Friday 30 August The very last (until further notice) ZomerJazzFietsTour (Summer Jazz Cycle Tour, ZJFT) weekend kicks off with the Prologue at Simplon on the Boterdiep in Groningen on Friday, 30 August. We can first acquaint ourselves with the peculiar music of the French duo of Christophe Monniot (saxophone) and Didier Ithursarry (accordion). The band Kuhn Fu offers an international line-up for the Prologue and will also provide the festival finale on Saturday night at the Garnwerd tent.
Saturday 31 August has been reserved for a total of 27 outfits at 22 locations. Ten churches, nine barns, a tent, a museum and a visitors centre. This summer we’ve booked five German outfits for the Reitdiep valley, including some exceptional pianists: Aki Takase, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Simon Nabatov and Julie Sassoon. The programme features eight Dutch premières: duo Christophe Monniot / Didier Ithursarry and the super line-up Kuhn Fu Special at the Prologue. The duos Aki Takase / Daniel Erdmann, Simon Nabatov / Frank Gratkowski. Julie Sassoon Quartet and drummer Max Andrzejewski’s Berlin trio, featuring the Argentinean saxophonist Camila Nebbia and the British bassist James Banner. The first international encounter of bass clarinettist Ziv Taubenfeld with UK basssist Olie Brice and the Danish drummer Kresten Osgood is remarkable. As is that of the Dutch percussion royalty Han Bennink with two new stars from the world of improvised music: saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock from New York and the Polish pianist Marta Warelis from Amsterdam.
Three locations will feature three sets where the musicians will be given free rein: Trio Mola Sylla/Harmen Fraanje/Ernst Reijseger at the Garnwerd church, bassist Dion Nijland with his new band Deon and a fresh string trio at the Niehove church, and percussionist Han Bennink & guests at the Alleshouderij barn, on the far side of the Reitdiep in Garnwerd.
We offer plenty of room for old friends and new collaborations: the Brussels sousaphone phenomenon Michel Massot with Trio Grande. The unheard duo Ab Baars / Tobias Delius. The marvellous improv tandem Wilbert de Joode/Michael Vatcher introducing guitarist Henk Zwerver. A new trio of baritone sax specialist Giuseppe Doronzo, guitarist Andy Moor and drummer Frank Rosaly. Lily Kiara’s lyrics will be accompanied by an Amsterdam super ensemble full of familiar faces in The River. Reedist Iman Spaargaren joins guitarist Mark Tuinstra in his new trio Pelican Three. Tabula Sonorum offers the sacred sounds of double bassist Goncalo Almeida and Bart van Dongen on church organ. The most soulful Dutch alto saxophonist Paul Van Kemenade celebrates his farewell tour with pianist Stevko Busch. And we’ve brushed off the Winfred Buma Trio & Johan Huizing from the very first ZJFT editions for you.
Joyful noises from the creative scene from the North of Amsterdam can be heard in the South African mix of the eight piece band Sofaya. The young Turks of the NJJO (Dutch National Youth Jazz Orchestra) are led by salsa specialist Maite Hontelé. The enthusiastic student orchestra will go into mambo mood, so there’s every reason to put on your dancing shoes.
Marcel Roelofs
ZJFT music programmer