Legends
Saxophonist Gary Bartz (78) is bringing a special project to the festival, looking back fifty years to the release of the album Another Earth. The lineup includes original trumpeter Charles Tolliver (77) and the son of the original drummer Freddie Waits: the equally famous Nasheet Waits. From the Chicago alternative jazz scene we have pioneer Henry Threadgill (75), adored for his exceptional timbres and instrumentations. Pianist Chick Corea is performing, his Latin colleague Chucho Valdés will be there, too, and so will singer Bobby McFerrin – returning to the stage after a long absence.
Bebop pianist Rein de Graaff will this year retire as a pianist and organisor of what have turned out to be legendary tours. He is the éminence grise of Dutch jazz and in his long career performed with many big shots, among which Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin. But he also stimulated Dutch talent, such as the three alto saxophonists with whom he will perform.
