Route 3
Green Route

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.

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

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.