kevin hays and jorge rossy are well-known musical personalities from the generation of jazz musicians that emerged in new york in the 1990s. they have played together in different formations over the years. this is the first time that they are playing together in a duo of piano and vibraphone, a relatively unusual combination in jazz. their musical palette covers a wide aesthetic range, including evocative musical landscapes, intriguing improvisations, lyrical melodies, and rich soulful harmonies. on the occasion of their album debut the wait they interchange standards with their own compositions. kevin hays is internationally recognized as one of the premier jazz pianists of his generation. he collaborated with legends such as sonny rollins and john scofield, and released several albums on the blue note label. jorge rossy became known as the drummer in the successful brad mehldau trio. he also excels on vibraphone and marimba. their long history of friendship allows them to fully enjoy the space and freedom offered by the duo setting. they delight in exploring the nuances of their instruments and discovering new worlds of sound, storytelling and color.

top players from all over the world will unite at this eleventh edition of django amsterdam. every year the weekend-long festival is dedicated to guitar icon django reinhardt (1910-1953), who conquered the world with his paris-based band quintette du hot club de france. gwen cahue on guitar and baptiste bailly on piano make up a unique duo, fusing jazz, world music, classical music and film scores. their eclectic, lively repertoire leaves plenty of room for improvisation, in a refined, dreamlike style. carried along by a chiselled dramaturgy and a cinematic imagination, each piece transports the listener to a fascinating and soothing elsewhere. before the concert you can listen to the django house band in our cafe which is led by dutch guitarists tessa spaaij and jaïr stunt, accompanied by double bassist ties laarakker. they will set the tone for a sunday afternoon full of swing.

in the american press, ganavya has already been described as one of modern music’s most compelling vocalists. she confirmed this with her impressive performance at the le guess who? festival last fall. ganavya doraiswamy was born in new york and raised in tamil nadu, india. through singing, while accompanying herself on double bass, she brings the hindu storytelling tradition of harikathā into the 21st century. through her extensive traveling and versatile education, ganavya became familiar with various art forms including music, poetry, theatre and film. this is reflected on her most recent album daughter of a temple, for which she draws from the musical and spiritual heritage of alice coltrane. for the recordings she gathered a whole community of artists, including leading jazz musicians such as esperanza spalding, vijay iyer, shabaka hutchings and immanuel wilkins.

pietre (‘stones’ in italian) is a band led by bassist alessandro fongaro, who previously played on our stage with sun-mi hong, ambergris and brainteaser orchestra. pietre is a scream to live again, love again. as if recovering from an emergency break, the music stutters, collapses and pushes on, laced with stories of love and friendship that manifest through intensity, sensitivity and vulnerability. the two saxophonists in pietre show an impressive range, supported by a tight-knit rhythm section of double bass and drums. the debut album first time (a)live celebrated the end of the lockdown with a recording of the very first concert they played. recently they presented the studio-produced album pietre that is sure to be a stepping stone towards a bright future. ‘the tone is playful and on the dark side with a great freedom for the bass and drums. this freedom gives fongaro’s melodic themes, which sometimes bring to mind ornette coleman, a remarkable sense of urgency’ (jazzism). beforehand, pianist youngwoo lee will play a solo set titled “youngwoo's tiny room,” combining keys, electronics and improvisation. lee has previously played on our stage with his own band and as a sideman with sun-mi hong quintet and the guy salamon group, among others.

‘for all its freshness and innovation, davis’ music is precisely and unmistakably the sound of today’, says downbeat magazine about pianist kris davis. on her new album run the gauntlet she pays homage to six trailblazing women who have left an indelible mark on her journey as a pianist and composer: geri allen, carla bley, renee rosnes, angelica sanchez, marilyn crispell, and sylvie courvoisier. like davis, they are known for their groundbreaking improvisational playing. davis will perform with the musicians who can be heard on the album, bassist robert hurst and drummer johnathan blake. kris davis recently made waves with her inventive album diatom ribbons (live at the village vanguard) featuring dj val jeanty on turntables, julian lage on guitar, trevor dunn on bass and terri lyne carrington on drums. the project could previously be heard on our stage. the pianist also played on carrington’s grammy-winning album new standards vol. 1. time and again she manages to surprise with new bands and throughout the years she has performed with the likes of ingrid laubrock, esperanza spalding, john zorn en dave holland.

in her quartet, cellist tomeka reid gathers new heroes of american jazz around her. recently she took an important step as a composer by exploring extended themes, which she brought together as a suite on her recent album 3+3. what stands out is the remarkable balance between the classical acoustic cello of tomeka reid and the flexible electronic effects of guitarist mary halvorson. as an improvising cellist, tomeka reid has carved a unique path in the jazz world. several times she has reached the number one spot in the downbeat critics poll in the miscellaneous instruments category. she’s one of the younger members of the art ensemble of chicago, alongside veterans such as roscoe mitchell and don moye. she’s also an active member of the creative music scene in new york. ‘a sweet suite of beautiful melodies and open improv. lovely’ (downbeat, on the album 3+3).

