Red Sea Jazz Festival Marks 40th Anniversary With Four Generations of Music
The Red Sea Jazz Festival celebrates its 40th edition in Eilat, co-directed by Yossi Fine and Niva Amali-Maoz, featuring four generations of diverse musical acts.
The Red Sea Jazz Festival is celebrating its landmark 40th edition this November in Eilat, bringing together four generations of musicians across four stages at the port. Co-directed by legendary bassist Yossi Fine and Niva Amali-Maoz—the first woman to artistically direct a jazz festival in Israel—the event breaks traditional boundaries by blending classic jazz, electronica, hip-hop, and Israeli rock.
Four Generations on Stage
The festival's core concept centers on bridging musical eras. The opening performance features Danny Gottfried and the founders, pioneers of Israeli jazz in their eighties, playing alongside cutting-edge acts like ensemble Meitar performing a tribute to Warp Records. Idan Raichel will present an exclusive orchestral retrospective, while the lineup also spans Ravid Plotnik, Gidi Gov, Dudu Tassa, Miri Mesika, and Yoni Rechter.
The Magic of Late-Night Jams
True to festival tradition, the legendary late-night jam sessions at Agamim Hotel remain a melting pot for spontaneous musical breakthroughs. Fine recalls moments when jazz royalty like the Brecker Brothers, John Scofield, and Jacob Collier shared the stage with younger artists until dawn.
"It is like being in a restaurant with the option to taste everything on the menu," Fine says. "It is a mistake to taste only one style."
Preserving the Legacy
To mark the 40th anniversary, the festival introduces three preservation projects: a double vinyl collector's edition of rare live recordings, a photography exhibition curated by Yossi Tsvker, and an interactive listening space dedicated to the late Benzi Shira, who documented the festival for 14 years.
