Intro

The 37th ZomerJazzFietsTour (SummerJazzCyclingTour; ZJFT) goes back to normal, and will be every bit as special as it used to be. Jazz cyclists may select their own programme or pick one of the five suggested routes. Changing over to another route on the way, is also an option. And we are extremely proud of our collaboration with the Prins Claus Conservatory!

The opening night on Friday, will again take place at Simplon in Groningen. The Prologue, subtitled Ein Abend aus Berlin brings two generations of Berlin based jazz musicians together. The young Insomnia Brassband and the legendary Ruf der Heimat will show that there’s plenty of life in free jazz yet.

The Saturday afternoon will put more German bands on the church stages, like the Christian Marien Quartet and the Uwe Oberg Lacy Pool, featuring the seasoned bass clarinetist Rudi Mahall. Switzerland brings the wonderful trumpet/harp combination of Tom Arthurs and Giovanna Pessi to Cycle Tour country. Zürich is the place of origin of Omri Ziegele’s Tomorrow Trio, featuring the Dutch national drum hero Han Bennink. Two English greats will also be expected to come over: duo Trevor Watts/Veryan Weston.

Programme

Trumpeter Dave Douglas will bring his album Mountain Passages to life, in the original line-up, with reedist Michael Moore and musicians from the US and Canada. The final act in Garnwerd, the exciting jazz funk band Naked Ears, will be reinforced with Defunkt trombonist Joseph Bowie.

With a special line-up of her band Snowapple, vocalist Una Bergin will pay tribute to the music of her father, Sean Bergin. Clarinettist Steven Kamperman composed Maison Moderne after a residence at the Paris Theo van Doesburghuis. Saxophonist Bo van de Graaf will present his latest project, full of animal stories: Het Artis Orkest.

Imaginary landscapes are featured in the music of Iman Spaargaren’s Undercurrent Orchestra, the atmospheric film scores by Marzio Scholten’s Ruis and the minimal music sounds of Arvo Pärt and Aphex Twin can be found in the music of the Artvark Saxophone Quartet. The Rotterdam Hydra Ensemble combines collective improvisation and electronics. Violist George Dumitriu also uses electronics in his new solo programme Monk on Viola.

Groningen roots come to the fore in Timber3+1, the new Frans Vermeerssen Trio and bassist Esat Ekincioglu’s fresh Turkish Pumpkin. The Prins Claus Conservatory will present three outfits at the ZJFT: The Skypainters, Clarimba and the New Dutch Jazz Quintet. The Zummerbühne company, which is based in Maarhuizen for the summer, will present an Orchestra and a Quartet.

There’s plenty to choose from at this year’s ZJFT. With a great many thanks to the many volunteers who are busy making the ZJFT in the last weekend of August a success once more.

We remain the festival where you’ll be sure to miss at least half of the programme. And you have to cycle, too.

We love to give you a tip based on 36 years of experience: go and see the second set. There’s a much bigger chance of getting in.