five young, international top talents together in one quintet: nausyqa. these musical storytellers from portugal, spain, italy and the netherlands are creating a fresh buzz in the dutch jazz scene. with their second album punq, nausyqa takes you on a journey, because that's what you can safely call the compositions: musical journeys you can dream away in. with a sometimes overwhelming intensity in a simultaneously logical and coherent band sound. antonio moreno glazkov trumpet/synths, miguel valente alto sax, jelle willems piano/synths, richard nacinelli electric bass, pedro nobre drums the records jury about nausyqa: “we were very impressed with this band. the group has a fantastic band sound with lots of energy and dynamic extremes. we look forward to a full-length album where hopefully they will be able to lay down a fantastic arc of tension in the same way.” rounded nature is the debut album from micheal murray's colourfield, a talented group of musicians and friends led by irish saxophonist michael murray. murray was inspired for this album by the cyclical nature of life and nature. in nature everything fits together; the circle is always complete. this deep connection to nature is echoed in the organic rhythms and energies of the band members. from singable melodies and introspections to harmonic sounds that shift between shadow and light - it all flows together effortlessly. micheal murray alto sax, joy shechter piano, omer govreen double bass, wouter kühne drums the records jury on micheal murray's colourfield: “we found the band to be very cohesive and mature. with beautiful compositions and form and a wonderful saxophone sound. we want to express our special appreciation for the concentration on stage and the high level of playing!” keep an eye the records is a project of the keep an eye foundation. the keep an eye foundation partners with arts colleges nationwide and abroad. the private foundation is committed to helping young student musicians and artists launch their careers. with the records, the keep an eye foundation aims to financially support a number of cd productions of budding bands in the netherlands each year and to offer them a tour in cooperation with the vnjj in order to give them a flying start in their careers.  

an explosion of self-expression is how to describe bonbon flamme by the ever-surprising cellist valentin ceccaldi. he himself describes the music as ‘free candy burned jazz’, where you can put each word in a different place in the sentence without the music sounding any different at all. band leader is the colourful valentin ceccaldi, who has brought together a tailor-made band: flemish' fulco ottervanger with his pop keyboards; portugal's luis lopes and his blues and finally, etienne ziemniak, who takes on the rhythm and pulse. expect an energetic set from an exciting collective. beforehand, trumpeter alistair payne will play a solo set, with a special blend of trumpet and electronics.

sanne rambags uses her voice as an instrument, sometimes through lyrics and poetry and often as pure sound. for her new album she took inspiration from the art of edvard munch, who made an iconic painting with the scream. around 1902 the norwegian artist made a selection from his oeuvre based on the different phases in his life. he named the series the frieze of life. with these paintings in mind, sanne rambags wrote an eponymous suite consisting of nine compositions. the frieze of life encompasses titles such as madonna, the dance of life and the scream, borrowed from some of munch’s most well-known works. the suite premiered at the festival november music and was released as an album last fall. sanne rambags will perform this impressive work live on stage together with violinist roosmarijn tuenter, pianist jeroen van vliet and drummer joost lijbaart.

‘punkt’, a point of view and a musical statement in swedish, ‘vrt’ (garden in slovenian), where the musical ideas are planted and cultivated, and ‘plastik’ (german), as a sound vision, plasticity of musical shapes and structures. in this trio, slovenian-born pianist and composer kaja draksler collaborates with two highly respected berlin residents, bassist petter eldh and drummer christian lillinger, in a trio that originated at the bimhuis october meeting 2016. so far they have released three albums, their eponymous debut from 2018, somit from 2021, where they dive into microtonality and sophisticated post-production, and zurich concert, where they demonstrate the live realization of their precise jump-cut-style of playing. kaja draksler has previously performed on our stage as a solo pianist and with her eight-piece ensemble. petter eldh and christian lillinger have played here in formations such as amok.amor. ‘the best tracks here have the feel of a classic jazz album subjected to william s. burroughs’ cut-up method or the whims of a particularly keyed-up remixer... like those moments at the first peak of a roller coaster ride, before you’re sent tumbling into an adrenalized thrill ride’ (downbeat).

five trombonists, guitar, double bass and drums: it’s a palette of sound that nabou claerhout could only dream of for a long time. two years ago it became reality at the festival gent jazz. the group’s first album already drew comparisons with the dynamics of hypnotic brass ensemble and the infectious funk of fred wesley, one of nabou’s earliest idols. of course, the ensemble is all about the richly varied music of nabou herself, but also about the players that the belgian trombonist has brought together. ‘the aim is to indulge you with warm, soft, carrying parts and then discover the trombone’s spicy and cordial character,’ says nabou. ‘i tried to make room for each individual. and of course there is also a starring role for the rhythm section.’ she previously played on our stage with her band n∆bou. her trombone ensemble has a completely different line-up, with peers from belgium, the netherlands, germany and the united kingdom. ‘very contemporary, quite inventive’ (downbeat).

rolling drums, shepherd’s flutes and psychedelic sequences, trippy and danceable: for over a decade, black flower has been honing their craft towards a style that draws comparisons with afrobeat, ethio-jazz and futuristic dub. djs such as lefto and gilles peterson are praising this belgian band, that has toured across the globe. the five-piece formation is piloted by saxophonist/flutist/composer nathan daems, who has played on our stage before with ragini trio. his gathering of super talented belgian jazz players includes cornet player jon birdsong, who also collaborates with deus, beck and calexico, and drummer simon segers, who has played here with de beren gieren. this year will see the release of a new album by black flower.

