Schedule

Jazz fans in television land have come to the right place for their dose of first-rate world jazz: TorTube! Jazz club De Tor in Enschede is one of Europe’s most authentic jazz venues, with an absolutely unique ambiance. Some of the best musicians from Holland and the rest of the world find their way to De Tor to perform for an appreciative audience of jazz fans. This recording features Dutch jazz icon Benjamin Herman in collaboration with English brothers and gypsy guitar masters Robin and Kevin Nolan along with bassist Arnoud van den Berg. This spirited band plays swinging jazz in the style of legendary French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt (Swing de Paris).

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1980, legendary American singer-pianist Ray Charles gave an unforgettable performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. This mercurial artist pioneered soul music in the 1950s, and helped integrate country, rhythm and blues, and pop.

Legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés brought his band ‘Jazz Batá 2’ to the Malta Jazz Festival on July 19, 2019. The air was thick with anticipation as Valdés took to the stage, revisiting the small-group concept of his mythical 1972 Cuban album ‘Jazz Batá’. The batá repertoire – the deep classical music of West Africa – permeates Valdés’ piano solos throughout the concert. Valdés’s band consists of Dreiser Durruthy (Batas and vocals), Yaroldy Abreu (percussions and vocals), Abraham Mansfarroll (percussion), Ramón Vazquez Martirena-Bajo (bass guitar). They delivered a performance that reverberated through the historic island.

Annual trade fair, exhibition, and festival jazzahead! is one of the international jazz community's most important events. Hosted in Bremen, Germany, jazzahead! brings together musicians, bookers, agents, organizers, jazz experts, and music enthusiasts at the world’s largest jazz event. In 2023, jazzahead! paid special attention to Germany’s jazz scene and invited thirty jazz acts from all over the world to perform over the course of three days. Among the groups presenting themselves at jazzahead! 2023 is the Olga Reznichenko Trio. Pianist and vocalist Olga Reznichenko is accompanied by Max Stadtfeld on drums and Lorenz Heigenhuber on double bass. Their no-nonsense hard bop is urgent and authoritative, and their sets will satisfy even the most demanding jazz enthusiasts.

Annual trade fair, exhibition, and festival jazzahead! is one of the international jazz community's most important events. Hosted in Bremen, Germany, jazzahead! brings together musicians, bookers, agents, organizers, jazz experts, and music enthusiasts at the world’s largest jazz event. In 2022, jazzahead! paid special attention to Canada’s jazz scene and invited forty jazz acts from all over the world to perform over the course of three days. Among the bands appearing at jazzahead! 2022 is the Kathrine Windfeld Big Band from Denmark. In pianist, composer and arranger Kathrine Windfeld’s breathtaking compositions, sophisticated harmonic passages meet driving grooves and poetic ballads. Her 15-piece band effortlessly combines playful precision and enthusiastic power. The trumpeters are André Bak, Rolf Thofte Løkke, and Magnus Oseth; the trombonists are Göran Abelli, Tobias Stavngaard, and Anders Larson. The alto saxophonists are Hannes Bennich and Magnus Thuelund; the tenor saxophonists are Roald Elm and Ida Karlsson; the baritone saxophonist is Aske Drasbæk. The rhythm section consists of Viktor Sandström (guitar), Johannes Vaht (double bass), Henrik Holst Hansen (drums), and Kathrine Windfeld (piano).

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1987, smooth jazz saxophonist and crowd-favorite Kenny G serenaded those attending the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. After beginning his career in the Love Unlimited Orchestra, he now brings his own band for this hypnotic performance.

'Münchner Klaviersommer' was an annual concerts series that took place from 1981 to 1998 in Munich, Germany. Although the festival's name suggests a strong focus on piano music, it featured countless famous musicians from jazz and classical music – not just pianists. The concerts were usually held in July at The Gasteig, home of the Munich Philharmonic. In 1995, vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Makoto Ozone, both great jazz players noted for their virtuoso technique and innovative style, came together to give a concert of improvised music. They delighted the audience with their fluid, poetic artistry, which was expressed in a performance of the highest order.

Maria Ana Bobone (Portugal) is one of the best fado singers of her generation. She started singing fado when she was 16. Her debut album is called ‘Alma Nova’ and marked the beginning of her amazing career. For the recordings of her next two albums, ‘Luz Destino’ and ‘Senhora da Lapa’ Maria Ana welcomed instruments that are usually not present in fado music: the harpsichord and saxophone. After that, she continued her career with the release of ‘Nome de Mar’, which received many positive reviews. At the moment, Maria Ana is performing at all Portugal’s major venues, as well as many festivals and concert halls throughout the world, with the aim to present fado music and Portuguese culture to other cultures. Bobone’s latest album, ‘Fado & Piano’, shows her diversity as an artist, composer and arranger. By including the piano she re-innovates the tradition of the early 20th century. This portrait shows Maria Ana’s performances and interviews in which she explains her passion for fado music and culture.

