Semi-Final I April 11

Bands

Tinase

Álvaro Zarzuela – trombone

Olav Schoorlemmer – trombone

Maarten Combrink – trombone

Jeroen Vermazeren – bass trombone

Chris Muller – piano

Ton Felices – double bass

Auke de Vries – drums

“A unique and energetic group of trombonists, together with a swinging rhythm section, forms TINASE. They are inspired by the natural elements represented in their name: titanium (Ti), sodium (Na), and selenium (Se). Ti, symbol of titanium, represents the strength and dedication of the ensemble. Na, symbol of highly reactive sodium, symbolizes the passion and energy that are felt during the music-making. Se, abbreviation for the rare element selenium, represents the touch of unpredictability and creativity that distinguishes TINASE from other ensembles. The combination of these elements leads to a unique sound that will surely impress the jazz audience. Additionally, each letter in the name TINASE forms the sentence: This Is Not A Saxophone Ensemble. A reflection on the intentionally chosen absence of the saxophone within the ensemble. We believe that a trombone ensemble with a rhythm section is a unique and exciting combination, as it allows the trombonists to showcase their versatility and range.

Njta Project

Antonio Moreno – trumpet

Micheal Murray – alto saxophone

Anja Gottberg – double bass

Magnus Austad – drums

NJTA PROJECT is an Amsterdam based quartet led by Swedish bassist-composer Anja Gottberg. In July 2022, they won the 1st prize of the Conad Jazz Competition - Umbria Jazz Festival, Italy “for the completeness of the project, the care in the arrangements, the technical quality, the stylistic and improvisational maturity.” As a bass player, Anja has already shared the stage with various established musicians such as Ernst Glerum and Jamie Peet and has been starting to write her own music for the past two years. Now, together with her new line up, they give these compositions a new life, allowing their own personalities and stories to shine through. Their music is inspired, among others, by the melancholic Swedish folk tradition, balancing between lyrical, songlike melodies and groovy bass lines. NJTA are currently in the process of making their debut album, consisting of their own compositions and new music.

Bands

Ante Medic Octet

Micheal Murray – alto saxophone

Marios Charalampous – tenor saxophone

Paolo Petrecca – trumpet

Nicholas Adema – trombone

Dan Bluer – trombone

Ante Medic – guitar

Azubike Onwuka – bass

Diego Miranda – drums

Ante Medić Octet is an alternative jazz project. This ensemble has the energy of an experimental rock-’n-roll trio combined with the finer harmonies of a horn quintet. I’ve always tried to make use of traditional jazz idioms during the arranging and composing for this group, while also letting myself be inspired by different kinds of music genres en styles. That’s why I aspire to create a more personal output that doesn’t bind the music down to a fixed label. I aspire to create music that will appeal to people emotionally as well as intellectually by using formats that are being used by jazz composers who I admire, like Maria Schneider or Bob Brookmeyer, combined with my own input.

M.A.S.T.

Miguel Valente – alto saxophone

Adrian Bifano – guitar

Samuel Kiel – double bass

Teunis Loot – drums

M.A.S.T. is a dynamic modern jazz quartet based in Amsterdam, composed of Miguel Valente on saxophone, Adrian Bifano on guitar, Samuel Kiel on bass, and Teunis Loot on drums. As part of Amsterdam’s new generation of jazz musicians, M.A.S.T. seamlessly blends classic and contemporary styles, drawing inspiration from jazz legends such as Logan Richardson, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joe Henderson, and Paul Bley. The quartet’s music is characterized by intricate compositions, dynamic improvisation, and heartfelt expression.

Daan Sanders Quartet

Daan Sanders – piano

Adrian Bifano – guitar

Stef Joosten – bass

Miklós Kovács – drums

Where jazz, fusion and classical come together: the Amsterdam-based Daan Sanders Quartet creates raw sounds and dreamy melodies. A journey from ferocious to calm; from Berlin to Amsterdam; from the rough guitar sound of Kurt Rosenwinkel to the sultry piano vibes of Brad Mehldau. Prepare for intense jazz that makes no bones about it: this is the Daan Sanders Quartet.