mathias eick, one of the most recognizable voices in norwegian jazz, is known for his melodic compositions and distinctive, atmospheric trumpet sound. as both a soloist and bandleader, he continues to refine his approach. his latest album lullaby (2024) explores universal memories of childhood through emotional and introspective music. the quintet performing this work features håkon aase (violin), torstein lofthus (drums), andreas ulvo (piano), and audun erlien (bass), each contributing their unique sound to eick’s compositions. eick's ensemble brings together a blend of genres and influences, from folk traditions to classical and experimental jazz. aase's improvisations and lofthus' dynamic drumming add depth to eick’s melodic storytelling, while ulvo’s lyrical piano style and erlien’s soul-infused grooves complete the rich, textured sound. together, they create an intimate yet powerful experience, with lullaby serving as a testament to eick's ongoing artistic evolution and his ability to connect deeply with listeners.

in the bimhuis productions series reflex we invite musicians to reflect on the world and society. this edition revolves around the new compositions for the project premiere ‘arise!’ by nawras altaky. coming from syria, the singer and player of the oud, the arabic lute, formed his own ensemble with well-known musicians from the netherlands. ‘rise!’ is a tribute to the unwavering spirit of survivors around the world, a reminder that within each of us lies the potential for greatness, waiting for an opportunity to blossom. nawras dedicates this performance to all those who dare to dream, who keep their hope alive, and who contribute their unique light to the journey of life. what makes nawras altaky’s music and improvisations special is the way he organically combines jazz, arabic maqam, classical counterpoint and elements from contemporary music. his enemble features players that have appeared on our stage before, such as viola player oene van geel and guitarist teis semey. ‘altaky has a fascinating, warm baritone with which he can sing with breathtaking, colourful softness, effectively building up tension through his sublime sense of timing’ (nrc). reflex is supported by ammodo.

pianist peter beets and his new jazz orchestra present a special combination of spanish classical music and jazz. with music by composers like de falla, albéniz, turina and mompou, complemented by swinging outbursts and adventurous improvisations. the result is a fusion of tradition and innovation that is both recognizable and surprising. the new jazz orchestra consists of eighteen talented musicians from the new generation of the dutch jazz scene led by star pianist peter beets. with his exuberant playing, beets makes the orchestra shine and lifts the musicians to the highest level. after a successful french program, they are now sinking their teeth into spanish classical music and blues.

felicity provan plays cornet and sings in her current quartet, in which she offers plenty of freedom to the voices and instruments of her fellow players with emphasis on the interplay and alternation of voice and instrument. poetic stories and songs, lyrical melodies and captivating grooves continue to take on new forms, from delicate and sensitive to wild and erratic. originally from australia, felicity provan is an established name in the amsterdam improv scene. she has regularly performed on our stage with, among others, sean bergin’s new mob, astronotes led by joost buis, naked wolf, trio achim kaufmann and lily kiara. her quartet has a remarkable international line-up featuring ada rave on saxophone, harald austbø on cello and michael vatcher on drums. ‘it’s not only the humour and the slightly theatrical that makes this special, placing the conception of ‘song’ in a wholly different light. these musicians, who are key figures in the ever so innovative amsterdam jazz scene, also happen to play very good’ (ben taffijn, draai om je oren).

this year's boy edgar prize, holland's leading award in jazz and improvised music, has been awarded to pianist, composer and bandleader tony roe. he combines elements of classical music, hip-hop, electronic music and latin american rhythms, creating a musical experience all his own. with jamie peet and pat cleaver, he forms the jazz piano trio ‘tin men and the telephone’, for which he composes the music, creates interactive visuals and uses self-developed software to always connect with the audience. his show ‘modular piano’ is a collaboration with audiovisual artist marcel wierckx, where synthesisers and interactive image projections are controlled by the grand piano. roe regularly performs with various artists and ensembles, including nai barghouti, vernon chatlein, nbe and ben van gelder. he has previously collaborated with the metropole orchestra, ish dance collective, noord nederlands toneel (nnt), asko|schönberg ensemble, room eleven, and janne schra, among others. the jury about tony roe 'pianist, composer and bandleader tony roe is a versatile musician. his instrument mastery is undeniable, but it is the free vision of the piano that makes his work distinctive. roe brings a unique blend of jazz and technology, working across genres and giving audience experience a new dimension. he is intelligent, committed and an innovator within jazz and improvised music.' award ceremony the award ceremony will take place later this autumn. roe will then be awarded the prize money of €25,000 and the bronze alternate sculpture ‘john coltrane’ by jan wolkers. about the boy edgar prize the boy edgar prize is the most important prize in dutch jazz and improvised music. the prize is named after amsterdam jazz trumpeter and big band leader boy edgar. edgar made a major contribution to the recognition of jazz as a high-quality art form. the fonds podiumkunsten has organised the selection process since 2022 and awards the prize each year to a performing musician who has made an outstanding contribution to the genre. the prize is supported by buma cultuur, sena performers and north sea jazz. previous winners of the prize include monica akihary, ronald snijders, ack van rooyen and tineke postma.

pianist sullivan fortner describes his core principles as a belief in swing and the power and majesty of the blues. his talent became apparent while playing in the king solomon baptist church in new orleans. for years he accompanied star players of american jazz such as roy hargrove, christian scott, and stefon harris. through that he developed his versatile and virtuosic style. now he will come to the fore with his trio, which was voted rising star jazz group of the year in the most recent downbeat critics poll. sullivan fortner won a grammy for his contribution to the window, the album that he created with the young jazz diva cécile mclorin salvant. together they gave a memorable duo performance on our stage. he also played here with roy hargrove, john scofield, peter bernstein, and ben wendel. previously he has reached the top position in the downbeat critics polls in no less than three categories: rising star jazz artist, rising star pianist and rising star arranger. the new album by the sullivan fortner trio will appear on the artwork/pias label. ‘the goal is to start to break the barriers of genre. i’m trying to dispel all of these rules and say, “look at these songs as just songs and look at music as just music. get your hands dirty with deconstructing things, with reconstructing things.” we definitely have a good time with it’ (sullivan fortner in an interview with downbeat, september 2024).

