get carried away by sonic bridges, a mesmerizing fusion of gnawa and contemporary jazz in all its versatility. it is a crowning achievement for marmoucha orchestra and moroccan guembri master mehdi nassouli. years of collaboration between them have culminated in an extraordinary synergy, bridging a wide variety of cultures. mehdi nassouli’s hypnotic guembri playing and commanding vocals transform every performance into an intense experience. he has previously shared the stage with legends such as herbie hancock and alpha blondy, bringing moroccan gnawa music to a worldwide audience. marmoucha orchestra is an ensemble of top class musicians blending contemporary styles with a wealth of traditions from southwest asia and north africa. guided by artistic director arin keshishi, the orchestra crafts compositions that both honor and innovate tradition.

four duets, each with a dancer and a musician, improvising freely. this could well be the start of wonderful new collaborations. and a compelling experience for the audience. together with dance platform whynot we have linked up upcoming artists with renowned performers. they have all developed their own unique musical and physical language. simon bus x chaerin im with his inquisitive eye and hyper-flexible body, simon bus stretches ideas about dance. he started breakdancing at the age of twelve and became part of the international battle scene. he graduated as a visual artist and is now a core creator at dansbrabant. south korean pianist chaerin im has quickly conquered her place in dutch jazz in recent years. in 2024, nrc elected her young artist of the year. simon bus dance, chaerin im piano, keyboards rowan van den boomen x loradeniz at a young age he started with breaking and popping and later at dance academy he discovered ballet and contemporary styles. currently, rowan van den boomen seeks freedom through movement and other forms of expression, such as painting and fashion. under the name loradeniz, deniz omeroglu develops her own sonic world. as a classically trained pianist, sound designer and dj, she blurs the boundaries between electronic, cinematic and experimental music. rowan van den boomen dance, loradeniz electronica, vocals joley groeizaam x m. alberto joley groeizaam, also known as pairodime, is a renowned dutch movement artist, celebrated for his contributions to dance, fashion, modelling, and styling. his innovative designs and use of upcycled materials reflect his artistic vision and commitment to sustainability. equal parts saxophonist, poet, theatre maker and anti-capitalist street-essayist, m. alberto seeks to dismantle colonial structures, performing with artists from both sides of the atlantic. joley groeizaam dance, m. alberto, alto- en bass saxophone, spoken word, electronica emio greco x tomoko mukaiyama in addition to his work as a dancer and choreographer, emio greco is active in projects in which dance, science and technology meet. with pieter c. scholten he founded the dance company emio greco | pc, which grew into ick dans amsterdam. the japanese-dutch pianist and artist tomoko mukaiyama is praised for her multimedia performances in which she embarks on the sensory adventure together with her audience. emio greco dance, tomoko mukaiyama piano after the concert in our cafe: spiritual embassy.

the new york times once dubbed american guitarist nir felder a “whiz kid,” while npr called him “the next big jazz guitarist”, and that's for good reason. felder blends jazz and fusion like no other, with a sound that is both refined and explosive. after a stellar career as a sideman – performing with the likes of john mayer, diana krall, brad mehldau, chaka khan and more – he founded his own group in 2010, resulting in the acclaimed debut album golden age. his music bridges the rich tradition of jazz with a contemporary, urgent voice. felder's trio features two other heavyweights: bassist michael janisch, who has performed with joe lovano and kurt rosenwinkel, and received a mobo award nomination; and drummer gary novak, one of the most respected drummers of his generation, known for his work with george benson, chick corea, michael mcdonald and many others. a world-class trio from the us – virtuosic and unmistakably modern.

brazilian rhythms, warm harmonies, merging voices: cantorias brings you to faraway places and forgotten times. the band’s vocalists, lilian vieira, femke smit, anna serierse and nina rompa, bring close harmony from brazil. traditional protest songs, famous sambas, and original songs, with a nostalgic hint of the seventies and eighties and yet fully contemporary. ‘cantoria’ means to break out in song, and ‘cantorias’ is a party where people come together to sing. alongside four singers, the band consists of four musicians who know their way around brazilian styles such as bossa nova en música popular brasileira. the band won the edison in the category ‘jazz vocal national’ in october 2024 for their impressive debut album.

the jazz department of the music school of amsterdam produces a great amount of young talents every year. during the annual jazz marathon 80 musicians put their best foot forward at the bimhuis, featuring several bands and ensembles. 36 years ago peter guidi, ‘the godfather of the amsterdam jazz scene’ (de volkskrant), founded the jazz department of the music school of amsterdam. since then, they have grown to include four big bands, seven jazzcombo’s, and two workshops for adults whom all rehearse weekly. the result cannot be found is jam-packed afternoon where the next jazz generation takes the stage.

the roda de samba has become a tradition on our stage, a musical gathering where everyone is invited to join in the singing, dancing and playing. the host is guitarist nelson latif, who invites musicians from different parts of brazil. opening act is the acoustic trio baru, featuring nelson latif on cavaquinho, the four-stringed instrument that is so characteristic of brazilian music. special guest is singer marcelo café, an outstanding talent from the samba scene. the highlight of this evening is the performance of brazilian samba machine ft. rosana brown. this eight-piece formation is fronted by the rio de janeiro-born singer rosana brown, who infuses samba with jazz, soul, r&b and bossa nova. with her fresh approach to samba, she never loses sight of the tradition. the afterparty features the edvaldo santana trio, led by a veteran of brazilian music, a troubadour who moves seamlessly through blues, samba, and rap. singer and guitarist edvaldo santana was born in são paulo as the son of immigrants. he came up in the 1970s and collaborated with the likes of tom zé, itamar assumpção and paulo leminski. now he will come to the netherlands for the first time.

