Sultan Stevenson Trio & Bremer/McCoy - Leuven Jazz

Sultan Stevenson Trio (UK) – El Roi (album release show)

Pianist Sultan Stevenson is the new powerhouse of British jazz. His style is reminiscent of artists such as McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock. He impresses within his trio with his deep, compelling compositions and virtuoso piano playing.

Stevenson’s debut album, Faithful One, was released on the renowned Whirlwind Recordings label. Blending the tradition of classic jazz with his own innovative style, he brings a vibrant energy to the stage.

In March 2025, his second album El Roi was released on Edition Records, home to previous Leuven Jazz artists such as Chris Potter, Mark Guiliana and Jasper Høiby. This album is his way of expressing thoughts and emotions that he has about two very important concepts: faith and identity.

The trio, featuring drummer Joel Waters (to be confirmed) and bassist Jacob Gryn, is on a roll at the moment, with concerts in various high-profile jazz clubs and festivals, such as Duc des Lombards (Paris), Transition Festival (Utrecht), and Jassmine (Warsaw). Leuven Jazz will mark its Belgian debut.

He is another brilliant act from the UK to join the festival line-up, following artists such as Sons of Kemet XL, Nubya Garcia, Binker & Moses, Mammal Hands, Matthew Halsall and Caoilfhionn Rose.

Bremer/McCoy (DK) – Kosmos (album release show)

Following the successful performances of the Danish duo Svaneborg Kardyb at Leuven Jazz in 2022 and 2025, the festival once again invites a leading Danish duo: Bremer/McCoy. 

Since their debut in 2013, Bremer/McCoy have been renowned for their warm, meditative sound and profound musical connection. Their music is a meditative blend of melodic jazz, dub, and post-classical elements, evoking a sense of calm and reflection. Together, Jonathan Bremer and Morten McCoy evoke entire worlds within their listeners.

As well as being musicians, the two school friends are also audio enthusiasts who record all their albums using analogue technology and tour with their own custom-made audio system. Their last three albums, Utopia, Natten and Kosmos, are distributed worldwide by Luaka Bop, the renowned record label of Talking Heads frontman David Byrne.

On their latest album, Kosmos, Bremer and McCoy seek ultimate freedom in music through improvisation and intuition. The songs explore themes such as meditation, prayer, gratitude, and a quiet optimism. Bremer/McCoy demonstrate the power of music without words.

Morten McCoy: "We decided to call it Kosmos, because for us, it’s this feeling of being able to transcend time and space and just be, which is a very important thing for humans. Even though it’s quiet music, it’s music that you’re able to just dream: have your own dreams, your own inner images."