Rescheduled Hua Hin Jazz Festival to take place 19–20 December
The Hua Hin International Jazz Festival 2025 has been rescheduled for 19–20 December, following a change from its original dates of 28–29 November.
Organisers confirmed the revised schedule in a statement issued on 10 November. The decision was made after the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, which prompted concerns among several parties about whether it would be appropriate to hold the festival in late November.
After discussions between all involved, the festival was moved to December to ensure it is delivered in a respectful and well-prepared manner, while maintaining the community spirit that has long defined the event.
A month of jazz in Hua Hin
This year, the festival serves as the headline event of Hua Hin Jazz Month, a month when the city is filled with the sound of jazz. A series of smaller performances and community events will run throughout December, including Jazz Weekend at CICADA Market every Friday to Sunday; Jazz You More at Amara Resort every Monday and Thursday; Jazz at Monsoon Valley on 20 December; and a Christmas Jazz Night at Bluport Hua Hin on 24 December.
The Hua Hin Jazz Festival remains one of the city’s key cultural highlights, attracting residents, visitors and jazz fans from across Thailand and overseas. The 2025 edition will take place across two stages: one at the Hua Hin beach exit and the other in front of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin. Concerts are scheduled from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. each evening.
This year’s programme aims to strengthen Hua Hin’s reputation as a centre for music, art and culture, establish the festival as a regular feature on the international jazz calendar and promote the city as a destination for high-quality tourism.
Around 30 booths offering food, drinks and local products will also feature, supported by hotels and businesses in the area.
Artist biographies – Hua Hin Jazz Festival 2025
Mitch Frohman (USA)
A Bronx native, Mitch Frohman is recognised as one of the leading Latin jazz saxophonists and flautists. He spent 25 years as a soloist with Tito Puente’s orchestra and has performed with Mongo Santamaria, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Rivera, and many more. Beyond jazz and salsa, his credits include Paul Simon, David Byrne, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Frohman currently tours worldwide with the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra and leads his own Latin-Jazz Quartet. His signature saxophone solo can be heard on the theme song of Sex & the City.
Dale Barlow (Australia)
Sydney-born saxophonist and flautist Dale Barlow has been a fixture of the international jazz scene since the 1980s. He performed with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the Cedar Walton Quartet in New York, and has worked with legends such as Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Wynton Marsalis. Barlow has also been active in the UK, playing at Ronnie Scott’s and with groups such as Loose Tubes. In Australia and Southeast Asia, he has collaborated with leading musicians across genres, making him one of the region’s most versatile jazz artists.
Jakob Dinesen (Denmark)
Jakob Dinesen is among Denmark’s most celebrated tenor saxophonists, with two Danish Grammys for Best Jazz Album and the prestigious Jazzpar Award to his name. Known for both straight-ahead and modern jazz, he has recorded with drummer Paul Motian and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, and toured extensively in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Dinesen’s collaborations span jazz greats like Eddie Gomez and Steve Swallow as well as African and Cuban musicians, reflecting his broad musical outlook.
Steve Cannon (USA/Thailand)
Trumpeter Steve Cannon developed his career in Los Angeles as a studio and live musician, working across jazz, salsa, pop, and television. He has shared stages with Arturo Sandoval, David Sanborn, The Temptations, and The Four Tops, and has recorded for film and TV productions. After years performing in Portland, Oregon, Cannon relocated to Bangkok, where he regularly appears at The Living Room jazz club and collaborates with Koh Mr. Saxman at festivals across Southeast Asia.
Yuri Kishimoto (Japan)
Yuri Kishimoto is a Japanese saxophonist and flautist who has performed at major jazz festivals across Asia, including Taipei, Nagoya, and Sendai. A graduate of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, she has toured internationally as a member of the Asian Youth Jazz Orchestra. Now based in Bangkok, she is a regular performer at leading venues such as Saxophone Pub and FooJohn and teaches jazz performance and arranging at Silpakorn University.
Lilly Valdez (Cuba)
Also known as Lilly.V or Lilith Valdes, this Cuban-born singer, songwriter, and producer is celebrated for her soulful, genre-blending style. Her voice carries warmth and intensity, combining influences from Latin, jazz, and contemporary world music. With passion and authenticity at the heart of her performances, Lilly Valdez brings a vibrant energy that transcends borders and captivates audiences worldwide.
Pom Autobahn (Thailand)
Pom Autobahn rose to prominence in the early 1990s as part of the Thai jazz band Autobahn, which released two albums with Kita Records. Known for tracks such as ทนได้ทนไป and แด่เธอ, Pom has also contributed to soundtracks and other projects, including the song แค่ฝันถึงฉัน from the film บ้านผูกวิญญาณ. Today, he continues to be associated with Thailand’s jazz and pop crossover scene.
Koh Mr. Saxman (Thailand)
One of Thailand’s most recognisable jazz musicians, Koh Mr. Saxman has performed in more than ten countries and recorded five solo albums. A graduate of Chulalongkorn University, he has also won awards including the Coke Music Award for Best Outstanding Musician and the Nescafe Music Festival. Known for his energetic live performances, Koh has become a central figure in Thailand’s contemporary jazz movement.
Maew Jirasuk Panphum (Thailand)
Maew Jirasuk Panphum is a Thai singer, songwriter, and composer with a strong following across music platforms. His work spans television drama soundtracks, popular albums, and widely streamed singles. Highlights include ทางใครทางมัน from the series Tawan Tat Burapha, ไม่อยากตาย (You Saved Me), and เยาวราช, which has more than 90 million views on YouTube. He is also active as an arranger and collaborator with other Thai artists.
Additional performers
The 2025 line-up also features Lukasz Kurzydlo (Poland), Yasmin Kierkegaard (Denmark), Zems Singh (Nepal), Yixiao Shi (China), Ford Sobchai, Mint Atdhawadee, Tee Jetset’er, Sydney Wethaka, Siam Cubano, Jay Prem, Mee The Star, Opal & Kaimook The Voice, Pride, and more.