boi akih will perform in a special international line-up, with trumpet, tuba, cello and drums. boi akih is more than music, it’s a movement of sound and emotion. formed around award-winning vocalist and lyricist monica akihary and guitarist/composer niels brouwer, this duo creates a unique musical language. it transcends genres and cultures and is characterised by a deep connection to jazz as well as to european and moluccan movements. boi akih’s music is an adventurous intertwining of contemporary sounds and age-oldtraditions. poetic vocals, sometimes raw and intuitive, dance together with layered guitar compositions. together they form a dialogue between worlds, in english and haruku (a moluccan language), in which personal stories and universal emotions converge. for this occasion, boi akih will play with drummer mike reed, a key figure in chicago's rich musical landscape, and hélène duret, a powerful and unique player on clarinet from paris. they are joined by fanny meteier on tuba, peter somuah on trumpet, and joshua herwig on cello, three rising stars from the young generation. "everything is played with imperial flair, 'with the free spirit of a violet.' a violent violet, ...of a sweetness that cuts deep, emerging from the vocal improvisations of monika akihary.” jazzdor fest by selma namata & guillaume malvoisin , pointbreak nov 24

over the past decade, dekmantel festival has become synonymous with electronic music’s most adventurous realms. following wednesday’s opening concert and prior to the multitude of live and dj sets in the weekend, thursday night features performances on various locations alongside the ij river, with acts that influence the current dance and dj culture. our stage hosts crossovers between various genres. check the complete program of the five-day festival here. herbert & momoko for matthew herbert, the world is an instrument. the legendary electronic producer returns to his house alias with a jazz-infused show featuring percussion and vocals from improviser momoko gill. departing from fresh dancefloor tracks alongside classics they explore uncharted territories. james holden & wacław zimpel british dj/producer james holden and polish multi-instrumentalist wacław zimpel explore the improvisational intersection between electronic and acoustic music. handmade modular synths meet expressive alto clarinet and various other instruments, often with hypnotic and trance-inducing effects. polygonia presents dream horizons (live) the alter ego of munich-based multidisciplinary artist lindsey wang, polygonia seamlessly blends elements of techno, downtempo and ambient. rooted in the natural world and a deep understanding of music theory and instrumentation, her soundworks have an organic and mystical feel. young marco & john moods present dead sound dead sound is a collaboration between dj/producer marco sterk aka young marco and pop auteur john moods. through dream-like, emotionally charged music they explore themes such as vulnerability, healing, and transformation, not unlike a psychedelic experience embracing light and darkness in equal measure.

it's all in the name: the rhythm hunters, the new band of belgian drummer and composer stéphane galland, is on a quest for extraordinary rhythms. the aim? to naturally and fluidly integrate rhythmic approaches that may initially seem unusual or complex into a coherent musical narrative. through his teaching at the royal conservatory of brussels, galland – known for his work with ibrahim maalouf and aka moon – assembled a group of exceptionally talented young musicians, continuing the path of his acclaimed project the mystery of kem. thus, the rhythm hunters was born, featuring japanese tenor saxophonist shoko igarashi, alto saxophonist sylvain debaisieux (also part of ‘the mystery of kem’), french trumpeter pierre-antoine savoyat, tunisian pianist wajdi riahi, and dutch bassist louise van den heuvel. their self-titled debut album was released last year on the dutch label challenge records.

with a career spanning over twenty years as a sideman, zack lober has finally formed his own band according to his own concept: a perfect marriage of catchy, singable songs with fierce moments of spontaneous collective improvisation. the trio with rising stars suzan veneman on trumpet and sun-mi hong on drums will be expanded for the occasion with tenor giant and boy edgar prize winner jasper blom. a native of montreal, double bassist and composer zack lober came up in boston and played the new york jazz clubs for eleven years, alongside respected band leaders such as henry threadgill, david binney en seamus blake. in 2019 he relocated to the netherlands, where he started this trio, following the examples of paul bley and jimmy giuffre. last year the first album by this formation was released on zennez records. for the recordings at wisseloord studios, zack called in the help of another dutch jazz luminary, saxophonist ben van gelder, who produced the album. ‘quietly adventurous’ (downbeat).

the national youth jazz orchestra is the breeding ground for top talent in the dutch jazz scene. led by the innovative guitarist and composer reinier baas, the njjo lifts a new generation of musicians to great heights. for this edition, baas puts together an orchestra that learns to unite the process of improvisation with a wide range of influences from genres other than jazz. the challenge is found in the combination, and the balance between challenging the musicians and keeping the audience engaged. expect fresh energy, boundless improvisation and an innovative sound from these young jazz talents, led by one of holland's most exceptional guitarists.  

