Alles
ZJFT 2024

The Japanese pianist Aki Takase was featured at the 2009 ZJFT in a duo with (bass) clarinettist Louis Sclavis and with her band Aki & The Good Boys. In her rich musical career, the pianist worked with people like Han Bennink and David Murray. She was inspired by Ornette Coleman and Fats Waller. In daily life, Aki Takase is the wife of fellow pianist Von Schlippenbach, who also performs at the ZJFT (barn Dekker). This year, Aki Takase released a second album with tenor saxophonist Daniel Erdmann: ‘Ellington’. It is a duo in which the Berlin based pianist feels like a fish in water.

Introducing to you: the dynamic organ trio ZOOE from Groningen, consisting of students from the Prins Claus Conservatorium. Sirach ter Veer, Gabi Matei, and Dimitris Karkoulias quickly found a connection with each other’s sounds. The warm, emotive tones of the organ combined with various genres and rhythms provide a soulful twist to the classic jazz trio format. They create a delightful sound that invites the audience to tap along. And to swing along! Especially now, as the trio is complemented for this occasion by Dennis Junio on tenor saxophone.

In 2006, singer Lily Kiara was looking for a vehicle for her lyrics. She delved into the Amsterdam music scene and came up with a super group, The River. The musicians all have a past in key outfits led by the likes of Sean Bergin (MOB) and Joost Buis (Astronotes). In addition, she found an appropriate poet and talented spoken word performer in Julyen Hamilton. This exceptional band takes good care of Lily Kiara’s love for folk songs, improvised music and poetry.

Undercurrent Orchestra, Iman Spaargaren’s sextet, performed at the new Maarhuizen barn last year. And now, the reedist returns to the ZJFT. The compact line-up of Pelican Three provides the cinematic qualities of his compositions with a cartoon approach. The drumless trio’s repertoire varies from lyrical chamber music to punk. He is joined by all-round guitarist Mark Tuinstra, who is well-known in ZJFT country for performances with African grooves (with Zou Diarra), Indian cross-over (The Nordanians) and heavy funk jazz (Bernie’s Lounge).

The Walloon organiser and drummer Michel Debrulle has been working with the tuba player Michel Massot for years. Together, they form a rhythm section that has versatility written all over it. Since the 1980s they have been part of Brussels based groups like Trio Bravo (with Aka Moon’s Fabricio Cassol), the septet Rêve D’Éléphant Orchestra and the even larger La Grande Formation. In Trio Grande they are joined by the masterful French reed player Laurent Dehors. They set up a kaleidoscopic colour palette that can go in any direction. Their agile music is a feast for the ears.

In the 1980s, three of these four musicians painted the town red with their steaming free funk band Combo Stamp. Guitarist Winfred Buma was also featured at the first ZJFT editions in groups led by saxophonist Johan Huizing and with fellow guitarist Piet Hoeksma (Guitar Madness). With his refined guitar playing, he grew into the Groningen equivalent of the Dutch guitar legend Wim Overgaauw. Retired as a guitar teacher, he has his old mates join him to show everyone how things are done, once and for all.

Goncalo Almeida, the Rotterdam based Portuguese is getting busier all the time. The bassist is a ZJFT regular (Spinifex, Almeida/Klein/van Duynhoven, Lama Trio, The Selva, Hydra Ensemble), but once again he manages to surprise us with a new duo, in which hypnotic minimal music is key. Together with pianist Bart van Dongen, who will mainly be playing the organ at the Obergum church, they will lead us through their improvisations. The meaning of the word Tabula Sonorum, by the way, is ‘sounding board’.

The Obergum church venue is replaced by the Torenkerk, Kerkstraat 14, 9951 TE Winsum

Berlin drummer Max Andrzjewski arrived at the scene with his band Hütte. In 2019 he released a beautiful Robert Wyatt homage on the WhyPlayJazz label. The inventive drummer joins the ZJFT programme with an international trio featuring some new names from the improv scene. The Argentinean tenorist Camila Nebbia and the British bassist James Banner are drummer Andrzjewski’s partners in the trio Presencia, which takes its music from an unusual barrel full of jazz, improv, rock, noise and contemporary new sounds.

The Berlin pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach (1938) was one of the first free jazz band leaders in Europe. In 1966 he started the Globe Unity Orchestra, featuring some of the key players of the European improvised music scene. The pianist was featured at the 2007 ZJFT with Monk’s Casino and in 2011 with Trio D’Agaro/von Schlippenbach/Bennink. The Thelonious Monk specialist (and Aki Takase’s life partner) will be joined at barn Dekker by alto saxophonist Henrik Walsdorff, with whom he has been working for thirteen years in the Schlippenbach-Walsdorff Quartett. He also takes the experienced Norwegian drummer Dag Magnus Narvesen along.

