We continue our list of the most memorable moments of North Sea Jazz.
- E.S.T. 13 July 2007, Congo, 8:15 – 9:30 PM
At the beginning of the first night of North Sea Jazz 2007 the Swedish group E.S.T. set the tone by flowing their beautifully lyrical jazz music seamlessly into exciting, hallucinating sounds. Magnus Öström pounded his drums hard and Dan Berglund’s double bass made screaming noises that were painful but which also had an unpolished kind of beauty. The audience were like dancing on a volcano anticipating on a possible eruption. Pianist Esbjörn Svensson produced wonderful universal tone colors from his keys. Less than a year after this overwhelming performance, Svensson died in a diving accident at the age of 44.
- Avishai Cohen Trio, Saturday 9 July 2005, 8:15 – 9:30 PM
North Sea Jazz recognized the quality of this bassist and bandleader in an early stage. On Saturday July 9, 2005 the Avishai Cohen trio performed with pianist Sam Barsh and drummer Mark Guilliana. Cohen gave his music a slightly Israeli sound. His compositions had melancholic undertones, thanks to the powerful interplay of drums and piano it didn’t become sentimental, though. Only at the very end of the performance, when the audience was still impressed by their exciting performance, Cohen started to sing and then tears could flow.
- British Jazz Invasion, Darling Saturday 14 July 2018, 6.00 PM – 1.00 AM
An evening at North Sea Jazz requires some preparation. Saturday, June 14, 2018, my son Sybren and I were able to stay in ‘Darling’ where five British top bands performed. London has become the epicentre of improvised music. Four of the five bands came from the London capital. We spent much of the evening in a forgotten, darkened corner at the back of the venue, where the music reached us perfectly and the crowds didn’t bother us. The eager and inventive musicians from London: Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd Exodus, GoGo Penguin (the only band from Manchester) and Sons of Kemet gave us a great evening.
- Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet, Friday 07 July 2017, Congo, 9:00 – 10:15 PM.
This is not the first time I mention the name of Mark Guiliana, nor is it the last. This drummer is one of the great jazz talents of this moment. David Bowie already noticed that in 2015 when he looked after musicians for his final album Blackstar. Guiliana has a cult status as a drummer in the circles of electronic music. His tight, effective rhythms appeal to many people. With his own quartet, Guiliana plays beautiful, timelessly exciting acoustic jazz. The Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet proved their quality in the Congo tent.
- Scofield, Mehldau and Guiliana, Sunday 10 July 2016, Hudson 10:30 – 11:45 PM
Three absolute masters gathered on one stage. Three jazz musicians who all love electronic sound experiments. Pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Marc Guiliana made the groundbreaking album Mehliana, but Scofield’s well-placed guitar licks were an excellent addition to their concept. Scofield occasionally fulfilled the role of the missing bass player.
- Tord Gustavsen and Simin Tander, Friday July 13, 2018, Madeira, 11:15 PM – 00:30 AM
Christian and Sufi traditions came together in a mysterious and spiritual performance. Gustavsen interpreted centuries-old Norwegian hymns sung by Tander in Pashto, the language of her deceased father. Pianist Tord Gustavsen, singer Simin Tander and drummer Jarle Vespestad silenced the Madeira completely and their music invited them to meditate and to look for peace in their souls.
9 Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet, Friday 08 July 2011, Hudson, 6:45 – 8:00 PM
It was no surprise that this acoustic quartet would be good, but the fact that they were that great seemed to stun themselves too. With this line-up Honing has found his musical home; with these musicians he recorded a series of albums that in terms of depth, eloquence, beauty and truth are unrivalled in the European music tradition.
- Kayhan Kalhor & Rembrandt Frerichs Trio, Friday 12 July 2019, Yenisei, 4.00 – 5.15 PM
Kalhor started and the music initially had an Eastern character. From the moment Frerichs began to solo, the jazz level increased. The music really seemed to soar. The pieces were long and the musicians built up the tension carefully. It was moving to see and to hear how East and West reached each other.
- Mavis Staples and Lucky Peterson ‘A tribute to Mahalia Jackson’, Friday 10 July 1998, Roof terrace, 8:30 – 9:30 PM
Soul singer Mavis Staples brought a tribute to Mahalia Jackson. This pioneer of the gospel didn’t like to perform at festivals herself, but she showed her talents only in church services. Mavis Staples turned things around: she performed at North Sea Jazz and with a few means at her disposal: her own voice and Lucky Peterson’s Hammond organ she turned the Congo tent into a steaming Baptist congregation which resulted in hand clapping and jubilation. Afterwards people left the tent with broad smiles on their faces. Lucky Peterson died on 17 May 2020, at the age of 55.
- Michael Brecker Quartet, Saturday 10 July 2004, Jan Steen hall 8:45 – 10:00 PM
In 2004 Michael Brecker was North Sea Jazz’s ‘artist in residence’. Brecker explained the art of improvisation in an interesting talk, but it was better to see and hear him play with his super quartet: Joey Calderazzo piano, Chris Minh Doky bass (why don’t we hear from him anymore?) and Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts drums. The ease with which Brecker played his superior solos is unforgettable. In 2007 Brecker died of leukaemia.