'izaline calister makes history at bimhuis', headlined the nrc in 2000 following the cd presentation of her debut album in our venue. as a crowning achievement of her career, the singer now returns after exactly 25 years with a new program combining her most beautiful songs and new music. calister's music is a fusion between the traditional music of her birth island curaçao and jazz with afro-caribbean influences. her body of work connects language regions through translations and her own versions of dutch and curaçaoan songs. she has released nine cds under her own name; has many hits in curaçao and aruba; has been honored with an edison award (2009) and was knighted (2018) for her work and the attention to our slavery past in her music theater performances. 'this tumba queen sang captivating antillean songs. she added jazz and salsa, walked barefoot as always, and thus made the ode to the chopin of curaçao passionate.' (nrc)

the quartet of saxophonist chris cheek, keyboardist rembrandt frerichs, bassist mark haanstra and drummer jorge rossy is rightly regarded as a supergroup. playing only original compositions, rich in harmony and color, these inventive musicians explore improvisation to the fullest. the lyrical and expressive saxophone sound of american chris cheek makes him one of the most respected musicians on the international jazz scene. drummer jorge rossy, known from the brad mehldau trio, is equally influential. these two have played together since the 1980s. now, they join forces with two outstanding dutch musicians: rembrandt frerichs and mark haanstra. known for his use of historical instruments such as the fortepiano, frerichs opts here for a different palette with the fender rhodes and moog synthesizer. bassist mark haanstra effortlessly combines deep groove and playfulness in this quartet, promising a bold dive into the unknown.

pianist and composer franz von chossy revives ancient wisdom in his project mirror 9. thios nine-part suite explores the nine enneagram personalities: the perfectionist, the giver, the achiever, the individualist, the investigator, the skeptic, the enthusiast, the challenger and the peacemaker. the suite invites self-discovery and deepens the understanding of the various ways we think, feel and act. this project features top players in dutch jazz, who are known for their open approach. franz von chossy grew up in munich, where he learned to play piano at a very young age and came to know classical music through his mother. his ukrainian grandmother encouraged him to play folk music on the accordion. at conservatorium van amsterdam he studied jazz piano with several teachers including rob madna, and in new york he continued his studies with kenny barron, among others, and studied film composition as well. ‘lyrical and sparkling playing’ (de volkskrant on franz von chossy). ‘with him, magic on the keyboard is pure alchemy and a mix of the most different sounds. he can subtly create a delicate balance between orient and occident, between jazz, classical music and pop, light and darkness’ (jazzthetik).

a new project from ecm recording artist and award winning composer, pianist and organist kit downes - this time playing the piano alongside paris-based acoustic guitarist nelson veras, and norwegian bass titan ole morten vågan. this acoustic trio of colourful contemporary improvisers has a strong focus on melody and interplay. the material is written by downes, and is inspired by some of the great love songs and folk melodies from all over europe - ranging from the carpathian mountains, to norwegian glaciers, to the green hills of central italy. british pianist and organist kit downes is acclaimed for his various albums on ecm records. he has collaborated with a wide range of artists including drum and bass pioneer squarepusher, singer-songwriter sam amidon, and composer mica levi. he has written commissions for london contemporary orchestra and ensemble klang, among many others. ole morten vågan plays an important role in scandinavian jazz as a double bassist, for example in the trondheim jazz orchestra. nelson veras combines jazz with the classical guitar tradition and his brazilian background.

some musical encounters feel like coming home. with their new album serenade in blue, guitarist gijs idema and vocalist anna serierse embark not only on a journey into the past, but also on a renewed artistic challenge. the duo returns to the repertoire that first brought them together: the great american songbook. together with bassist cas jiskoot and drummer tim hennekes, they previously released two successful albums of original compositions: motus (nominated for an edison award) and cloud studies. these albums shaped their initial shared musical language. now the quartet feels the need to reflect and explore how their sound has evolved. with innovative arrangements and a carefully curated selection, they give these classics a new depth—not just as a nostalgic tribute, but as a fresh and contemporary interpretation of timeless pieces. special guest is alto saxophonist ben van gelder.

in y-otis, otis sandsjö expresses his affinity with hip-hop and electronica. the swedish-born jazz musician formed the band in berlin, where he currently lives. the style has been described as audio mosaic, where it seems as if sounds are continuously cut up and sampled. the recent album y-otis tre features london-based keyboardist/producer dan nicholls, who has previously collaborated with drum and bass pioneers goldie and squarepusher. otis sandsjö knows the ins and outs of the saxophone, but in y-otis his melodic playing always serves the greater whole. he previously played our venue with lucia cadotsch speak low, also alongside petter eldh. this swedish bassist could be heard on our stage in bands such as enemy, punkt.vrt.plastik and koma saxo. drummer jamie peet also plays here regularly, for example in the bands of  tony roe, jameszoo and jasper høiby.

what started with an invitation for a one-time duo concert, turned out to be an instant hit. meanwhile pianist ramón valle and brass player maite hontelé have toured europe and even recorded an album in havana, cuba. with the cuban musical language in their minds and bodies, they continue to challenge each other. together they experience total freedom on stage. their shared love for melody is a common thread in their collaboration. ramón valle has earned praise all over the world for his overwhelming, expressive piano playing, in which he incorporates his cuban roots as well as his classical education. dutch musician  maite hontelé has lived in colombia for many years and has released five albums, two of which were nominated for a latin grammy. with her salsa band she gave concerts all over the world. both maite and ramón always aim for the notes that reach the soul directly. that’s why each concert is a new adventure for them.

