Rough Diamonds

violin paired with electronic effects and soulful vocals, crazy grooves, improvisation and lush soundscapes; that’s tj’s pretty people. their original repertoire has flavours of 80s jazz fusion, modern jazz, neo soul and a hint of classical music. the main goal of frontwoman teddy sicking (aka tj) is introducing a new violin sound into today’s jazz scene. arthur chapelle is a guitarist and composer from lyon, france. a recipient of several young talent awards, he began performing on some of the most prestigious french stages and festivals at a very young age, including l’olympia, jazz à vienne, and jazz sous les pommiers. with his newly formed band, the arthur chapelle 5tet, arthur connects his early musical influences from home with the modern jazz influences he has embraced throughout his journey. the band explores themes of belonging, the subjective nature of experience, and the strength found through community and collective connection.

the pedro mendes trio seeks to explore different atmospheres and textures in order to find new sonorities through pedro’s compositions. the music has a lot of influences, from classical music, to hip-hop, free improvisation and contemporary jazz. the first meeting happened in 2023, starting the year after to work on the music and on the sound of the band and, eventually, playing around amsterdam. they recorded some music in march, that is going to be released in the near future.  like the warm, sand-carrying winds they’re named after, calima blurs boundaries and reshapes sonic landscapes. this narrative-driven jazz quintet crafts music that moves like drifting dunes - fluid, unpredictable, and rich in texture. with roots in jazz and reaching toward the horizon, their music transports listeners into a place where nothing stays still and every sound tells a story. melody and rhythm become channels of expression, and improvisation keeps the audience engaged with every twist and turn. winners of the 2025 keep an eye international jazz award, calima creates music that is as atmospheric as it is captivating - always in motion, always becoming.

al'dam connection is the project of jose diego sarabia muñoz, in which he connects his southern spanish roots from almería with the cultural influences of amsterdam. with top musicians from the amsterdam jazz scene, the band brings its own sound that blends hip-hop grooves, brazilian and latin rhythms and a traditional sound. each concert offers room for experimentation and new interpretations, with music full of creativity, expression and passion. writing music for the matti klessaschek sextet, the bandleader and saxophonist feels like weaving on a loom: each thread must be carefully placed - tight enough for cohesion, but with room for flexibility. the interweaving of vibraphone, guitar and piano - instruments with both melodic and harmonic functions - demands precision and allows freedom. matti weaves with attention, always with the players in mind. together with five fellow students from the conservatory of amsterdam, he brings the woven to life.

het conservatorium van amsterdam barst van jonge, bevlogen musici die allerlei interessante initiatieven ontplooien. vanaf 20 mei tot eind juni is ons podium het decor voor deze rough diamonds, met meerdere bands per avond, gratis toegankelijk voor publiek. vanavond treden op: usoku usoku, ontstaan in 2023 in amsterdam, onderscheidt zich door de culturele diversiteit van zijn leden, afkomstig uit onder andere kazachstan, zuid-afrika, mexico, frankrijk-tunesië, italië en nederland. onder leiding van trombonist en componist willy bcw vermengt het sextet moeiteloos akoestische klanken met elektronica, en put het inspiratie uit hiphop, jazz en hedendaagse klassieke muziek. elke muzikant brengt zijn eigen tradities en perspectieven mee, wat resulteert in een fris, gelaagd geluid dat uitnodigt tot reflectie en verwondering. tzara the machine large ensemble de venezolaanse zanger, songwriter en producer francisco garrido schrijft onder het pseudoniem tzara the machine muziek als dagboek, een manier om gevoelens als schaamte, woede en depressie te doorgronden. zijn melancholische, gelaagde sound - geïnspireerd door o.a. björk, arca en animal collective - combineert fantasierijke melodieën en harmonieën met experimentele productie. samen met een groot ensemble creëert hij een organisch klanklandschap dat intiem en kwetsbaar blijft, ondanks de niet geringe intensiteit van het collectief.