Under the guise of An Interplanetary Night, Space Is the Place organizes spectacular evenings, pushing boundaries and crossing borders. With its roots in jazz and improvised music, the program explores a variety of genres. This edition affirms the connection between the improv scenes of Portugal and Berlin. And while there would be no Space Is the Place without contrast, you can expect a few detours, such as Latvian classical music.
SOFIA BORGES
The Portuguese-born, Berlin-based Sofia Borges is first and foremost a sound creator, whether she is improvising, composing graphic scores, or collaborating with dancers and theatre artists. As a drummer, she expands the drum kit by adding objects, some of them of her own invention, music boxes, toys, orchestral percussion instruments and field recordings, creating her own sonic world. She has collaborated with improvisers such as Craig Taborn, Axel Dörner and Andy Moor. Now she will perform solo.
Sofia Borges drums, objects, percussion, electronics
FADE IN
Fade In hovers between contemporary jazz, Carnatic music from India and gagaku from Japan. All three members desire to move away from the structures of Western music; geographically decentralizing listening without appropriation. Their most recent album Live Fast, Die a Legend was released by internationally respected Portuguese label Clean Feed in 2022. Fade In plays strictly original compositions by each band member.
Federico Calcagno clarinet, bass clarinet, Pietro Elia Barcellona five string double bass, Marco Luparia drums, objects
LUIS VICENTE / JOHN HUGHES / CAMILLA NEBBIA / ONNO GOVAERT
Luis Vicente is a trumpet player from Lisbon. He plays in several groups with different concepts, from totally free to composed music, always with a sense of freedom. The same accounts for his partners in this quartet. Drummer Onno Govaert is very active in the Amsterdam (and European) improv scene and double bass player John Hughes is a central figure of the German scene. Tonight they are joined by the young Berlin-based saxophonist Camila Nebbia.
Luis Vicente trumpet, Camila Nebbia saxophone, John Hughes double bass, Onno Govaert drums
MOVE
MOVE has an urgency for movement. From a sense of interconnectivity sprouts a direct, decisive and ready-made improvisation. The three musicians connect through an unwavering awareness of each other’s creation, where activity and adaptability are strived for, where communication and respect are paramount. The members are also active in bands such as Chinese Cookie Poets, New Brazilian Funk, Eke, Naked Wolf and Fashion Eternal.
Yedo Gibson sax, Felipe Zenícola bass, João Valinho drums
LIDY BLIJDORP / OLGA CACEANOVA
To counter the improv frenzy, classical musicians Lidy Blijdorp and Olga Caceanova will present solo and duo works for cello and violin. Castillo Interior by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks is dedicated to mystic Teresa von Ávila. It combines meditative renaissance-like sounds with more turbulent parts, symbolizing the contrast between inner spirituality and the outside world. Plus solo works for cello and violin by J.S. Bach, and Baladă și joc by Ligeti, based on Romanian folk songs
Olga Caceanova violin, Lidy Blijdorp cello
HALA
HALA creates a diverse, energetic and surprising musical madness based on the fairytale-like compositions of German vocalist Helene Matthia Richter. The band was formed in Groningen and has released three EP’s to date: Hala (2018), Blueberry Ink (2019) and How Do You Do (2022). Their avant-jazz touches on progressive rock, avant-pop and cabaret. The members are known from bands such as Knalpot, Gatecrash and De Jongens Driest.
Helene Matthia Richter voice, effects, Arno Bakker sousaphone, Jorrit Westerhof guitar, electronics, Gerri Jäger drums
PAROAH
Paroah is the moniker of Amsterdam based sound and visual enthusiast Vicky de Visser. When selecting tunes, she is known for heating up the dance floor with curveball after curveball, from acid and gabber to experimental music. She explores more ambient realms in her mixtape series A Letter To, and is working on an upcoming audiovisual album that combines spoken word and field recordings with filmed and performed footage. She co-founded Non Bull Beats and the sub-label Free Shit of Spooky Shit, and is currently active for Ruisburo at De Ruimte, Amsterdam.
20:35-21:00 Sofia Borges (concert hall)
21:05-21:35 Fade In (café)
21:45-22:25 Luis Vicente 4tet (concert hall)
22:35-23:05 MOVE (café)
23:10-23:35 Lidy Blijdorp & Olga Caceonova (concert hall)
23:35-00:20 HALA (café)
00:20-02:30 Paroah (café)