the first edition of the amsterdam klezmer festival takes place from 18 to 21 september 2025, an initiative by the amsterdam klezmer band (akb). since 1996, akb has been breathing new life into klezmer, as musical performer and cultural builder — with performances worldwide and collaborations that cross genre boundaries. the festival is a natural continuation: a four-day programme presenting klezmer as a living genre, full of movement, hybrid forms, and new voices. tonight, the festival takes over the bimhuis, our venue, with performances by klezmokum, amsterdam klezmer band ft. sanem kalfa, guy salamon and others, folkdivizjon, and klezmagic. more information about the bands will be announced later.  

this recurring event focuses on the bass clarinet and the contemporary music created for it. it is an instrument for both soloing and accompanying; it can change in colour and blend in with other instruments, vocals or electronics; it’s like a jukebox full of unusual sounds. the fifth edition sets up a cultural dialogue with france and italy. in the various performances and compositions we can see how french and italian art and literature are used as a source of inspiration. no less than seven players of the bass clarinet will appear, including the founders and artistic leaders of the festival, fie schouten and tobias klein. the program has three parts: young generation, with three young bass clarinettists shabnam parvaresh (ir/de) and federico calcagno (it/nl) have both made their mark as players, band leaders and artistic leaders. chris watt (aus) recently achieved his master’s degree in groningen and is equally at home in jazz and contemporary classical. arcimboldi ensemble: tobias klein, rie watanabe, lida brouskari, thomas jaspers tobias klein’s compositions for this ensemble were inspired by italian painter giuseppe arcimboldi and his series the four elements containing the paintings earth, water, air and fire. the portraits in profile are composed out of objects and animals that represent the four elements. tobias klein is a bass clarinettist, saxophonist, band leader from, among others, spinifex, and has been composing for over thirty years for all kinds of formations. lida brouskari and thomas jaspers are young, up-and-coming improvisers. rie watanabe is a percussionist with an impressive career in contemporary music and improvisation. free space: fie schouten, frank gratkowski, vincent courtois, sofia borges improvisations based on the iconic work espèces d'espaces by french author georges perec. the book zooms out from the intimacy of a bed to the room, the apartment, the street, the city, the country, the world, and the galaxy. music also needs a surrounding empty space. it breaks the silence and can be interpreted as either an intrusion or an invitation to open up. bass clarinettist fie schouten, praised for her flexible sound, focuses on composed and improvised music in which literature plays an important role. schouten has been collaborating for several years with lyrical french cellist vincent courtois, and has started working together with versatile drummer sofia borges and sonic artist on reeds frank gratkowski.

together with the members of her trio, pianist joanna duda fuses acoustic with electronic elements—effects, samplers, sequencers—into an organic whole full of contrasts and dynamism. their album fumitsuke combines influences from minimalism to classical and modern and the club sounds that shaped her formative years. double bassist at this concert is jort terwijn, who has performed on our stage various times, for example with his own band Önder. joanna duda is active in several guises. as a solo artist, she created the album keen, on which she used piano, synthesizers, harpsichord and programming. under the moniker nightwarrior she recorded a track for the british label byrd out, who will also release her latest album. she has exhibited as a multidisciplinary artist. and she has made film music for netflix. her trio has performed at prestigious jazz venues all over the world. better live is a collaborative project of eleven european partners from the world of jazz and improvised music. their goal is reducing the carbon footprint of live music events resulting from the mobility of artists and audiences. another goal is supporting the circulation of international artists and increasing musical diversity across europe.

with his six-piece band (exit) knarr, ingebrigt håker flaten continues to develop his eclectic musical world. the recent (exit) knarr album breezy is dedicated to trumpeter jaimie branch, who passed away in 2022. ‘breezy’ was her nickname and håker flaten became friends with her when he moved to chicago. the album is a celebration of what she represented—exciting new music that dares to take chances, and has fun diving into the unknown. ingebrigt håker flaten made name playing bass in the norwegian/swedish trio the thing, which linked avant-jazz to punk and garage rock. his current band (exit) knarr was named after a viking ship, as a metaphor for his traveling lifestyle. his first compositions for (exit) knarr were tributes to places he has strong connections to, for example chicago and austin, where he lived, but amsterdam as well. since 2020 he has been living in his native norway.

in the bimhuis productions series reflex we invite musicians to reflect on the world and society. the curator of this edition is jamie peet, who has proven himself in the last decade as a jazz drummer for the new generation who does not eschew complexity and who embraces the music of his own time. especially for reflex he has formed a band with saxophonist ben van gelder, bassist pat cleaver and renowned american vibraphonist joel ross. drummer jamie peet is one of the most in-demand drummers in the netherlands, who has worked in both jazz and hip-hop. he has toured with gregory porter and kris bowers, and he previously performed on our stage with y-otis, jasper hoiby 3 elements &tin men and the telephone. he’s part of a new wave of musicians and bands who fuse jazz, hiphop, dance and electronics. in this context he played with the likes of jameszoo, niels broos and dolphin hyperspace. reflex is supported by ammodo art & afk.