This film portrays Michel Petrucciani 's very unique outlook on life, his vitality, boisterous humor and marked comedian talent which triumphes over all physical restrictions. It also shows Michel Petrucciani performing, composing, selecting his very own piano, at a recording session with Stephane Grapelli, Roy Haynes and Georges Mraz, .... and much more.

Dutch band Seven Eleven is a mix of funk, jazz and hip hop. Founded in 1987, Seven Eleven is one of the first Dutch bands to perform with rappers, having collaborated with hip hop crew Dope Posse in 1990. Adding a superb horn section to the original line-up, they were awarded the 1993 Camelpop Award. Over the years, Seven Eleven released eight albums and played countless festivals, including three appearances at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival. Collaborations with legendary American funk artists such as Fred Wesley, Dawn Silva, Jeanette Washington and Louis Johnson followed. Guitarist Rob Manzoli of pop group Right Said Fred produced Seven Eleven’s 2015 album Back to the Source in London. Today’s broadcast presents the funkiest moments from Seven Eleven’s Back to the Source tour.

Highly acclaimed Italian clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader Paolo Tomelleri (1938) is a European master of traditional jazz and swing. With his Big Band, he performs updated recreations of classic swing-era charts made famous by the likes of Benny Goodman and Count Basie. In this concert recording from the Ascona New Orleans Jazz Festival, held in late June and early July 1998 at picturesque Lake Maggiore in Ascona, Switzerland, Tomelleri presents gems like "Esquire Bounce”, "Cute”, "Sing Sing Sing”, "Li’l Darlin’”, "In A Mellow Tone”, "Cotton Tail”, and "April In Paris”. The band also features trombonist Dan Barrett. Experience the Swing Era as never before with this concert by Paolo Tomelleri and his Big Band!

The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is a world-renowned concert hall, known for its first-rate acoustics. It has attracted many famous performers over the years and is one of the Netherlands' most treasured musical institutions. On November 2, 1958, American jazz titan Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performed two concerts at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Among the many talents in the Orchestra were trumpeter Clark Terry, trombonist Quentin Jackson, saxophonist Johnny Hodges and violinist Ray Nance.

The Newport Jazz Festival, first established in the North-American town of Newport, Rhode Island in the summer of 1954, has now grown to become one of the largest multi-day celebrations of jazz worldwide. It has resulted in numerous famous live albums from top-rate jazz stars, and has spawned several worldwide tours, including editions of the Newport Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In 1968, the Newport Jazz Festival in Rotterdam welcomed three talented Americans: pianist Horace Silver, guitarist Muddy Waters, and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, alongside their bands.

Legendary jazz pianist Horace Silver's groundbreaking fusion of hard bop, blues, soulful grooves and Cape Verdean influences have left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. At the renowned Umbria Jazz Festival in the picturesque region of Umbria, Italy, Silver is accompanied by a great band of future all-stars: Bob Berg on tenor sax, Tom Harrell on trumpet, Steve Beskrone on bass and Eddie Gladden on drums. During this performance from July 20, 1976, Silver’s quintet stretches out on four Silver originals: “Adjustment”, “Barbara”, “In Pursuit of the 27th Man”, and “Song For My Father”. Tune in and let Horace Silver’s irresistible music mesmerize you!

Following a highly successful small-group jazz concert at New York Town Hall on May 17, 1947, Armstrong's manager Joe Glaser dissolved the Armstrong big band on August 13, 1947 and established a six-piece small group. This group was called the All Stars, and in 1964 Louis Armstrong recorded his biggest-selling record, Hello, Dolly! He made assorted television appearances, especially in the 1950s and 1960s – the recorded film was a TV Show in Australia when Armstrong was at the peak of his career. Armstrong kept up his busy tour schedule until a few years before his death in 1971. He also toured Africa, Europe, and Asia under sponsorship of the US State Department with great success, earning the nickname ‘Ambassador Satch’.

In this 1970 performance at Maison de la Radio in Paris, France, American blues legend John Lee Hooker (voice and guitar) is joined by the masterful Carey Bell (harmonica), Joe Harper (bass), Lester Dorsie (drums), and Jimmy Dawkins (electric guitar). From the first to the very last minute of the concert, Hooker illustrates why he, 45 years later, was to be ranked 35th on Rolling Stone’s 2015 list of 100 Greatest Guitarists: this bluesman is truly in a class of his own.

