The Belgian city of Dinant, located in the heart of the Walloon region is well-known as the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone and, as such, is frequently visited by jazz lovers.

Dinant is less than one hour’s drive from Brussels, 20 minutes from the French border and less than 2 hours from both the Dutch and German borders as well as Luxemburg.

Since 1998 the city has also hosted the Dinant Jazz Nights Festival which has every year attracted both artists and audiences from around the world, thereby contributing to its fame in the development of music.

After its successful tenth edition in 2007, the Dinant Jazz Nights festival is ready to reveal some of the names of the artists who will participate this year in this festival to be held from Friday July 18th till Sunday July 20th 2008.

In each year’s festival it has been a tradition to ask to a musician to become the musical director. For the edition of 2008 one of the best Belgian pianists has been chosen. After David Linx, Manfred Eicher, Philip Catherine, Paolo Fresu, Stéphane Belmondo or Steve Houben in recent years, Eric Legnini will be the musical director of the 11th edition this year.

As always, the programme of the festival will be a good balance between experienced musicians and young talents, well-known musicians and discoveries, Belgian and international musicians.

It is already certain that this will be a great celebration of music and jazz. Among the high points in the programme there will be the thriving French singer and guitar player San Severino who, together with a few guest artists, will present his brand new project on July 18th. On the following day, Milton Nascimento, one of the greatest Brazilian music legends, will return to the European scene by appearing in Dinant accompanied by a startling jazz quintet including the Belmondo Brothers on July 19th.

Our famous Toots Thielemans and his quartet will play for us on July 20th, the eve of the Belgian national holiday.

The festival will take place under the big top to be pitched in the unique setting of the Saint-Norbert park around the Leffe abbey in Dinant.

The beautiful valley of the river Leffe, the leafy surroundings of the park and its centuries old trees will enhance the conviviality of this festival which every year, is very much enjoyed by both jazz aficionados as well as by the musicians themselves.

Other novelties are foreseen, among which a partnership with the Blue Note Records Festival of Ghent. A first example of this synergy will be the prize giving of the Django d’Or award every two years alternatively in Dinant and in Ghent.