Orange Jazz Days Announced at Tivoli-Vredenburg

Located in the heart of Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg is a prominent music complex known for its architectural diversity and outstanding accoustics. Since its opening in 2014, the venue has become a central hub for music and cultural events, drawing over a million visitors annually. With five main halls—each tailored to different musical styles—TivoliVredenburg provides the perfect setting for a festival like Orange Jazz Days, which will utilize the venue’s capacity to host simultaneous performances and accommodate a wide range of audiences.

The festival’s scheduling in early October places it at the start of the cultural season, aligning with TivoliVredenburg’s ongoing commitment to presenting diverse musical programming. Located near Utrecht’s central train station and close to the city’s historic center, the venue makes Orange Jazz Days easily accessible for both locals and visitors.

Orange Jazz Days will open with the Nu-Art Orchestra, TivoliVredenburg’s new ensemble in residence, led by Marike van Dijk. This recently formed big band is characterized by its focus on original compositions from within the group and a collaborative approach to performance. The festival marks the public presentation of the Nu-Art Orchestra’s first live album, recorded in-house during July 2025. The ensemble features a standard Big Band lineup, with a majority of female musicians, and includes notable artists such as Tineke Postma, Suzan Veneman, Shannon Barnett, and Ella Zirina. The Nu-Art Orchestra’s participation underscores the festival’s emphasis on new music and innovation. Each member is encouraged to contribute compositions and arrangements, resulting in a repertoire that is both diverse and reflective of current trends in Dutch jazz. This approach is intended to foster creativity and provide a platform for emerging voices within the genre.

In addition to the Nu-Art Orchestra, the festival will feature performances by other prominent large ensembles. The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw will present a program dedicated to the legacy of Misha Mengelberg, a significant figure in Dutch jazz composition and improvisation. The Paradox Jazz Orchestra will pay tribute to Ruud Bos, a composer known for his contributions to Dutch film music. These performances highlight the ongoing popularity and tradition of big bands in the Netherlands.

An important aspect of Orange Jazz Days is its emphasis on emerging Dutch jazz talent. The festival’s program features bands like PARRA.DICE, .multibeat, and WAAN, all of whom incorporate influences from funk, electronic music, and hip-hop into their jazz foundations. These groups demonstrate how the genre continues to evolve and intersect with a variety of contemporary musical styles.

Paradox Jazz Orchestra

Vernon Chatlein’s project, Chatlein i su Zumbi, will explore Afro-Curaçaoan traditions and their connections to jazz and Latin music. This performance is positioned to offer listners insight into the diverse cultural influences that shape the Dutch jazz landscape. Saxophonist Loek van den Berg and his Quintet will present “Seafarer,” a release from 2025 that has attracted attention for its compositional approach and ensemble interplay.

The festival places a particular emphasis on the creation and performance of new music. Trumpeter Eric Vloeimans has been commissioned to compose a Dutch Jazz Suite, intended to encapsulate the diversity of the contemporary Dutch jazz scene. The suite will be performed as part of the festival’s program, offering a thematic exploration of the genre’s current state.

Other premieres include new works by Kika Sprangers, who is recognized for her lyrical and layered style, and Jeroen van Vliet, who will preview a composition set to premiere later at November Music.

The final day of Orange Jazz Days will feature Benjamin Herman’s European Alto Festival, which this year will focus exclusively on Dutch compositions. Guest soloists include Erena Terakubo, a saxophonist active on the Dutch scene. The festival’s closing event will bring together Herman’s band and a selection of European alto saxophonists, providing a collaborative and energetic conclusion to the weekend.

Benjamin Herman

By closing with a program focused entirely on Dutch compositions, the festival puts a spotlight on homegrown artistry and the strength of local composers. Including the European Alto Festival in the lineup not only connects the Dutch jazz community to wider European movements but also keeps the emphasis firmly on national identity and the unique voices shaping the scene.

The festival’s goals are straightforward: to give Dutch jazz musicians more visibility and create space for collaboration across the scene. By mixing premieres, tributes, and genre-blending projects, Orange Jazz Days sets out to capture the variety within Dutch jazz today. The lineup pulls together established artists and newcomers alike, encouraging conversations about where the music is headed. Rather than offering a fixed definition of Dutch jazz, the festival opens up questions about its boundaries and future, giving audiences a chance to experience firsthand just how much the scene has to offer.

Tickets for Orange Jazz Days are now on sale, and the festival is expected to attract visitors from across the Netherlands and neighboring countries—a sign of the growing interest in Dutch jazz both at home and abroad. With a program that mixes premieres, collaborations, and tributes, the event is designed to appeal to a wide range of listeners, from seasoned jazz fans to those curious about the latest directions in the genre. As a new entry on the Dutch festival calendar, Orange Jazz Days offers a close-up look at the country’s jazz scene, bringing together established figures and emerging talent at TivoliVredenburg. The emphasis on new compositions and collaboration across generations creates space for experimentation and conversation, making the festival a place where audiences and musicians alike can reflect on where Dutch jazz has been—and where it might be headed.

More information can be found on the TivoliVredenburg website.

from https://jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl/