Sofia Jazz Peak was founded in 2003 as the successor of the Jazz event within the Sofia Music and Film Fest. Our festival's concept is based on an open definition of Jazz, paving the way for contemporary Jazz, World Music and Soul artists many of whom have hit our stages since it all began. Sofia Jazz Peak quickly became the most important high scale Jazz festival in South Eastern Europe.
 
While the first editions of Sofia Jazz Peak consisted of up to 10 performances within 10 days, we later chose to make it a concert series with concerts throughout the year in order to satisfy the largest number of audiences possible. Thousand of Bulgarians and hundreds of foreigners have enjoyed Sofia Jazz Peak concerts since 2003, ranging from performances by Al Jarreau and George Benson to just as unforgettable gigs by Marcus Miller or Maceo Parker (see band listings below).
 
In the past years, people have flown in from Austria, Germany, England and other countries in order to experience Sofia Jazz Peak concerts. Our main purpose of course is to bring the best in Contemporary Jazz and similar genres to Bulgarian audiences. Since there were hardly any performances by international Jazz and Soul stars before 1989, most of the acts we invite play in Bulgaria for the first time. Of course this does not apply to Bulgarian Jazz and Fusion heroes who performed on our festival stages. They included artists such as Milcho Leviev, Camellia Todorova, Hristo Yotzov, Theodosii Spassov, Jivko Petrov, Angel Zaberski, Bulgara and the Tе Instrumental Project.
 

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2003:

Theodosii Spassov & Ilduz Ibrahimova
Anke Helfrich Trio with Hristo Yotzov
Camelia Todorova

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2004:

Tasha's World
Karlheinz Miklin Trio
Roberto Magris & Ettore Martin Quartet
Hristo Yotzov's Jazz Peak Quintet
Cornelius Claudio Kreusch & Sun Music
Jazzicals with Ebo Shakoor
Jim Mullen's Organ Trio
Milcho Leviev & Vicky Almazidu
Sylvain Luc
Beloslava and Jivko Petrov

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2005:

Nigel Kennedy & Jarek Smietana Band
Dennis Rollins' Badbone & Co.
Milcho Leviev: Jazz Focus '65
Milcho Leviev & Ludmil Angelov
Tе Instrumental Project
Hector Zazou
Human Touch
Acoustic Version
German Youth Jazz Orchestra with Peter Herbolzheimer
Chris Tofield Bluesband
Fra Fra Sound

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2006:

Peter Erskine, Milcho Leviev, Yiotis Kiourtsoglou, Vicky Almazidu
Milcho Leviev & Vicky Almazidu
Krampl Liska Duo
Peter Weniger Trio
Bulgara
Michel Legrand with Classic FM Orchestra
Maceo Parker
Mezzoforte
Peter Herbolzheimer with the Classic FM Orchestra and the Sofia Jazz Peak Band

Al Jarreau
The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience feat. The Al McKay Allstars
Carleen Anderson
Camelia Todorova

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2007:

George Benson & Al Jarreau
Marcus Miller
Billy Cobham's Culture Mix
Count Basic
Francesco Cafiso Quartet
Mezzoforte
Tе Instrumental Project
De Phazz
C.C. Quartet & Alan Vitous 

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2008:

BuJazzO
Eliane Elias
Kool & The Gang
The Brand New Heavies

SOFIA JAZZ PEAK 2009:

Randy Crawford & Joe Sample Trio
DePhazz
Bulgaria's Jazz Greats
Diane Schuur