At The Improv Café, the spotlight never fades, and the music never rests. We’re your home for only live jazz, only live big band, only live swing, and only live vocal jazz. Every song we play is a performance captured in the moment—with that unmistakable energy you can only get from a stage, a spotlight, and a soul ready to sing.
And if it’s Sunday? That’s when the voices really soar.
Join us tonight for our weekly escape into velvet tones and swinging grooves with the “Singing with Swing” Radio Show—a live-only journey through the greatest vocal jazz performances ever recorded. From legends to rising stars, it’s the perfect soundtrack for your Sunday night unwind.
But vocal jazz isn’t just alive—it’s thriving across every continent. Let’s take a look at what’s lighting up stages around the world this month, from smoky clubs in Philadelphia to majestic concert halls in Singapore.
🎙️ North America: Where Legends Are Born and Stages Stay Warm
🇨🇦 Halifax, Canada – Lina Allemano Four at The Carleton
As part of the Halifax Jazz Festival, this bold and boundary-pushing quartet brings improvisation front and center. Expect a unique blend of avant-garde jazz and lyrical phrasing—performed live, as it should be.
🇺🇸 Philadelphia, USA – Jumaane Smith Quartet at SOUTH
Jumaane Smith, trumpeter for Michael Bublé and a powerhouse in his own right, brings his smooth, Sinatra-inspired vocal stylings and trumpet chops to SOUTH, one of Philly’s premier jazz spots. This is a must-see live set for lovers of vocal jazz and swing standards.
🇺🇸 Montague, USA – White Lake Chamber Music Festival
The festival’s July 19th concert features a vocal jazz performance nestled inside a classical music celebration. Proof that swing and song still have a place among the strings and sonatas.
🎤 Heads Up: The 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is Now Open!
If you’re a solo vocalist (of any nationality!) not signed to a major label, this is your chance to step into jazz history. Applications are open until September 2, 2025. This competition has launched the careers of some of today’s most celebrated voices—and you could be next.
🎶 Europe: Where Old World Elegance Meets New Jazz Vibes
🇳🇴 Molde, Norway – Dianne Reeves at Moldejazz
Five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves is one of the most celebrated vocalists of our time, and her live set at the Molde International Jazz Festival promises to be a night of storytelling through song. Don’t walk—waltz to this one.
🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany – Nik West at Nica Jazz Club
Funky, fearless, and vocally dynamic, Nik West isn’t your average jazz performer. She’s a powerhouse performer known for her bass playing and bold vocals—bringing energy and attitude to Hamburg’s intimate Nica stage.
🇲🇰 Skopje, North Macedonia – Donny McCaslin with National Jazz Orchestra
Jazz fusion and innovation take the lead here, with Grammy-winning saxophonist Donny McCaslin pairing with the National Jazz Orchestra for a performance steeped in grandeur, musicianship—and yes, vocal features to stir the soul.
🇨🇭 Montreux, Switzerland – Montreux Jazz Festival with Sigrid and Alanis Morissette
This year, Montreux blurs the lines between genres with Sigrid and Alanis joining a lineup that honors live musical expression. It’s not traditionally jazz, but the passion is pure, and the performances are 100% live—the Improv Café way.
🌏 Asia: From Soulful Standards to Spirited Innovation
🇸🇬 Singapore – Jaehun Kang Trio at Jazz in July, Esplanade
Modern meets timeless in this sophisticated set from South Korean pianist Jaehun Kang and his trio. Expect vocal jazz elements woven through lush arrangements and world-class live interplay.
🇸🇬 Singapore – Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza at Indoor Stadium
An icon in Southeast Asia, Siti Nurhaliza brings elegance, emotion, and a jazz-tinged delivery to Singapore’s biggest stage. Think Whitney meets world music—performed with class and clarity.
🇲🇴 Macao – Kenny G at Broadway Theatre
Yes, Kenny G leans smooth, but don’t overlook the live band experience and vocal jazz features during his global tour. The Broadway Theatre promises a warm, sultry atmosphere to match the melodies.
🇵🇭 Manila, Philippines – Kenny G at New Frontier Theater
The Manila leg of his Asia tour promises another showcase of fusion jazz, vocal collaborations, and that signature sax line that lives best on stage.
🌎 South America: Voices Rising from Every Corner
🇨🇱 Santiago, Chile – Rodrigo González & Miguel Pérez at Sala Master
These two masters will blend Latin rhythms and jazz phrasing in a vocal-forward showcase sure to leave its mark on Santiago’s vibrant jazz scene.
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, Argentina – Show de Canto at Café Berlin
Translating to “Show of Song,” this event at Café Berlin is a love letter to jazz vocals, Latin ballads, and improvisational brilliance.
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, Argentina – JAY B at C Complejo Art_media
Known for bridging genres, JAY B infuses pop and soul with jazz technique in a live format that’s fresh, inventive, and vocally driven.
🌍 Africa: Jazz With Roots and a Global Future
🇲🇦 Casablanca, Morocco – Jazzablanca Festival (July 3–12)
This year’s Jazzablanca merges jazz with funk, soul, and global sounds. While it’s already wrapped up, the reverberations of live vocal sets and improvisational grooves are still being felt throughout Morocco’s jazz scene.
🌍 Artist Spotlight – wordsofAzia (MODERN WIHEGOU EP)
A fresh voice on the global stage, this French-born artist of Ivorian heritage blends Bhété rhythms with jazz, soul, and deeply reflective vocals. Her new EP MODERN WIHEGOU is a must-listen for those who believe jazz is a living, breathing expression of cultural identity.
🇦🇺 Australia: Swingin’ Down Under
Ballarat Jazz Club – Stuart Cardell with Jazz Notes
This performance is as classic as they come. Swing standards, brushed drums, and velvet vocals. This is the kind of live jazz The Improv Café was built for.
Novotel Geelong – Scott Dalton at Tempo
Vocal jazz lives large in this seaside set—Scott Dalton on vocals and keys promises crooners and cocktail tunes all night long.
Condamine Sports Club, Warwick – The Fern Brothers with Sophie Collins
Expect three-part harmonies, swing-style instrumentation, and that old-school magic that turns every show into a celebration.
🎙️ Tune in Tonight – “Singing with Swing” on The Improv Café
Sunday nights are sacred here at The Improv Café, and our “Singing with Swing” show is your sanctuary. Only live vocal jazz cuts. Only swinging standards. Only legends and luminaries caught in the act of brilliance.
So pour a glass, kick back, and let us take you around the world through the mic, the melody, and the magic of live jazz.
🎶 Streaming now, only at The Improv Café.
🎷 Where every track is live, and every night is a standing ovation.
#LiveJazzOnly #SingingWithSwing #TheImprovCafe #VocalJazz #BigBandEnergy #JazzFestivalsWorldwide #GlobalJazzScene #LiveMusicMatters #SundaySwingSessions #RealVoicesRealTime