when uri caine performs in the well-tested format of the piano trio you can expect something special. as a pianist, keyboard player and composer he’s one of the greats of the new york jazz avant-garde. much like his kindred spirit john zorn he knows how to unite fundamentally different styles, from klezmer to funk and from movie soundtracks to classical works by bach and beethoven. with his acoustic trio he will perform a combination of new original music, standards and free improvisations. throughout the years, uri caine developed a strong relationship with the members of his trio, double bassist mark helias and drummer joey baron. ‘i met joey and mark back when i first moved to new york and got to play with them when we were in the rhythm sections of various groups,’ he says. ‘from the moment we started playing together we felt an instant connection. i am looking forward to playing with mark and joey as a trio because playing together with them is always a blast!’

bill frisell is counted among the top guitarists in america. all kinds of american style collide in his electric guitar playing, from jazz to country. together with double bassist thomas morgan and percussionist rudy royston he has previously released the successful album valentine on blue note records. on stage they form a tight-knit trio with an intimate and yet remarkably rich sound. in the past thirty-five years or so, bill frisell played on a couple of hundred albums, with the likes of john zorn, elvis costello, and lucinda williams. ‘bill frisell is arguably the most valued jazz guitar player of the past decades, thanks to the ever present smile in his melancholic music. he does not veer towards endless jazz solos, but prefers intense ensemble playing around beautiful themes’ (de volkskrant).

italian jazz pianist and singer francesca tandoi has been hailed by critics and peers as a rising jazz star and one of the most enthralling young talents on the international jazz scene. in just a few short years, she has earned international acclaim as a world-class pianist and vocalist. her success has a dutch dimension: she was discovered while studying at the royal conservatory in the hague. now she will perform with brazilian double bassist matheus nicolaiewsky and dutch drummer sander smeets. the piano trio is francesca tandoi’s favorite setting and she has released two albums with her current formation, when in rome and the recent bop web. she also appears on more than 25 other recordings, alongside top players such as saxophonist scott hamilton. legendary pianist monty alexander was positively carried away by her playing and said: ‘francesca tandoi is a supremely tasteful swinging piano player. her vocals are exquisite, her compositions are melodic and memorable, and her arrangements are extremely thoughtful.’

a new duo with familiar names: both pianist craig taborn and trumpeter peter evans have graced our stage more than once with their various projects. through improvisation they keep discovering new forms that invite different ways of listening. sometimes they touch on jazz or classical, and sometimes they veer into radically different directions. craig taborn and peter evans have previously performed together here as a part of rocket science with evan parker and sam pluta. craig taborn is being hailed as a ‘visionary of the current wave’ (downbeat) because of his intriguing and concentrated style of playing in which he explores the tones and overtones of the piano in their smallest details. for his layered improvisations, peter evans takes inspiration from extremely different genres, from pre-war jazz to abstract electronic music. both players have been active in the new york music avant-garde for many years.

the young piano foundation and liszt utrecht are launching the newest and most fun showcase for pianists from 11 to 17 years old! spread over two weekends, participants get to perform in the finest concert halls. the first round took place in tivolivredenburg. during the second (and final) round on 8 march, 6 contestants (selected from 12 participants) will play in our venue. the programme includes a compulsory work with the animato quartet. before and after the concerts, the participants will be accompanied by top pianists such as thomas beijer, daria van den bercken, mariana izman, christiaan kuyvenhoven and ralph van raat. these are the participants on 8 march: yulianna beziazychna (11) yuewen yin (14) simon rundervoort (15) demian filatov (15) david kooi (15) adam akopian (16) concert-goers will have access to the entire toetsen programme on presentation of their ticket (eur 9).

laura misch is a south-london born saxophonist, singer-songwriter, electronic producer and field recordist. recently she released sample the earth, an acoustic sister-album to her debut album sample the sky, an ode to care, connection and listening to the natural world. laura has been developing a one-woman show which invites deep listening and contemplation through songs and sonic environments inspired by nature. her electro-acoustic palette draws from a lineage of female pioneers in electronic music, such as caterina barbieri en suzanne ciani. laura’s current performances interweave her three main voices, saxophone, singing and synthesis. in 2025 she will also release a new album. ‘laura misch listens closely to the natural world, allowing the patterns and rhythms of the world around us – from the innate to the incalculable – to inform her shimmering sound’ (crack magazine).

the flemish saxophonist robin verheyen can switch effortlessly between jazz, rock and bach, but concentrates on acoustic improvisation with his current trio. in this line-up he joinds forces with two jazz heroes from new york, double bassist drew gress and former miles davis drummer billy hart. verheyen was active regularly in new york, where he collaborated with improv jazz greats such as marc copland, gary peacock and joey baron. drew gress previously performed on our stage with, among others, sylvie courvoisier, dave douglas and steve lehman. the tireless hart was performing live with otis redding, sam & dave and other such soul greats more than half a century ago, and has made albums with the likes of miles davis, herbie hancock and pharoah sanders.