the ploctones is one of the most energetic jazz bands in the netherlands, a solid formation that can weather the heaviest storms. a band that cannot be categorized, with an incredibly flexible line-up. expect the unexpected: while the bass and drums can play the most graceful melodies, the guitar and saxophone can conjure up inimitable rhythms and the most hip-twisting grooves. while the band has been on hold for a while, the band members have stayed active. martijn vink has joined the fine fleur of european jazz and is increasingly involved in projects as a producer (including olympians by metropole orkest & vince mendoza and threnody by jazz orchestra of the concertgebouw & jim mcneely). bassist jeroen vierdag performed all over the world with musicians such as teus nobel and ramon valle. saxophonist efraïm trujillo won the 2019 edison publieksprijs with his group the preacher men and recently released the album the standard collections with pianist rembrandt frerichs. founder, guitarist and court composer anton goudsmit made an album with his ton petit and toured with power band bruut!, fugimundi and soul jazz revelation montis, goudsmit & directie, among others.

in october 2025, it will be fourteen years since piet noordijk passed away. from rotterdam bars to major venues with the metropole orkest: he captivated audiences with his vibrant saxophone playing, becoming one of the key figures in dutch jazz. the fifth edition of the european alto festival pays tribute to this legendary alto saxophonist. for the festival, benjamin herman invites alto saxophonists from other european countries to introduce their work to dutch audiences. “there are so many amazing european musicians who remain invisible to jazz fans in nearby countries. i love being able to bring these incredible alto players here. they are truly exceptional; you won’t believe what you’re hearing,” says benjamin herman. the full line-up will be announced soon.

nu art orchestra is not your average big band, but an ensemble that seeks adventure with brand new, original music written by its members. these seventeen players were brought together by saxophonist marike van dijk, who previously played on our stage as the composer of the north sea jazz composition assignment. her mission is a contemporary and fresh big band sound, and giving a platform to young women in jazz. the result is impressive. nu art orchestra consists mainly of women, including some of europe's most inspiring jazz musicians: tineke postma, suzan veneman, shannon barnett and ella zirina. the ‘nu’ in nu art orchestra stands for 'new' and 'uncompromising'. expect a big band that pushes the boundaries, challenges the jazz tradition and plays straight from the heart. this concert is part of big sounds amsterdam. this biennial festival highlights large ensembles that provide space for improvisation, bold ideas and worldly sounds.

brazilian singer-songwriter joão bosco achieved legendary status in his home country, but also at our venue; during earlier performances the audience was captivated with his voice and acoustic guitar playing. now he’s back for a unique duo performance with his main bassist guto wirtti, fusing samba and bossa nova with soul and jazz. joão bosco wrote unforgettable songs for elis regina in the 1970s, when brazilian pop music suffered from censorship due to the military dictatorship of the time. his song ‘o bêbado e a equilibrista’, as performed by regina, became a national protest song. poetry, freedom and space for virtuosic improvisation are important elements in his songs. ‘two centuries of his country’s rhythms flow through the fingers of joão bosco, one of brazil’s most fabled guitarists, singers and composers. he can stir up a whirlwind of speed and agility, breezing through tricky meters, harmonies and beats from all over brazil’ (new york times).

the album streams on ecm records is a milestone in the oeuvre of danish guitarist jakob bro. in november 2015 he recorded it with two absolute jazz masters from new york, double bassist thomas morgan and drummer joey baron. to celebrate the tenth anniversary of streams they will now return to the stage together. expect layered, spacious improvisations on electric guitar, double bass and drums. jakob bro has previously played in the bands of paul motian and tomasz stańko, and on his own albums he has worked lee konitz and bill frisell, among others. jakob’s multi-layered playing has caught the attention of famous fellow guitarists such as kurt rosenwinkel. critics are endlessly fascinated by the ‘clouds of sound’ (jazz times) that jakob produces. thomas morgan has regularly played at our venue, for example in the bands of craig taborn and ethan iverson. joey baron is known for his collaborations with major artists such as john zorn and jim hall.

the characters lume form the portuguese word for ‘fire’, but also the acronym for lisbon underground music ensemble. the fifteen members of this band have cut their teeth in jazz and classical music. whether through whimsical forays into jazz, rock, or contemporary classical music, or through fearless excursions into experimentalism, lume’s music deconstructs and reimagines musical heritage across genres. the result is a unique sonic language that escapes tradition and opens up new, vibrant perspectives. the ensemble now makes its long-awaited debut on our stage. this special concert will feature a curated selection of pieces ranging from signature works to brand new compositions. lume was founded in 2006 by band leader and pianist marco barroso, who also composes for the ensemble. with a fourth album on its way, the group has previously released material on the renowned portuguese label clean feed. lume has performed at major festivals, including london jazz festival and music meeting in nijmegen. this concert is part of big sounds amsterdam. this biennial festival highlights large ensembles that provide space for improvisation, bold ideas and worldly sounds.

24-year-old vocalist tyreek mcdole shines brilliantly as his star rises in the bustling new york scene. with a string of prestigious awards to his name, tyreek stands out as a rising star in the music world. with his mild baritone voice, he can lean towards the romantic style of vocal legends such as johnny hartman and billy eckstine. but he also follows the adventurous path of pharoah sanders and leon thomas on his new album open up your senses, with a rendition of their classic ‘the creator has a master plan’. haitian-american singer tyreek mcdole grew up in sunny florida. he has shared the stage with an impressive roster of musicians, including trumpet hero theo croker and saxophone veteran gary bartz. in november 2023 he won the sarah vaughan international jazz vocal competition, as the second male ever. this competition has brought forth winners such as cyrille aimée (2010), jazzmeia horn (2013) and samara joy (2019), who have all starred on our stage in recent years.

