The Utrecht-based big band Young Jazz Society thrives on adventure. In Fractal, their boundary-pushing collaboration with oud master and composer Nawras Altaky, the big band led by arranger Tijn Wybenga explores the crossroads of big band jazz and Arabic music. Unconventional scales, quarter tones and microtonality are fused with the power of a classic big band line-up.

The starting point is the music of Nawras Altaky, currently City Composer of Utrecht 2025, whose work moves between traditional Arabic folk music and modern jazz. His compositions leave room for narrative melodies, improvisation and polyrhythms – a perfect match for the virtuosic Young Jazz Society.

Nawras Altaky oud, Koos Zuilhof alto sax, Gerben de Vries alto sax, Luuk de Vries tenor sax, Maarten Holl tenor sax, Sebastiaan Wong baritone sax, Joost Hooyman trumpet, Jonne Fluitsma trumpet, Arjen Leek trumpet, Dirk Hooijer trumpet, Joop Meijlink trombone, Wout-Jan Branderhorst trombone, Martijn van den Heuvel trombone, Klaas Thomas Jellema bass trombone, Maarten Keesman guitar, Bas van der Starre keys, Dirk Evelo bass guitar, Lucas Roorda drums, Tijn Wybenga conductor