Results for "Contemporary Jazz"

Aseo Friesacher

Born: June 5, 1996

Aseo Friesacher is a pianist and composer born in Vienna, Austria. Since an early age he was very interested in music and he was able to pick up melodies and rhythms easily. It was soon clear to him that a music career is the only thing he wants to pursue. Aseo started to play the piano at an age of 6. He was also member of the famous Vienna Boy’s Choir and got the chance to tour around the world and sing in big concert halls like the Carnegie Hall in New York or the Tokyo Opera City Hall.

At the age of fourteen Aseo found his love to jazz music by listening to songs of Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck and Didier Squiban. Eventually he formed his own jazz trio, became very active in the jazz scene and got the chance to perform in prestigious places such as the United Nations, Porgy & Bess in Vienna, as well as renowned venues in the Netherlands such as LantarenVenster and the Bimhuis. The half Japanese/Austrian talent has been awarded with multiple awards: 1st price of the Podium.Jazz Competition in Austria 2014, Finalist of the Leiden Jazz Award 2021 and 2nd prize at the Gexto Jazz Competition in 2022 with Loek van den Berg Quintet.

Lorenzo Ditta

Lorenzo Ditta is an Italian jazz pianist whose music balances tradition and contemporary exploration. After nearly ten years in the Netherlands, he has developed a personal language that merges a deep understanding of jazz roots with a continuous search for new forms of improvisation, always keeping communication and dialogue at the forefront.

Through original compositions and spontaneous improvisations, Lorenzo has performed across the globe, leaving a mark with his sensitivity and distinctive musical voice. From Rome to Amsterdam, with cities like New Orleans, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Macau and many others in between, his style has evolved through rich cultural encounters that have shaped a profound and self-aware artistic vision.

WAKAN

South-Korean pianist Francesca Han, French double bassist Pierre Fenichel, and drummer Fred Pasqua combine their unique talents and worlds in WAKAN.

*In the culture of the Achuars of the Amazon, but also shared by other Amerindian cultures, WAKAN is a spiritual principle attributed to humans as well as to plants and objects, representing, mysteriously, both their soul and their energy.

Bauke Meersman

Born: October 30, 1988

Bauke Meersman is a Belgian jazz musician known for his innovative approach to minimalist music. Using circular breathing techniques, he creates meditative suites on saxophone and bass clarinet – at times playing both instruments simultaneously. His compositions, often built on irregular meters and layered repetition, result in an immersive and evocative listening experience.

His music is frequently described as industrial jazz, evoking the atmosphere of workers’ cafés and industrial taverns. In performance, Meersman aims to construct a spatial soundscape that sparks the listener’s imagination, balancing compositional precision with a strong human element.

Julian Siegel

Born: May 13

Julian Siegel is an in-demand saxophonist on the UK and European Jazz scene who has worked with many of the top figures in the music. He was awarded the 2007 BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist. He is currently touring with the Julian Siegel Quartet featuring pianist Liam Noble, bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Gene Calderazzo. The Quartet's first CD ‘Urban Theme Park’ was awarded the 2011 London Jazz Award and in February 2018 the Quartet released their new album 'VISTA' on Whirlwind Recordings. Since the release of ‘VISTA’, the band has performed internationally at Jazz Festivals including Inntöne Jazz Festival in Austria, Made in The UK at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, NY, Jazz Standard NYC, JazzFestival Göttingen, Germany, Limerick Jazz Festival Ireland, UK’s Love Supreme Festival, Bristol and Manchester International Jazz Festivals and an extensive 2018 – 2019 Arts Council England UK Tour. The Quartet was featured on the cover of UK’s Jazzwise Magazine in February 2018 and VISTA was included in Jazzwise’s Top 20 Jazz Albums of the year.

Robin Porter

ROBIN PORTER is an award-winning saxophonist and composer based in London, renowned for his versatility, musicality and expressive sound. A sought-after instrumentalist, he has performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues, captivating audiences with his artistry and individuality.

Robin’s primary creative outler is his contemporary jazz trio ‘Aspyrian’, a dynamic project blending original compositions and improvisation with the sincerity of soulful songwriters and grit of alternative bands. Under his leadership, Aspyrian has released two acclaimed albums, earned two Help Musicians awards, and toured the UK twice, bringing their distinctive sound to stages nationwide.

Maria Kaushansky

Maria Kaushansky is a pianist residing in New York City. Born in Russia, she immigrated with her family to Israel, then to Canada in her childhood. Maria holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Toronto. 

Maria has been residing in NYC since 2015. As a bandleader, she has established and held long-term residencies at venues including Back Bar at Eventi Hotel, Gotham Restaurant, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Adalya Restaurant, and Le Petit Parisien Supper Club. She has also performed at Knickerbocker Bar and Grill, Django Jazz Club, Sweet Afton, IVY Room, The Last Word, Flatiron Room, Zero Bond, Parker's NYC, The Players NYC, Campbell Bar, Nublu, Yale Club and Harmonie Club, among others.

Anton Mikhailov

Born: November 7, 1999

Anton Mikhailov is a composer, pianist, and arranger based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Born in Horlivka, Ukraine, he studied classical and jazz piano at the Murmansk College of Arts and went on to develop a versatile voice in contemporary instrumental music—ranging from modern jazz and improvisation to scoring for film and games.

Rooted in classical tradition and driven by a strong improvisational instinct, his music blends rhythmic energy, cinematic harmony, and experimental textures. His influences span hip-hop, indie rock, and electronic music as well as twentieth-century orchestral writing and avant-garde improvisation.

Harben Kay

Award-winning tenor saxophonist Harben Kay is quickly becoming renowned as one of the UK’s most creative and virtuosic jazz artists, with two critically acclaimed albums, four UK tours and performances at the UK’s most esteemed jazz venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Royal Albert Hall and The Vortex.

Their latest album, Golden Sands (2022), was released on Kay’s own label, Sulis Records, in October 2022. The album received high praise from the jazz media, showcasing original compositions that are reflective of Kay’s experiences in their homeland of Scotland, and their time spent living in London and New York City.

Luca Crispino

Born: July 3

Luca Crispino è un chitarrista e compositore musicalmente versatile ma strettamente ancorato alla tradizione jazz di cui ha esteso i confini seguendo il suo istinto di improvvisatore creativo ed originale. Dagli inizi della sua carriera ad oggi ha avuto modo di partecipare ad interessanti progetti di fusione tra i generi coltivando sempre più la sua attenzione verso lo studio, la pratica e la natura dell’improvvisazione musicale. Dal 2000 esercita la professione artistica esibendosi dal vivo in varie formazioni e partecipando ad importanti rassegne musicali e festival nazionali. Sempre dallo stesso anno inizia a dedicarsi all’insegnamento e allo studio della musica sperimentale. Nel 2013 si trasferisce a Verona dove è tra i creatori del Centro di Formazione Musicale Moderna Artingegno. Collabora attivamente con diversi artisti ed ensemble, operando in produzioni discografiche ed esibizioni live. Ad oggi Luca Crispino alterna la sua attività di musicista, sia sul palco che in studio, alla didattica ed alla ricerca musicale.