Māra and Sirach performed in various ensembles at the Prins Claus Conservatorium. Today, they form a duo. Saxophonist Māra Sējāne from Latvia writes music influenced by folk and classical music, compositions that tell stories of journeys far from home and the longing to return. Accompanied by Sirach ter Veer on electric guitar, who strikes a balance between the pure acoustic sound of the instrument and distortion through effects pedals. Together, they present a selection of their own compositions and pieces from both well-known and lesser-known jazz repertoire.

The British pianist Julie Sassoon was classically trained. She made her recording debut in Amsterdam with sax man Lothar Ohlmeier in 2000, the CD Aziluth! (TryTone). She started her own Quartet in Berlin in 2015. The album Voyages (Jazzwerkstatt 2021) was nominated for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Reviews mention influential names like Keith Jarrett, Carla Bley and Steve Reich to describe her music. In 2019, the meditative Duo Julie Sassoon/Willi Kellers managed to steal the hearts of friends and foe at the ZJFT. Five years on, Julie Sassoon will launch her quartet here.

After a number of successful tours with the Ava Trio through Europe and Asia, Giuseppe Doronzo is looking for new directions in his imaginary folk music. On the debut album Futuro Ancestrale, the Italian baritone sax specialist is joined by guitarist Andy Moor (The Ex) and drummer Frank Rosaly, originally from Chicago. Fragments of music from countries like Ethiopia, Persia and South Africa form the basis for improvisations. It’s as if the threesome are leafing through an atlas full of music. ‘There is nothing quite comparable to Doronzo‘s projects and Futuro Ancestrale is no exception’ (All About Jazz).

The heritage of a ten year carte blanche series: ‘the adventures of Toby and Cor with a drummer’ featuring Tobias Delius and pianist Cor Fuhler, is that the Berlin based saxophonist is always welcome to return to the ZJFT. For this edition, Delius suggested a duo with fellow saxophonist Ab Baars: ‘We have been a duo for twenty years, which nobody ever heard’. The two gentlemen have indeed been side by side in the ICP Orchestra’s wind section. Last year, Ab Baars had to cancel his ZJFT gig due to an injury. This will be the year of the Wiedergutmachung, Baars hits back.

With his band Sofaya , the South African band leader and trumpeter James McClure goes back to the rich musical traditions from the townships, like kwela and mbaqanga. The eight piece band is also inspired by contemporary dance music. Sofaya is one of the outfits that grew from the hotbed of the Amsterdam Space Impro series. Marta Warelis is featured on piano, here. Another familiar face is saxophonist John Dikeman, who will probably steal the show with his huge tenor sound.

Christophe Monniot (1970) is a fiery saxophonist from the French jazz scene. He strips French songs and jazz standards to the bone and gives them his own sultry touch. He has recently started a new, boisterous super trio with Claude Tchamitchian and Tom Rainey. In Monniot’s duo with master accordionist Didier Ithursarry passages with typically French chamber music are performed with brilliant expression.

Damien Mehldau (16) grew up in New York in a musical family where no one played the drums... Now residing in the Netherlands, he was praised by the jury last year as one of the finalists of the Prinses Christina Concours for his energetic dynamic swing, echoing influences of Billy Higgins and Art Taylor. He was one of the finalists in the PC Concours 2023 and won the PCJC Academy Prize and the City Proms Concert Prize. As the icing on the cake, he will showcase his drumming skills at this year‘s ZJFT. And we are looking forward to enjoying it!

The Russian pianist Simon Nabatov should not be missing from the roster of piano maestros at the 2024 ZJFT. He was classically trained in the Soviet Union and landed in Cologne by way of New York, and has become one of the most interesting jazz pianists of his generation. His music covers a broad range: classical music, avant-garde and jazz. His Herbie Nichols projects were particularly successful. This makes him an excellent partner for a nimble improviser like Frank Gratkowski, who performed at the 2017 ZJFT with trombonist Sebi Tramontana. Two years later, he was featured with the Trio Kaufman/ Gratkowski/ De Joode plus guest Gerry Hemingway. And now Nabatov/ Gratkowski, a top duo that’s not to be missed.

Ever since their first meeting in Willem van Manen’s Contraband, Paul van Kemenade and the German pianist Stevko Busch have been active as a duo. Almost thirty years later, the alto saxophonist from Tilburg has decided to retire from the scene with an intense year full of concerts. Over the years, Van Kemenade and Busch have broadened and deepened their rapport in this duo. About their album Double Solo from 2019. ‘The craftsmanship and togetherness of both musicians leads to soft, sometimes breathtaking improvisations.’ (Rinus van der Heijden, Jazznu.nl) ‘Rarely does a Dutch musician touch the listener straight in the heart… a masterpiece.’ (Cyriel Pluimakers, Jazzenzo)

Bassist Dion Nijland often performed as a sideman in ZJFT country, but now brings his own band Deon. Their debut album, Soft Steel, was released last year, to critical acclaim: ‘A beautiful, adventurous album’ (Volkskrant). ‘Surprising, multifaceted’ (Jazz Nu). ‘The band plays with obvious joy and energy’ (Moors Magazine). It is an assembly of five Utrecht stakeholders who manage to release an idiosyncratic album, making one curious for the live performances. Breaking news: the second set will feature an (as yet) nameless string trio with Dion Nijland.