singer michael mayo stole the show when he first performed on our stage, with the all-star band high heart. with his remarkable a cappella skills and inventive improvisations, he got everyone on their feet. now the american vocalist will return with songs from his new album fly. this release features his own compositions alongside standards such as ‘just friends’ and ‘it could happen to you’, and tunes by wayne shorter en miles davis. live he can switch seamlessly between the most divergent styles and skills, from neo-soul to bop, and from crooning to beatboxing. michael mayo got his education under the supervision of herbie hancock, who recognized his superior talents at an early stage. michael comes from a musical lineage; his father scott mayo played saxophone with earth, wind & fire, and his mother valerie pinkston sang backing vocals for the likes of whitney houston and beyoncé. father and mother can be heard on fly alongside major performers from contemporary jazz, such as shai maestro, linda may han oh and nate smith.

her passion for drums led her along many steep paths and winding roads, but in the end korean drummer sun-mi hong established herself in amsterdam. here she developed herself as one of the most inventive drummers and composers of her generation. now she will perform music from her new album on edition records, together with her quintet. choosing her quintet for their empathetic and diverse personalities, hong found collaborators who supported her quest to establish a new sense of home while navigating the challenges of a new cultural environment. this album captures the quintet’s collective experiences and emotions during its creation, delving into themes of melancholy and innocence influenced by hong’s south-korean heritage and personal life. the compositions are crafted as a series of emotional vignettes, with tracks like ‘meaning of a nest’, ‘escapism’ and ‘heartstone’ showcasing a compelling balance of vibrant energy and contemplative stillness.

sons of chipotle is the result of two free-spirited musicians joining forces for an unbridled sonic adventure. cellist maestro anssi karttunen and musical virtuoso john paul jones are giants in their respective fields. armed with electronics, piano and cello, they are thrilled to be making their netherlands debut performance at the kaija saariaho festival. both jones and karttunen shared a friendship with kaija saariaho and were held in high regard by her. karttunen has been involved in all of saariaho’s cello works ever since they both moved to paris in the 1980s. numerous composers have created new works for anssi karttunen, including saariaho; he premiered several of her pieces. john paul jones, a founding member and the legendary multi-instrumentalist of led zeppelin, has collaborated with a wide range of artists as a bandleader, arranger and composer since the early 1960s. it is incredibly rare to find two of the finest musicians in the world improvising together. both musicians are known to be curious minds, always ready to learn and to discover. when they improvise, borders disappear, they are free to migrate beyond prejudices, across continents. in a world full of conflicts and displaced people, sons of chipotle want music to be a place of openness. this concert is part of the saariaho festival, taking place in muziekgebouw and bimhuis from 13 to 16 march 2025.

trumpeter verneri pohjola and drummer mika kallio weave an atmospheric, sometimes wild soundscape that perfectly complements the finnish nature film screened during this concert part of the saariaho festival. animal image by perttu saksa is a poetic evocation of the northern landscape. kaija saariaho was very impressed by this animal image programme. it inspired her to write her last completed work, the trumpet concerto hush, which pohjola premiered in august 2023, shortly after saariaho’s death. verneri pohjola is a big name in european jazz, renowned for his ability to make avant-garde experimentation accessible to a wide audience. percussionist mika kallio is a true sound magician with extensive experience in free jazz. their intuitive musical approach perfectly complements the breath-taking black-and-white images of filmmaker perrtu saksa, showing a world beyond language and human concepts. ‘the music is an invitation to become an animal yourself,’ according to the creators of animal image. this concert is part of the saariaho festival, taking place in muziekgebouw and bimhuis from 13 to 16 march 2025.

in recent years, pianist jef neve and trumpeter teus nobel have become regulars in the (inter)national jazz landscape. after years of successful collaborations on major stages in the netherlands, belgium and australia, they now present their long-awaited duo album, recorded live with an audience. the album contains both their own compositions and jazz classics, with the title track, “esho funi,” revolving around the japanese idea of unity between man and environment. during their extensive tour, neve and nobel bring their close musical connection and inexhaustible joy of playing to the stage, constantly challenging each other and treating the audience to fascinating anecdotes. a guarantee for an evening full of musicality and stories.

tomorrow’s another day may be jeremy pelt’s most adventurous recording to date, bringing together the beauty of his trumpet playing with experimental beats and sampling. the production got a huge lift from the participation of drummer deantoni parks, who previously collaborated with meshell ndegeocello and andré 3000. live on stage jeremy pelt will be accompanied by his quintet featuring vibraphone super talent jalen baker, who also plays on the album. jeremy pelt has become one of the preeminent trumpeters within the world of jazz, with a mighty sound that draws comparisons to legends such as freddie hubbard and lee morgan. forging a bond with the mingus big band very early on, as his career progressed, pelt made name in many other ensembles such as the roy hargrove big band and the village vanguard orchestra. in his own bands he makes every style contemporary, from swing and bop to soul- and rock-infused jazz.

as it is becoming a tradition in march, it's time for our datskat weekend. on friday we kick off with the tos and the moses yoofee trio, on saturday it's all about parra.dice and nubiyan twist. jazz flourishes in berlin, thanks to young musicians who infuse the genre with hip-hop, electronica and afrobeat. one of the most notable acts in the scene is the moses yoofee trio, who were awarded the german jazz prize for best live act last year. on youtube and tiktok the band already went viral spectacular beats and grooves, sounding like a hip-hop dj remixing jazz records. early 2025 the new album myt will be released on nils frahm’s label leiter. the band consists of pianist and keyboardist moses yoofee, bassist roman klobe and drummer noah fürbringer. common influences are innovative jazz musicians such as robert glasper and fellow townsman petter eldh. beforehand, tos will open the evening. the amsterdam-based queer artist brings a mix of neo-soul, r&b, hip-hop and jazz. inspired by legends like d'angelo, stevie wonder and erykah badu, tos invites you to dive into his world, where music is an act of unconditional love and vulnerability.

