New collaborations

The name Chris Potter is a familiar one on the bill but this year there’s a twist: the saxophonist is performing with a band new to him, featuring nothing but top musicians like pianist Brad Mehldau and bassist John Patitucci, with whom he recently released the superb album Eagle’s Point, plus drummer Jonathan Blake.

This year, tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman is also appearing with a new band featuring singer Gabriella Cavassa in a starring role. This is the first time Redman has collaborated with a vocalist, but with a repertoire ranging from Bruce Springsteen to John Coltrane, it promises to be an exciting concert, at the very least.

Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen is stepping out of his comfort zone with his new group Banda Iroko. They play Afro-Caribbean music, driven by the percussion of Abraham Rodriguez Jr. with whom Cohen has been friends for decades.

Pianist Shai Maestro once played in Cohen’s trio and has since made a name for himself as one of the most versatile and talented pianists of his generation. This year he is collaborating with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (JOC), a world-renowned Dutch big band. This combination is sure to spark plenty of musical fireworks.