Bands

SAMUEL KIEL’S SONIC CHOIR

Miguel Valente – alto saxophone

Micheal Murray – alto saxophone

Ketija Ringa Karahona – flute

Francisco Garrido – guitar

Adrian Bifano – guitar

Mikael Asmundsson – guitar

Samuel Kiel – double bass

Ludvig Søndergaard - drums

Samuel Kiel’s Sonic Choir is not a choir. At least not in the sense that anyone is using their vocal chords to sing. But we are singing, and we are using our voices. We are all formed by different backgrounds and with different upbringings. We are all sculptured by the sounds and the music we’ve been exposed to. The songs my mom sang for me before falling asleep. The music he heard from an old CD lying behind the CD-player. The music she studied to become greater. We all have a voice and in this band we ARE using it. Together, with music composed by Samuel Kiel, we try our best to project our joined voices to the people. This 8-piece band takes you through a sonic memory lane, and inhabits a unique sound in the Amsterdam jazz scene. When you hear them, you will be reminded of bands like Paul Motion E.B.B.B or Keith Jarret’s American quartet.

Imperfect Bread

Līva Dumpe – vocals

Federica Lorusso – piano

Aleksander Sever – vibraphone

Misha Voeykov – bass

Rod Oughton – drums

Sekou van Heusen – percussions

Hailing from various different corners of Europe, the members of Imperfect Bread bonded over their shared love of world music. The band plays the original music of British drummer/ composer Rod Oughton, who has been influenced by his travels in Brazil, Cuba and east Africa. Imperfect Bread was awarded the Incentive Prize at the 2022 ‘Keep an Eye International Jazz Award’ competition, and is gaining a reputation as being one of the most exciting new projects emerging from the Amsterdam jazz scene. They’ve performed at such venues as the Bimhuis (as part of the Rough Diamonds festival) and in Nieuw-Vennep (as part of the Meer Jazz Festival). They are currently working towards their debut album, which they expect to record in early 2023.

Semi-Finals

JURY SEMI-FINALS

Loes Rusch

Dr. Loes Rusch is a teacher of classical music history at the Jazz Department of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam as well as researcher and co-devolper of the jazz bachelor’s research programme. Rusch is regularly invited to lecture on topics related to music, such as cultural heritage, diversity in the arts, jazz and improvised music in the Netherlands and the role of women in jazz.

Lucas van Merwijk

Lucas van Merwijk has been at the forefront of the European jazz, latin and percussion scene for over 25 years. He works as a drummer and percussionist with numerous groups and artists in the Netherlands and Europe.

Tony Roe

Tony Roe is a pianist, composer & reinventor of music as one of the Tin Men in Tin Men & the Telephone. He transitioned smoothly into a musical career after studying design and music technology, which he followed with conservatory studies.

Maite Hontelé

Maite Hontelé is a cultural entrepeneur and Dutch trumpeter specializing in Latin and jazz trumpet. She has also worked as a programmer and artistic director at the Music Meeting Festival.

Yaniv Nachum

As a saxophonist, Yaniv Nachum has been playing with some of the best orchestras in the Netherlands and toured all over the world with various ensembles and his own jazz quartet. Besides that, he is active as a research coordinator, bandleader and teacher of theory, composition and improvisation at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Semi-Finals

PRESENTER SEMI-FINALS

Anna-Maria Nitschke

Anna-Maria Nitschke is the senior producer and study advisor at the jazz department of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Nitschke studied voice at the CvA Jazz Department. Next to her work as a producer she serves as a curator, advisor and jury member for several art foundations and jazz competitions.

PRIZES SEMI-FINALS

Both finalists: €1.250,-

Incentive prize: €750,-

All semi-finalists receive coaching by visiting artists such as Ben Wendel, Randy Brecker and more.

COLOPHON

Concept Development

Conservatorium van Amsterdam & Keep an Eye Foundation

Production & PR

Anna-Maria Nitschke, Bas van Otterloo, Nicole van Hoeve

Recording engineer

Ido Zilberman

Live sound engineer

Nils Feenstra & Arjan Arwert

Graphic design

Peter te Bos (Twizter)

Printed matter

De Bondt, Drukwerkdeal

Many thanks to the Bimhuis, Amsterdam

Keep An Eye Foundation

Jazz, fine arts, film, photography, design, fashion…

The Keep an Eye Foundation is always ‘on the lookout’ for aspiring young talent, such as musicians, artists, photographers, designers, filmmakers, and performing and circus artists By providing grants, together with the chance of winning prizes, and by co-organising a number of shows and festivals, we enable the aspiring young talent not just to develop their skills, creating new opportunities, but also to achieve their creative goals. The Keep an Eye Foundation additionally focuses on collaborations between different creative disciplines. This way we encourage students to view their work from a new perspective.

www.keepaneye.nl / www.galeriepouloeuff.nl