Greek musicians and connecting them with an international artistic environment.

21:00 - MEDITERRANEAN ENSEMBLE
Music Across the Mediterranean

Sokratis Sinopoulos – lyra | Greece
Eljona Eleni Sinjari – vocals/ancient Greek harp | Albania/Greece
Lakis Tzimkas – double bass | Greece
Kostas Anastasiadis – drums | Greece

A special collaboration created within RIJF 2026, reflecting the very identity of Jazz Across the Water – Mediterranean Bridges. Internationally acclaimed lyra virtuoso Sokratis Sinopoulos joins Eljona Eleni Sinjari on vocals and ancient Greek harp, double bassist Lakis Tzimkas, and drummer Kostas Anastasiadis on a musical journey through jazz, improvisation, and the musical traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.

The concert is directly connected to the theme of the international MedMus – Mediterranean Improvisations Conference, bringing the idea of a Mediterranean connected through music, shared roots, and improvisation onto the stage.

Saturday, October 24

20:00 - YAREMI KORDOS & ROLAND ABREU
AFRO-CUBAN GROOVES | Cuba

Yaremi de las Mercedes Kordos – vocals/guitar/percussion
Roland Abreu – double bass

Havana-born vocalist and musician Yaremi Kordos joins Cuban double bassist and composer Roland Abreu for a journey through Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin musical traditions and the freedom of jazz improvisation. Voice, guitar and double bass create a direct musical dialogue in which rhythm, melody and improvisation connect with deep Afro-Cuban musical roots.

A vibrant and rhythmically charged opening to the final night of RIJF 2026.

21:00 - RIJF ALL-STAR INTERNATIONAL BAND
Jazz Across the Water - Mediterranean Bridges

A special international ensemble created for RIJF 2026, embodying the philosophy of Jazz Democracy in practice: musicians from different countries, cultures, and
generations meet on stage to create through dialogue and improvisation. Eleonora Roussou, combining voice and flute, joins Greek musicians Dimitrios Vassilakis, Nestor Vassilakis, Lakis Tzimkas, and Kostas Anastasiadis, Turkish jazz vocalist Şenay Lambaoğlu, Albanian pianist, composer, and accordionist Gent Rushi, and Vienna-born, London-based saxophonist Guido Spannocchi.

The closing concert of RIJF 2026 transforms the Rhodes stage into a truly international musical meeting point.
Cyprus · Greece · Albania · Turkey · Austria
Different countries. Different generations. Different musical voices. One shared language: Jazz.

Parallel Events

MEDMUS 2026 | MEDITERRANEAN IMPROVISATIONS

International Conference on Music and Improvisation in the Mediterranean. Part of the international MedMus – Méditerranée(s) musicale(s) research programme, bringing together researchers, academics and artists around Mediterranean jazz, improvisation, musical exchange and research.

More info here

RIJF AT THE MUSIC SCHOOL OF RHODES

Open Rehearsals & Masterclasses

Festival artists and international university faculty meet students through open rehearsals and masterclasses in jazz, improvisation and ensemble interaction.

ORFF WORKSHOP | For Children and Parents

An experiential workshop combining music, movement, speech and improvisation, led by Elena Michailou, with live music by Dimitris Vassilakis.

Tuesday, June 16

20:30 | Dibeklihan Culture and Art Village

Dimitri Vassilakis – saxophone
Tahsin Ünüvar – guest artist
Olgun Açar – drums
Umut Deniz – guitar
Yiğit Şen – bass

Bodrum Jazz Festival pays tribute to the legendary voice of jazz history, Sonny Rollins, on June 16th at Dibeklihan!

“Sisterhood” concert, as part of the cultural bridge we’ve been building for years with our sister festival, the International Rhodes and South Aegean International Jazz Festival.

We would like to thank RIJF for their contributions to this meaningful gathering and Dibeklihan Culture and Arts Village for providing the venue.

This project was prepared with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.