it's starting to become a tradition; the datskat weekend in march. we take out the chairs, transform our venue into a nightclub (with epic views over the city) and present the best jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat and neo-soul from home and abroad. featuring on friday 21 march the moses yoofee trio and tos and on saturday nubiyan twist and parra.dice. british nubiyan twist is a nine-piece powerhouse that has been making waves for nearly a decade. now it has its fourth album, ‘find your flame’, on which the ensemble once again succeeds like no other in combining soul, jazz, latin, dance and hip-hop. with a large dose of improvisation, a booming horn section and even a guest appearance by legend nile rodgers. and if that is not enough, the band has been joined live by vocalist aziza jaye. standing still is impossible. and that is just as well, because dutch parra.dice also has an infectious energy that is impossible to ignore. with the unusual lineup of three horns, a violin and an extensive rhythm section, they know how to create a groovy whole with narrative melodies and percussive rhythms. think of that unforgettable summer evening where people dance sweating in the last rays of the sun; but in march, during this second evening of the datskat weekend.

major heroes of the tenor saxophone are honored on the new album heroes by efraïm trujillo iv. it features seven original compositions, each dedicated to a favorite tenor player of band leader efraïm trujillo. the pieces are inspired by, among others, sonny rollins, john coltrane and stan getz, and showcase the versatility of the tenor sax. together with his ploctones partner jeroen vierdag on bass and super talents sjoerd van eijck (mudita) on piano en dirk de nijs (de raad van toezicht) on drums, edison winner efraïm trujillo pays tribute to his musical role models. trujillo himself is inevitable as the tenor saxophonist, as he proved in bands such as the ploctones, preacher men and new cool collective bigband: lyrical, entertaining and powerful at the same time.

saxophonist wayne shorter made history as a member of miles davis's band, alongside the equally influential pianist herbie hancock. however, he was primarily celebrated as a composer who ushered in a new era of jazz, filled with extraordinary sounds and melodies. the last 24 years of his life saw him in a close-knit unit with musicians who now reunite on stage, led by the saxophone virtuoso ravi coltrane. in tribute to their former bandleader, they come together once again to perform his music: the versatile pianist danilo pérez, bass phenomenon john patitucci, and drumming powerhouse brian blade. with shorter, they won numerous awards, including a grammy for his final album "emanon." now, they form a new quartet with ravi coltrane, who has stepped out of the shadow of his legendary father john and mother alice, and emerged as one of the leading saxophonists of his generation.

with a career spanning over four decades, andy sheppard is truly one of europe’s leading saxophonists. he’s also one of the few players in the world that can juggle lyrical sensibility with hardcore american post‐bop jazz chops. now he will perform his original compositions with his renewed trio, featuring musicians he has known for years: pianist rita marcotulli and double bassist michel benita. andy sheppard collaborated with many greats, including gil evans and george russell. with his trio featuring carla bley and steve swallow, he has released critically acclaimed albums on ecm records. since the 1980s, italian jazz icon rita marcotulli has played with legends such as chet baker and joe henderson. french bassist michel benita has collaborated with jazz heroes such as archie shepp and lee konitz.

lux quartet is a new, adventurous quartet founded by pianist myra melford and drummer allison miller, two leading artists in modern improvised music. with saxophonist dayna stephens and bassist scott colley, they create a sound world that radiates with an intense yet nurturing energy. inspired by their shared passion for nature and their innovative musical approach, they combine original compositions with a profound connection to the natural world. the name lux quartet refers to the life-giving power of light, from the energy of solar rays to the bioluminescence in the deep sea. this reflects the musical heights and depths the group explores. melford and miller have both previously embraced the natural world in their work, as seen in melford's projects such as snowy egret and miller's rivers in our veins. their collaboration in the quartet is an extension of their years of work in miller's ensemble boom tic boom.

'a new day' is the new album by master pianist giovanni guidi, which was released last july on the quality label ecm records. it is already the fourth album guidi, who was discovered as a young pianist by trumpet legend enrico rava, has released on this renowned label. this time with a special guest; tenor saxophonist james brandon lewis.   on the opening night of our anniversary month in october, the saxophonist played a fiery duo set with chad taylor. now however, he will present himself in a completely different way. the typical spherical ecm sound of guidi's trio combined with lewis' saxophone playing produces an exciting compromise that continues to fascinate.  

joey calderazzo is known as one of the finest pianists of his generation, and for a reason. his playing explores the whole history of jazz, as well as his classical background. his own trio is his place of comfort and freedom. together with double bassist orlando le fleming and drummer david hawkins he improvises on the basis of original compositions and choice covers. joey calderazzo made name as a pianist, keyboard player and composer for two of the most important tenor saxophonists of the past fifty years: michael brecker and branford marsalis. as branford marsalis’s main musical collaborator he has worked on successful projects such as the band buckshot lefonque and the duo album songs of mirth and melancholy. he has released albums as a solo pianist and leader of his own trio on various labels including blue note.

elliot galvin is a trailblazer in the british jazz scene with an original approach to piano and other keyboard instruments. he composed his new album the ruin on his childhood piano, inspired by the landscapes of his hometown. the music free-flows between serpentine piano and modular synth lines weaving and colliding around ephemeral vocalisations, groove-heavy percussion and soulful improvisations. elliot galvin previously performed on our stage as a solo-artist, with his trio, and with the band dinosaur. now he will form a group with dinosaur bassist and vocalist ruth goller, violinist mandhira de saram, and polar bear drummer and patti smith and damon albarn collaborator sebastian rochford. the ruin will appear on the london-based label gearbox, who have released albums by the likes of abdullah ibrahim and binker & moses.