james brandon lewis has received the highest praise from his role model sonny rollins, and is a serious candidate for the tenor saxophone hall of fame. albert ayler’s spirituality and john coltrane’s cosmic aspirations have inspired him, but the new york-based saxophonist mainly stays grounded in the present. this year he remains active in several formations at the same time. his trio already released the album apple cores and now his quartet presents a collection of ballads under the title abstraction is deliverance, on intakt records. the james brandon lewis quartet features star players such as aruán ortiz, the cuban-born pianist who played here in various formations. double bassist brad jones made name in new york performing with ornette coleman, john zorn and marc ribot, and collaborating with stars such as david byrne and elvis costello. drummer chad taylor is known from chicago underground duo and has performed with lewis as a duo at our fiftieth anniversary concert. the quartet has previously released the studio album code of being and the live album molecular systematic music live, which has received a top rating of five stars in downbeat.

sadness and beauty go hand in hand on 11:11, the album by carlos bica that his current band was named after. in this sense his music is comparable to the blues, that stood at the origin of jazz, but also with fado, the portuguese folk music. following long lasting collaborations with european and american jazz greats, bica is now working with players from the new jazz generation of his native portugal. carlos bica is of great significance to portuguese music. as a double bassist he’s active in both portuguese fado music and in the european jazz avant-garde. his debut album azul from 1996 is still regarded as the best portuguese jazz album of all time. he has worked with many international jazz greats, including ray anderson and jim black, and with celebrated vocalists such as cristina branco and maria joão.

marc ribot is known as the uncut diamond among guitarists: idiosyncratic, raw, and always surprising. throughout his career, he has collaborated with icons like tom waits, elvis costello, and john zorn. but this time, his own voice takes center stage. literally. on map of a blue city, we hear ribot as singer, guitarist, and storyteller. his voice is raw, his lyrics strike deep, you won’t hear ribot more intimately than this. the music scrapes and glides between genres like bossa nova, roots, noise, free jazz, and desert blues. the songs span a period of thirty years and bear the marks of time: lo-fi home recordings from the 1990s alternate with new material, in an album ribot describes as his most complete artistic statement to date. live, he presents this project in a duo with pianist/guitarist/drummer shahzad ismaily, a multi-instrumentalist known for his versatility and sensitivity and  ‘the musicians’ favorite musician,’ according to the new york times.

this super duo exceeds all expectations. their album collab was nominated for a grammy and a latin grammy and they were voted ‘duo of the year’ by the jazz journalists association. gonzalo rubalcaba and hamilton de holanda are not only known for their virtuosity, but also for their deeply passionate melodic playing. on collab they perform songs by stevie wonder and eurovision favourite maro, but their original compositions set the tone and serve as springboards for brilliant improvisations. gonzalo rubalcaba, who descends from a lineage of cuban virtuosos, was discovered at a young age by dizzy gillespie. piano & keyboard magazine selected him as one of the great pianists of the twentieth century, alongside figures such as glenn gould, martha argerich and bill evans. he won three grammys and three latin grammys. hamilton de holanda is one of the most influential players of the bandolim, the mandolin that gives brazilian music its distinct character. he has earned praise from major brazilian stars and he has worked with international stars such as wynton marsalis and béla fleck.

early next year will see the release of the album the guesthouse, a new chapter in shai maestro’s creative journey. in the past years, the pianist developed his solo work, becoming a worthy successor to his great examples keith jarrett and chick corea, with a rich sound and open-ended improvisations. now he will focus on short compositions with clear, song-like forms. the album toom shape in his home studio in spain and was influenced by different artists ranging from rosalía to paul simon and john coltrane. shai maestro began playing classical piano at the age of five and after listening to oscar peterson at the age of eight he became enamoured with jazz. he turned down offers from prestigious american music schools to join the trio of famous double bassist avishai cohen at age nineteen. for five years he celebrated success with cohen and drummer mark guiliana. in his current band, shai maestro seeks interaction with gadi lehavi on rhodes and synthesizers, known from the ravi coltrane quartet. ‘maestro certainly lives up to his name. he is a joy to watch live’ (jazzwise).

“the main thing i felt while writing the music was optimism,” says mary halvorson about the recent album cloudward. the previous album amaryllis from 2022 was written during the uncertain times of the pandemic. it was voted album of the year in the downbeat critics polls. now halvorson is back with the same group as on amaryllis, now officially called amaryllis sextet. cloudward contains eight new compositions by halvorson. it was released on nonesuch records and features laurie anderson as a special guest. mary halvorson is being recognized all around as an innovator of the jazz guitar. consciously avoiding clichés, she creates her own style, in which she subtly distorts her semi-acoustic guitar with electronic effects. the american guitarist has performed on our stage in various formations. the largest so far is the amaryllis sextet, which bridges jazz, experimental, new music and beyond. mary halvorson creates room to improvise, allowing her compositions to unfold differently every time.

