The Jazz Influencers

Without a new generation, there is no new jazz. The genre continues to evolve as each time new musicians add their own ideas to the music. In this series, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw gives way to new 'Jazz Influencers' whose music is arranged and performed with the JOC. Young talent is also invited for the arranging, who will work on the music under the guidance of the regular JOC arrangers. A critically acclaimed album of the same name was also released in 2020, read more about it below.

Jazz Influencers concerts in 2023

27 March, Bimhuis: Ella Zirina (guitar) and Jesse Schilderink (saxophone)

5 June, Bimhuis: Kika Sprangers (saxophone) and Alistair Payne (trumpet)

20 November, Bimhuis: programme t.b.a.

Jazz Influencers - the album

The Jazz Influencers was released on 15 October 2020. Nine prominent young musicians were invited to write for our orchestra. Reinier Baas, Gideon van Gelder, Joris Roelofs, Maartje Meijer, Ben van Gelder, Simin Tander, Maarten Hogenhuis, Morris Kliphuis and Tineke Postma have created compositions, in which they each give their take on big band jazz in the 21st century from their own musical perspective. Conductor Rob Horsting elaborated the diverse pieces into new arrangements. The result is a very challenging CD in which the boundaries of big band jazz are explored in a series of compositions inspired by jazz from the 60s and 70s, contemporary chamber music, minimal music, pop, Olivier Messiaen and traditional Afghan music. The album was recorded at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Reviews

'A crafty album with fresh, new repertoire, clever solo work and thunderous ensemble playing.'
●●●● - De Volkskrant

'The album The Jazz Influencers is really to get very excited about. Highlighting a new generation of composing jazz musicians is not only a very strong idea because of the brand new repertoire. It also once again underlines the JOC's aim: to test the boundaries of big band music. In Rob Horsting's elegant arrangements, The Jazz Influencers is a tastefully progressive course.' ●●●● - NRC Handelsblad

'.. Sometimes the title Influencers is entirely appropriate. Because just look at the line-up for this album; basically only big names from contemporary Dutch Jazz' - Jazzism

'Trombonist Bert Boeren's solo on "Open Water" is another highlight, with Marco Kegel and Simon Rigter on sax, sustaining the song's exoticism. Indeed, all the soloists aim high, supported by a rhythm section providing sensitive colouration, as well as power and sometimes swing. Throughout, the orchestra performs sectional call and response, rich harmonies, tricky syncopation and counter- point faultlessly.' - Downbeat (US)

'All the pieces are completely convincing, the arrangements sound like clockwork and the musicians play fantastically.' - Parool

'Sound colour, atmosphere, beautifully developed themes, which you only enjoy even more on second and third listenings.' - Den Haag Centraal

'A great CD with a big variety of melodies, timbres and atmospheres, with quality as the greatest common denominator.'  - Jazzflits

'With JOC, the future of Dutch jazz is in good hands' - Jazzenzo Jazzmagazine