as if they have been written just the other day; this is how the standards from bop and jazz sound when they are played by bill charlap. every note counts with this american pianist, who’s known for his vibrant, fluent style. his interpretations of the great american songwriters are especially acclaimed; he has recorded albums dedicated to hoagy carmichael, leonard bernstein, george gershwin, irving berlin, cole porter, richard rodgers and duke ellington. bill charlap grew up in new york as the son of singer sandy stewart and broadway composer moose charlap. he made name accompanying famous singers such as diana krall, sheila jordan and tony bennett. he won a grammy award for the album the silver lining: the songs of jerome kern with tony bennett. the most recent album of the bill charlap trio, street of dreams, appeared on the legendary jazz label blue note.

led by percussionist vernon chatlein, a group of excellent jazz musicians will explore the indigenous music styles of curaçao. chatlein’s exploration of an old sound archive called zikinza led him through the history of afro-curaçaoan music, and taught him about its contributors and pioneers. his new compositions for chatlein i su zumbi are fueled by the mysterious style called muzik di zumbi. vernon chatlein  was born on curaçao and lived in cuba for two years to study music. he moved to the netherlands to continue his studies with the godfather of curaçaoan jazz, pianist and composer randal corsen. in chatlein i su zumbi he connects jazz and latin with the rhythms of the antilles. the group features pianist tony roe, who previously played on our stage with tin men & the telephone.

bassist billy mohler is a key figure between the musical underground and mainstream of los angeles. his approach to band-leading encourages sonically-inventive efforts that highlight the players’ raw chemistry as well as his own rough-hewn, insistently rhythmic and compelling compositions. following his albums ultraviolet, focus en anatomy, he recently released the single aki, a prime example of his captivating solo exercises. billy mohler has now assembled a quartet which blends european, new york and los angeles sensibilities, through some of the most exciting players from those scenes: hermon mehari on trumpet, francesco bigoni on saxophones and clarinet, and one of mohler’s most trusted long-time collaborators, drummer nate wood of kneebody. mohler attended the thelonious monk institute of jazz, studying with herbie hancock and wayne shorter. but he also worked with pop and rock greats such as lady gaga, sia and smashing pumpkins. ‘mohler’s instincts and experience in rock and pop translate well to writing original jazz music that, despite the seriousness and sincerity of the craft, manages to remain engaging and–yes–fun’ (downbeat).

on his album back to the land, ohad talmor focuses on recently discovered music by ornette coleman, originator of free jazz and innovative composer. for example, a hand written one line composition was found in the apartment of lee konitz, the saxophone legend who became talmor’s teacher. the newly discovered pieces appear in different variations. now they will be performed by absolute star players of american jazz, who are also featured on the album. ohad talmor lived on different continents and was classically trained before he landed in brooklyn, fully dedicated to the saxophone. while konitz taught him about composition and improvisation, he was also mentored by another influential saxophonist, dewey redman (both have regularly performed on our stage since the 1970s). back to the land also features compositions by redman. live we will hear the same trio as on the album, with double bassist chris tordini and drummer eric mcpherson, plus special guests david virelles on piano and joel ross on vibraphone. “the irrepressibly distinctive nature of coleman themes – the playfully skipping, singing eighth notes, joyful swing and jolts of tempo – are retained, but talmor contrasts this throughout with colours that are more muted and mysterious” (jazzwise).

they are phenomenal players of their respective instruments: wolfgang muthspiel and lionel loueke on guitar and linda may han oh on bass. but in the new project touch they take a surprising path. like in their first youtube video as a trio, with a live performance of the song ‘elba waltz’. here they are not just improvising on strings, but they’re also singing in harmony. this spring they will tour together for the first time. touch is spearheaded by the austrian guitar maestro wolfgang muthspiel. in the 1990s he moved to new york, where he rapidly developed himself as a guitarist in the upper regions of the jazz world. today he lives in vienna, but he still regularly works with major artists from all over the world. his latest four albums were released on the prestigious label ecm records. his partners in this trio are also world-renowned. guitarist and vocalist lionel loueke, born in benin, has played alongside legends such as herbie hancock and chick corea, and has collaborated with the greatest talents of his generation, including esperanza spalding and robert glasper. linda may han oh is in high demand as a bassist and is known for playing in the pat metheny group, as well as with jazz greats such as mark turner, dave douglas en joe lovano.

for joe sanders, parallels started with an improvised solo he played as an encore at a concert, after which the audience kept singing the melody. on the eponymous album he lets different ideas coexist. beautiful tunes and experimental sounds, for example, or a dark atmosphere and a cheerful tonality, but also amateurism and professionalism: on the track ‘la vie sur la terre’ his little son elioté plays along on melodica. parallels developed into a band featuring absolute masters of american jazz: seamus blake, gregory hutchinson and logan richardson have each built their own impressive career as a band leader. joes sanders has previously performed on our stage in the bands of gerald clayton, kendrick scott and ben wendel, among others. in 2023 he made his first appearance with saxophone giant joshua redman on the blue note album where are we.