with his fluent piano playing, emmet cohen brings the tradition of jazz to the forefront while providing the modern twist needed for the current times. on his breakthrough album future stride he breathed new life into the one hundred year old style of piano virtuosos such as james p. johnson and fats waller. the title of his following album uptown in orbitreferences blues in orbit by duke ellington, as well as the new york neighborhood harlem (‘uptown’)—cohen lives there in the same street as ellington once lived. emmet cohen’s apartment has become a hotspot thanks to youtube—it is where he records the popular series live from emmet’s place, with sessions that feature illustrious guest musicians such as veronica swift, nicolas payton en christian mcbride. cohen learned vintage piano styles through his regular gigs in jazz clubs and by collaborating with veterans such as benny golson, ron carter and jimmy cobb. as a finalist of the thelonious monk international piano competition, emmet cohen was received at the white house by president obama at age twenty-one.

for 55 years, orchestra baobab has filled venues and festivals across the globe with dancing crowds. their success story began in dakar, senegal, where the group picked up cuban styles like son and pachanga. starting at club baobab, built around the iconic tree, the group travelled extensively through west africa. all kinds of influences were integrated into the ‘baobab sound’, and the band continues to make their sound more thrilling than ever with lively twists and energetic additions. through the years, orchestra baobab’s infectious sound has evolved, in part by collaborating with griots, traditional local storytellers. the result is a unique blend of age-old traditions and the electric guitars of african pop music. a collaboration with senegalese star singer youssou n’dour at the beginning of this millennium gave the orchestra a boost, and they have been touring the world ever since. please note: tickets for this concert are standing-room only.

takuya kuroda’s playing is sure-footed and pure, whether on the horn, synth or rhodes. on his new album everyday he virtually dances among the infectious rhythms of his own creation. his trumpet playing pops and weaves and rings and his melodies are, as he puts it, “singable”. in his original compositions we hear influences from jazz as well as hip-hop and neo-soul. born in japan, trumpeter takuya kurado made his american breakthrough with the album rising son on blue note records. this taut mix of jazz, funk and soul was produced by singer josé james. soon after, kuroda played in the band of hip-hop legend dj premier, formerly of gang starr. he also performed with the akoya afrobeat ensemble. influences of all these projects can be heard in his current band. as a trumpeter, takuya kuroda has clearly developed his own style, with clifford brown and roy hargrove as his main examples.

pianist craig taborn, cellist tomeka reid and drummer ches smith are all known as important band leaders in american improvised music. in the fall of 2018 they convened to perform taborn's new compositions that crossed the boundaries of contemporary chamber music, and grooves and music from africa and the caribbean. the music required an instrumentation that could maneuver through these rapid shifts seamlessly. utilizing tomeka reid’s fluency as a cellist and improviser, ches smith’s versatility moving from traditional drum set to more extended percussion set-ups, and taborn’s approaches to acoustic piano and electronic instruments, the music moves intricately crafted chamber miniatures through energetic explorations while finding its roots in true groove and melody. the group’s inspirations include sun ra, mamman sani, don cherry, conlon nancarrow, art ensemble of chicago and drexciya.

a tribute to everything that remains invisible: unspoken emotions, unexpressed thoughts, and conversations that never found a voice. that’s the heart of latent info, the new album by greek bassist and composer petros klampanis. the title refers to the album’s recording method: klampanis recorded it live in a single room together with pianist kristjan randalu and drummer ziv ravitz. those fleeting moments when a piano note bleeds into the microphone of the double bass, that is what klampanis calls ‘latent info’. for him, it’s a metaphor for everything that goes unnoticed but carries deep meaning. latent info is the sixth album klampanis releases under his own name. his previous record, tora collective, was named one of downbeat magazine’s 'best albums of the year 2023'. “a formidable player and composer.” jazztimes

the british-bahraini trumpeter and composer yazz ahmed blurs the lines between jazz and electronic sound design with her music. for her fourth studio album a paradise in the hold, ahmed drew inspiration from bahraini folk music: from the melancholic songs of pearl divers to the festive sounds of female drumming groups traditionally heard at weddings and festivals. during an in-depth journey, ahmed collected poetry, songs, and sounds. this material formed the foundation of the album, where vocals play a prominent role thanks to contributions from vocalists brigitte beraha, natacha atlas, randolph matthews, and alba nacinovic. together with her hafla band, consisting of ralph wyld (vibraphone), dave manington (bass), and josh blackmore (drums), she presents a musical universe that enchants and challenges. "some of her most expansive and exciting music to date." – jazzwise "a paradise in the hold is a masterpiece, a work of tremendous sensitivity and creative insight brought to life by a musical visionary capable of advancing and remaking 21st-century jazz." – allmusic

this year the bimhuis composition assignment has been awarded to corrie van binsbergen. fragments of text, poetry, interviews with artists, film dialogs and more form the libretto for her new composition. it will be performed by an extraordinary septet with mostly young musicians with whom van binsbergen has not worked before. she controls the text samples on stage and may even pick up the guitar. composer and guitarist corrie van binsbergen leads stichting brokken, a foundation which has initiated countless crossover projects. she became known with her group corrie en de (grote) brokken. she developed a singular and surprising combination of music and literature, which she has dubbed ‘films for the ears’. she has collaborated with many literary authors, and has received important awards such as the boy edgar prijs and the buma classical award 2024.

for the first time they form a group, these four well-known players from norway, sweden and finland. throughout the years they have encountered each other in various bands and projects. as a result of that, we can hear a mutual respect on their new album. the foundation is formed by the lyrical compositions of saxophonist trygve seim and double bassist anders jormin. their imaginative improvisational playing is complemented in a sparse, but accurate way by trumpeter arve henriksen and percussionist markku ounaskari. arcanum’s eponymous debut album will be released this year on the well-respected label ecm recordings. alongside original compositions, it contains variations on the finnish traditional ‘armon lapset’, as well as ‘what reason could i give’ by ornette coleman. on the one hand, the music contains influences from various cultures, such as jormin’s composition ‘koto’, which was inspired by japanese traditional music. on the other hand, arcanum has a recognizable group sound that is related to contemporary jazz and free improvisation.

