In each year’s Dinant Jazz Nights festival it has been a tradition to ask to a musician to become the godfather. After Manu Katché, Toots Thielemans, Eric Legnini, David Linx, Manfred Eicher, Philip Catherine, Paolo Fresu, Stéphane Belmondo or Steve Houben in recent years, Joe Lovano will be the godfather of the 14th edition this year.

Lovano is one of the best saxophone player in the world who has played with so many jazz legends. He has released a new album in January 2011 which is a kind of contemporary and very personal tribute to Charlie Parker, Bird Songs, his 22nd album for Blue Note Records. This album will be played with his band, Us Five, on Friday July 15 in Dinant.

Together with the festival organizers, he has also invited many other Belgian, European and American musicians for a unique jazz feast.