brian marsella is a pianist who can be virtuoso, melodic and adventurous at the same time; critic peter margasak described his style as ‘herbie nichols or bud powell playing at warp speed.’ in his piano trio he plays with bassist trevor dunn and drummer kenny wollesen. all three members are regular compatriots of jazz innovator john zorn, whose work they have previously performed on our stage. now they will play marsella’s original compositions. since 1998, brian marsella has been active as a pianist out of new york. highlights from his oeuvre are the albums of his large ensembles imaginarium an gatos do sul, which have been acclaimed highly in the media. in the past years he became a key figure in john zorn’s world, working on many albums on zorn’s label tzadik, collaborating with major players such as john medeski, nels cline and julian lage. he previously played on our stage in banquet of the spirits, the ensemble of the exceptional percussionist cyro baptista. ‘the classically trained marsella displayed dizzying technique while imbuing pieces with an authentic soul-jazz feeling’ (downbeat on the brian marsella trio).

ndudzo makhatini grew up on the east coast of south africa. his grandmother was a healer who used songs and music, much like the zulu warriors who came from the same area. the piano entered his life through his mother. in his spirited playing, he links ritual music with jazz and gospel, in the tradition of south african jazz legends such as bheki mseleku, moses molelekwa and abdullah ibrahim. outside of south africa, ndudzo makhathini made his breakthrough with his first album for the prestigious blue note label, modes of communication: letters from the underworlds, which earned a place in many end of the year ‘best of’-lists. last summer his third album on blue note appeared, unomkhubulwane, a three part suite dedicated to the eponymous zulu goddess. now he will perform in the same line-up as on the album, with zwelakhe bell le pere on double bass and francisco mela on drums.

a life dedicated to music: this is why john engels still has flexibility on the drums and an intuitive feel for what every song needs. the legendary player celebrates his 90th birthday with one continuous concert full of festive surprises. john engels has been known for decades as one of the most swinging jazz drummers in the netherlands. he shared the stage with chet baker, stan getz, ray brown, hank jones, and many others. for this birthday concert he will form a trio together with trumpeter jan van duikeren and double bassist tobias nijboer with special guests, such as vocalist francien van tuinen and pianist juraj stanik. ‘he’s modest and self-willed at the same time. a creator of music. he continuously reacts to the other players. with the energy and reflexes of a young lion. still, john engels makes others sound good, while sounding great himself at the same time’ (de volkskrant).

american saxophone hero greg osby knows the roaring swing sound of the hammond organ all too well from his youth in st. louis, missouri. still he never really used the gospel-related instrument in his own music, especially since he went searching for new sounds in new york. now he will form a trio with dutch hammond b3 virtuoso arno krijger, who has mastered the organ from the bass pedals to its rich effects. swiss drummer florian arbenz leads the trio into different and more adventurous paths than traditional hammond jazz. as a saxophonist and composer, greg osby is a living part of jazz history, having played together with legends such as herbie hancock, dizzy gillespie and freddie hubbard. for over 25 years he has regularly collaborated with florian arbenz, with the saxophonist setting the melodic tone and the drummer creating space with sounds and atmospheres. together with arno krijger on organ they recorded the album targeted, the ninth part of the series conversation, for which arbenz invited various befriended musicians for intimate studio sessions. ‘arbenz knows how to build momentum, and imply funk and drum-and-bass grooves, as well as how to craft metallic textures. osby’s unmistakable voice on alto drives much of the music’s narrative flow’ (downbeat).

saxophonist jasper blom strives for a synthesis of jazz, pop, classical and improvised music. this makes him a perfect match for the metropole orkest. melody and adventure are keywords in the work of blom, who has been composing for a wide variety of ensembles for many years. he shared the stage with jazz legends, but now it’s all about his smooth and versatile playing. a key figure in dutch jazz, jasper blom has led countless bands and sessions. as a tenor and soprano saxophonist, he has performed with stars such as lee konitz and chet baker. not surprisingly, he received the buma boy edgar prize in 2019. his dream of collaborating with the metropole orkest is now coming true. their joint album will take centre stage at this concert.

jamie cullum calls her ‘an astonishing new talent’ and the british press is unanimously enthusiastic: emma rawicz is not to be missed. the young star from london made name on instagram with clips showing her impressive skills on tenor sax, flute and bass clarinet. in her original compositions she takes example from legendary saxophonists/composers such as joe henderson and wayne shorter. color is the main theme on her debut album chroma, which highlights her synesthesia: for emma, music is inseparably connected to color and other sensory impressions. this has resulted in a layered, orchestrally sounding album featuring giants and super talents from british jazz. the album incorporates all kinds of influences, from indian to latin and from fusion to singer-songwriters.

the bad plus has been pushing the boundaries of jazz for over twenty years. the american formation instantly became famous with their imaginative interpretations of music outside the genre, from pop and punk to classical and avant-garde, from nirvana via aphex twin to ligeti and stravinsky. with this approach they have successfully set a new standard. the bad plus has a reputation for hyper-energetic performances and is loved all over the world because of that, by fans of all genres. in 2022 the group returned in a new form. the piano was replaced by guitar and tenor sax, played by renowned masters. guitarist ben monder has previously collaborated with, among others, maria schneider, paul motian, and david bowie. saxophonist chris speed played with, among others, john zorn, craig taborn, and kurt rosenwinkel. this four-piece released its second album towards the end of 2024, entitled complex emotions.  ‘the chemistry between the foursome sounds incredible, burning brightly with endeavour and fierce originality that doesn’t just take this band into a new era, but actually launches them head-first from an exploding cannon’ (uk vibe).