The Da Pá Virada Sessions series presents the best musicians of contemporary Brazilian jazz, and beyond. Filmed in São Paulo, each session offers a unique experience by giving a fresh look into Brazil's music scene. The artists for each session are selected in consultation with Stingray DJAZZ's music editor. One of the artists taking part in this series is pianist Hércules Gomes. Due to his impressive technical skill and expressive choice of repertoire he is considered one of Brazil's foremost pianists today. Hércules has performed with numerous renowned Brazilian musicians, including Arismar do Espirito Santo, Letieres Leite, Alessandro Penezzi, Wilson das Neves, and Banda Mantiqueira.

Dutch free jazz, jazz rock, and electronic music pioneer Pierre Courbois threw a belated 80th birthday bash at Amsterdam’s renowned BIMhuis in January 2022. Courbois, a celebrated drummer and percussionist, also masters the tabla, conga, bass guitar, and vibraphone, and is a prolific writer with over 100 compositions to his credit. Proving that any age is just a number, Courbois (*1940) teams up with Jesse Schilderink (*1995, tenor and baritone saxophone) and Wiro Mahieu (*1964, bass) in his new band 3GEN3. Billed 3GEN3 PLUS for this festive occasion, this exciting new ensemble is augmented by pianist Jasper van ‘t Hof. Known for his virtuosity and his innovative contributions to European jazz, Van ‘t Hof (*1947) has been hailed as Europe’s finest jazz pianist. He is the recipient of the Buma Boy Edgar Award 2018. Let 3GEN3 PLUS surprise you with their fresh, innovative music in this sparkling concert recording from January 2022!

American trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991) was a pioneering jazz musician from the late 1940s to the late 1980s. His influence on 20th century music is hard to overstate, as he trailblazed bebop, cool jazz, hardbop, modal jazz, and electronic music. On October 11, 1964, Miles Davis performed at Teatro Dell’Arte in Milan. With tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams, Davis performed Autumn Leaves, My Funny Valentine, All Blues, All of You, and Joshua.

Rising star of the jazz guitar Scott DuBois leads his quartet, consisting of Gebhard Ullmann (reeds), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Kresten Osgood (drums), in an intimate and atmospheric performance at Munich’s Jazz Club Unterfahrt in March 2016. The group’s telepathy is such that they are able to go from deathly quiet to fiercely avant-garde at the drop of a hat. For this occasion, DuBois and his group gave a full performance of his "Winter Light" album, released a few months earlier, plus his 'Lake Shore Suite'.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1982, the Superstar Quintet, which consists of the otherworldly American trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Joe Henderson, drummer Tony Williams, bassist Ron Carter, and pianist Kenny Baron performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. The star-studded fivesome put on a concert of cosmic proportions.

The North Sea Jazz Festival is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz as the festival’s staple music genre, many others, such as blues, soul, funk, or hip hop, pass by. In 1987, prominent guitarist George Benson brought his band to kick off day three of the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Joining him to play songs from their joint album "Collaborations" was Grammy award–winning acoustic guitarist Earl Klugh.

The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra commissioned violinist Tim Kliphuis, internationally known for his genre-crossing approach to music, to write a new version of Antonio Vivaldi's ‘Four Seasons’. Kliphuis choose to take improvisation as his starting point; at the same time, he intended to leave the best-known Vivaldi themes and chords in, as they give the piece its wonderful energy. The result is a fresh and exciting interpretation that never loses sight of the original. Each season has a different character: the freshness of spring is reflected by the use of Irish and Norwegian traditional music; the summer heat can be heard in the American jazz and funk rhythms; the autumn includes a galloping safari hunt in South-Africa and the ice-cold winter warms up with the energy of Russian gypsy music. For each movement, Kliphuis has a metropole in mind which he visited on his previous concert tours. You’re about to witness a truly genre-crossing spectacle!

In 1960, Archie Shepp attended a concert of John Coltrane at the Five Spot, legendary club of the Lower East Side. Fascinated, he quickly decided to devote himself to the tenor saxophone. Five years later, Shepp - already a staple of free jazz - finally recorded alongside his idol. The result, published in 1966, is called Ascension and still remains today a symbol of free improvisation. At the edge of the fiftieth anniversary of Coltrane's death, gone at forty, the most Parisian of the New York avant-garde celebrates the legacy of the great composer of A Love Supreme with a dazzling French-American all-star who is reminiscent in some respects of the heretic Ascension orchestra. When a giant pays tribute to a god of jazz...

Jazzed Out proves that a jazz session can take place anywhere. Unusual locations, such as garage buildings, multi-storey car parks, street corners, subway trains, and parks, in several of the world’s metropoles, provide the setting for brief jazz performances. The sheer rawness of the metropoles merge with the musical creations of various artists in search of the perfect ‘urban stage’. In this episode, London serves as a backdrop for sets by trumpeter Matthew Halsall, saxophonist Soweto Kinch, and pianist Neil Cowley.