22 June - 9 July 2023, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
North Sea Round Town (NSRT), fringe festival NN North Sea Jazz, kicks off their 18-day festival with an exclusive weekend full of adventurous programs. On June 22, 23 and 24, fans of unique music experiences can indulge themselves with a passe-partout that provides access to three exclusive performances at the fringe festival. Additionally, fans of contemporary jazz can discover the best of the Dutch jazzscene during nautical adventure the Jazzship and inJazz, a free showcase festival (including professional programming) in the south of Rotterdam.
Fringe festival North Sea Round Town officially opens on Thursday 22 June with an exceptional concert led by clarinetist/saxophonist Joachim Badenhorst (BE). The performance takes place in a former factory, which now forms a new cultural hotspot on the south bank of the river Maas. YOURAN is a magical improv performance. Badenhorst plays together with Japanese Taiko percussionist Tsubasa Hori (JP/BE), Austrian bassist Beate Wiesinger (AT), Scottish trumpeter Alistair Payne (GB-SCT/NL), Irish guitarist Simon Jermyn (IR/DE) and Rotterdam sample wizard Rutger Zuydervelt (NL).
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For the fourth time, NSRT will present an Artist in Focus. In 2023, it will be Dutch-based Turkish vocalist, cellist and improviser Sanem Kalfa, who will tour Rotterdam with a dozen concerts during the festival. Developed with North Sea Round Town is Invisible Columns, Kalfa’s new multidisciplinary performance. Kalfa has invited three international artists for this exclusive performance: trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire (USA), pianist and organist Kit Downes (GB/DE), live electronic artist Jan Bang (NO). You will see the four musicians together for the first time during Invisible Columns. The project premieres at UNESCO world heritage site Van Nelle Fabriek on Friday 23 June.
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Midnight Mess, the brainchild of guitarist Teis Semey, is a mishmash of Scandinavian folk music, indie music and jazz improvisation. This unconventional last supper consists of composed pieces and improvised parts performed by six impressive musicians, Semey (DK/NL), Kit Downes (GB/DE), Sanem Kalfa (TR/NL), Fuensanta (MX/NL), Marta Arpini (IT/NL) and Līva Dumpa (LV/NL). Developed i.c.w. North Sea Round Town, Midnight Mess was Semey's 'Artist in Focus' dream project that premiered at the 2022 festival at the Laurenskerk. A year later, Midnight Mess was recorded for a brand new album, which will see the light of day on Saturday 24 June with an eccentric birth at Oude Kerk Charlois.
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Fringe festival North Sea Round Town (NSRT) is a city-wide festival that continues to develop as an adventurous playground for rising jazz stars and beyond. For two and half weeks, the festival connects artists, makers, audiences and the city of Rotterdam with over 325 concerts on 125 locations varying from (jazz) venues and public squares to churches, (former) swimming pools, art galleries, nursing homes and many more.
Photo: Sanem Kalfa by Joost Ruigrok
