BREAKING THE WAVES

A going concern since 1976, first in The Hague and since 2006 in Rotterdam, the annual North Sea Jazz Festival returns this summer with a stellar lineup including Janelle Monáe, Seal, Stormzy, Little Simz, Lizzo, Duckwrth, Snarky Puppy, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Jill Scott and more. It showcases the best contemporary jazz-influenced acts while attracting the biggest names. Photographer Paul Bergen has been capturing images from the festival for nearly four decades. He talks us through some of his favourite shots from previous years...

- Paul Bergen

Miles Davis and Darryl Jones, 1985 

This was my first connection with Miles, seeing him play live and taking photos of him during his visit to the North Sea Jazz festival. With giants like John Scofield on guitar, Bob Berg on tenor, Bobby Irving on keyboards, Darryl Jones on bass, Vincent Wilburn on drums and Steve Thornton on percussion I will never forget this concert. This photo with Darryl Jones, who joined The Rolling Stones in 1993 after Bill Wyman had left the band, breathes rock'n'roll with the lights in the back and the chemistry and energy between Darryl and Miles.

Art Blakey, 1989

This portrait of Art Blakey is a snapshot during a Bird Award ceremony. You don't always have to have the musician's attention to make a good portrait of them. There were more photographers with us, but I thought it was nice to capture his characteristic face alone. I love the many beautiful live images I've taken of musicians, but it is even more valuable to me to have beautiful portraits of iconic artists.

George Clinton, 1990