139 Strings is an exciting and innovative jazz trio. The combination of harp, double bass, and piano reflects the total number of strings across these instruments. Aistis Kondratas, hailing from Lithuania, has broad musical interests ranging from indie-funk to avant-garde jazz, adding an eclectic touch to the trio’s performances. Dimitris Karkoulias, originally from Athens, transitioned from classical piano, violin, and electric bass to jazz piano and organ. Sorcha McCague, an award-winning harpist from Dublin, aims to integrate the harp into as many music genres as possible, actively contributing to this endeavor.

Henk Zwerver has been active in the Amsterdam improv scene since 2015. Together with bassist Raoul van der Weide he organised the All String Nights, for string improvisers. Henk Zwerver has an idiosyncratic guitar style, reminiscent of Derek Bailey’s. With Wilbert de Joode and Michael Vatcher he has two welcome ZJFT guests by his side. It is a seasoned rhythm tandem that was already active at the 1990 Groningen Jazzmarathon with pianist Michiel Braam. In Oostum we’ll be offered a portion of intuitive music for the connoisseurs.

Bass clarinettist Ziv Taubenfeld was involved in Kuhn Fu’s first steps in Groningen. Following some extensive European tours, Kuhn Fu gained an excellent live reputation. Listen to the album ‘Jazz is Expensive’, recorded live at the Saalfelden Jazz Festival. Ziv Taubenfeld lives in Portugal nowadays. He performed at the 2017 ZJFT with his trio Bones. This summer he has assembled an international trio of master improvisers for the ZJFT, featuring the British basssist Olie Brice and the Danish drummer Kresten Osgood. The jazz barometer forecasts jazz and worse. We expect improvised music by three great musicians.

Towards the end of the tour, the 2024 ZJFT presents two premières at the Alleshouderij. Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and pianist Marta Warelis have been invited to take the plunge with Han Bennink. German born Ingrid Laubrock is active in the New York scene. She has been working in a duo with her life partner, drummer Tom Rainey, since 2007 and can often be found in guitarist Mary Halvorson’s projects. The saxophonist performed at the 2012 ZJFT with Tom Rainey and Wilbert de Joode, and at the 2018 edition with Perch Hen Brock & Rain. Pianist Marta Warelis was featured at the 2013 ZJFT in the Michael Moore Pool, and many performances would follow. Her international career is moving forward in seven-league boots and she has joined big names like Dave Douglas, Eve Risser and Ingebrigt Håker Flaten on stage.

Cellist Ernst Reijseger has been making music for the soundtracks of director Werner Herzog’s films since 2000. His collaboration with the Senegalese singer Mola Sylla and pianist Harmen Fraanje has been a long standing one, too. Harmen Fraanje stayed on after Reijseger’s adventure with Eric Vloeimans’ Fugimundi. The threesome have found a wonderful balance in which the qualities of both Reijseger and those of Sylla and Fraanje come to the fore. All About Jazz had this to say about their album Deep Down: ‘Deep Down truly sounds like no other recording, as romantic classicism intersects with African culture and jazz-centric improvisation.’

Azúmbara is formed by five friends from different parts of the world: Spain, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. Inspired by Latin American music, salsa, Brazilian music, jazz, pop, and Spanish folklore, they strive to nurture and cultivate their own essence. Their shows get everyone dancing while simultaneously honoring the value, richness, and tradition of Latin American music and its complexity. Enjoy the present moment with Azúmbara and escape reality. The only concern is which dance step will come next.

Trumpeter Maite Hontelé takes over the baton from Maarten Hoogenhuis as the new band leader of the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest (National Youth Jazz Orchestra; NJJO). With a leader who can boast of a number of Latin Grammy nominations, we shouldn’t be surprised that the band book contains powerful salsa music. NJJO goes mambo. ‘There is not one kind of mambo, but a whole world of mambo varieties and new cross-overs.’ Young musicians, selected from the Dutch conservatories, are excited to enter into this two year band coaching project.

Kuhn Fu is summoned to the stage for the final party in Garnwerd. Here, they show up as a sextet, once again. Like no other, Christian Kühn manages to enthral the audience with his energetic stage act. With Kuhn Fu’s reputation as an exciting live band, they will easily raise the roof of the Garnwerd tent.