Only 5 memorable North Sea Jazz moments to go!
- Joris Posthumus Group, Friday 7 July 2017, Yenisei, 11:15 PM – 00:30 AM
Unbelievable that this super group had to play in such a cramped room. Alto and soprano saxophonist Joris Posthumus recorded an album (Tokyo’s Bad Boys) with these Japanese musicians he had met in their homeland. He had the courage to bring tenor saxophonist Yuki Nakae, pianist Shunichi Yanagi, bassist Satoshi Tokuda and drummer Gaku Hasegawa to the Netherlands. Their performance at North Sea Jazz was an energetic contemporary interpretation of the transitional area between hard bop and free jazz. The musicians played passionately and you’d wish more people had enjoyed this special project by the Dutch saxophonist, composer and bandleader.
- Tord Gustavsen Trio, Saturday 10 July 2004, Carel Willink Hall, 6:30 – 7:45 PM
Tord Gustavsen sometimes works with singers, but the subtlety of his music can be most enjoyed when he plays in an instrumental line-up. His debut at North Sea Jazz was enchanting. Gustavsen played slowly and gradually built up the tension. It was a wonderful mix of Scandinavian folk and church music, jazz and gospel. Bassist Harald Johnsen and drummer Jarle Vespestad accompanied respectful but effective. The Carel Willink hall was hidden behind the Staten hall that produced walls of sound. The often muggy and soppy Carel Willink hall was a musical oasis where lovers of piano jazz could quench their thirst.
- Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood, Friday 13 July 2007, Congo, 10:00 – 11:15 PM
John Medeski, bassist Chris Wood and drummer Billy Martin make deliciously groovy soul jazz. Their pieces are often long, but nobody wants them to stop because they play irresistible. It’s amazing how this trio manages to keep their music so exciting, but when guitarist John Scofield joined them as the icing on the cake, you really experienced something special. Music can’t get greasier and creamier than this. What a musical feast this was in the Congo tent that had been preheated by E.S.T., also in this top 25.
- Branford Marsalis Quartet ‘A Love Supreme’, Saturday 15 July 2006, Amazon, 10:00 – 11:15 PM
Branford Marsalis is also in this this list with Sting. Marsalis often performs with vocalists but nothing beats his own quartet. Marsalis stimulates his musical partners to go to the extreme. This quartet refuses to rely on their routine and they play eagerly as if they still have to conquer the world. The same could be said of John Coltrane who created A Love Supreme. Branford Marsalis didn’t copy this masterpiece but proved to be Coltrane’s inspired torchbearer. The soul of jazz is still alive.
1. Brad Mehldau Trio, Saturday 13 July 1996 Carel Willink hall, 6:30 – 7:15 PM
Nothing compares the experience of hearing the Brad Mehldau Trio for the first time. Brad Mehldau, Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jorge Rossy (drums) played Exit Music and expanded this Radiohead classic pop song into a jazz cathedral, like they did with many other tunes. Present and past, body and mind, feeling and intellect came together in moments of pure happiness. Heaven looks like the Carel Willink hall and Brad Mehldau plays the grand piano there.