on the album elastic wave on ecm records, the gard nilssen acoustic unity achieved a balanced mix of acoustic jazz and free improvisation. the band members seemed to have achieved a perfect unity, so the time was right for a new challenge in the form of two extra saxophone players. signe emmeluth has performed on our stage several times, for example with her own band amoeba. kjetil møster previously played here with, among others, the trondheim jazz orchestra. drummer gard nilssen is one of the spearheads of progressive scandinavian jazz. alongside acoustic unity he’s part of bushman’s revenge, which has been described as the missing link between albert ayler and black sabbath. he also plays in amgala temple, which draws comparisons with jimi hendrix experiece and electric-era miles davis. and he leads the supersonic orchestra, which can sound as energetic as his other bands. this concert with his acoustic unity is the release concert for his new album great intentions.

free jazz, contemporary classical, noise, improvised music, folk, hardcore, jazz, electronics, these are all genres you could attribute to the organism known as fire! orchestra. the ensemble's latest project, echoes, is an epic work of over two hours: a journey through beauty, energetic passages, and masterful musicianship, led by swedish saxophonist mats gustafsson (the thing) and bassist johan berthling (fire! trio). now, thirteen years after its formation, the orchestra presents its newest project, words: fresh music built on the band's foundations. a steady groove by bassist johan berthling, saxophonist mats gustafsson at the helm as conductor and a constantly evolving line-up of top musicians. brutal heaviness, furiously fast crack, intense groove, extreme dynamics, immense beauty. (…) in a concert with fire orchestra, everything can be found, not infrequently all in one and the same song. (…) it is, as always, incredibly impressive. (rasmus klockljung, lira) echoes by fire! orchestra

it all started last year: the ehbo quartet was formed during the han bennink vierdaagse at de roode bioscoop and soon hit the road, including a concert at our own venue. the show was completely sold out, featuring top-tier improvisation. a second edition was inevitable: the same musicians, but guaranteed new music. the line-up once again features han bennink (drums), ernst glerum (bass), benjamin herman (saxophone), and oscar jan hoogland (piano). han bennink, known for collaborations with legends like dexter gordon and sonny rollins, and co-founder of the legendary instant composers pool (icp), forms the quartet’s backbone together with bassist ernst glerum. saxophonist benjamin herman (new cool collective and countless solo projects) and pianist oscar jan hoogland, a leading figure in amsterdam’s improv scene, complete the ensemble.

a wizard on the strings dives in the distant past of his birthland syria. in his hands he carries an instrument with a rich history: the ud, the arabic lute. which music has been played on this instrument? follow the traces of all these sounds and rhythms, from the silk road through india and the arabic world to the west. in the family concert series groove beest you will discover why some music makes you want to tap your foot to the beat or jump up and start dancing. together with mc groove beest and the band members you will feel the groove. sitting still is not an option; so jump, dance and clap along and unleash your inner beast. get in the mood with this video.

haydn for modern ears, played by the chaos string quartet - that is the formula of een flat met duizend ramen. this brand-new imaginative series consists of six short performances, two per concert. six string quartets by haydn, new music and texts by joke van leeuwen take center stage. star actress ariane schluter takes on the roles of a series of characters from the here and now: all have a relationship with haydn’s music. the miniseries een flat met duizend ramen take the form of a frame story. each episode zooms in on one of the main characters. not surprisingly, haydn’s six sun quartets form the starting point. in this collection, bundled as opus 20, haydn highlighted all the possibilities of the string quartet, a then-new chamber music form. now, three centuries later, six composers add their own perspectives.

haydn for modern ears, played by the chaos string quartet - that is the formula of een flat met duizend ramen. this brand-new imaginative series consists of six short performances, two per concert. six string quartets by haydn, new music and texts by joke van leeuwen take center stage. star actress ariane schluter takes on the roles of a series of characters from the here and now: all have a relationship with haydn’s music. the miniseries een flat met duizend ramen take the form of a frame story. each episode zooms in on one of the main characters. not surprisingly, haydn’s six sun quartets form the starting point. in this collection, bundled as opus 20, haydn highlighted all the possibilities of the string quartet, a then-new chamber music form. now, three centuries later, six composers add their own perspectives.

a first: the norwegian engegård quartet and the north sea string quartet from the netherlands together on one stage! the north sea string quartet’s greatest love is improvisation, which will merge with the folk music the engegård brings along. this double string ensemble is ideally suited to translate the layering of improvisation, folk melodies and their rhythms into an intimate and sophisticated context. traditional norwegian melodies and the organic playing of the north sea string quartet will meld into a colorful whole. the engegård quartet has its roots in the lofoten islands, the magnificent norwegian archipelago where silence is interrupted only by the wind that is always howling around the mountain peaks. the contrast of this vast landscape with the bustling port city of rotterdam, home to the north sea string quartet where all kinds of cultures come together as well as an international hotspot of modern architecture, cannot but leave its mark in the collaboration of both quartets.