The Jazz and Freedom Festival is an initiative of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw and DeLaMar Theatre, in collaboration with NiNsee. Singer and storyteller Izaline Calister, the young JOC, and the neighborhood talent orchestras from Amsterdam Bijlmer, East and New-West are performing the life of Akono: an enslaved boy on a Curaçaoan plantation.Through his story, we learn about courage, freedom, and the power of love and hope.
In addition to these concerts played by and for the youth, Izaline is also performing in the Stobá di Kòrsou concert with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. Together with an all-star line-up of artists they'll present the rich musical culture of Curaçao: expect danceable tumba, tambú and the Latin American influences.
All dates featuring Izaline Calister:
June 26 Panel discussion, Freedom and protest De Balie, Amsterdam
June 29 AKONO 10.30 am-11.30am Young talent Indische buurt and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra in NedPho Koepel
June 29 Stobá di Kòrsou 20.30pm Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw featuring Izaline Calister in DeLaMar
June 30 AKONO 14.30pm Young JOC together with Young talent Amsterdam Bijlmer and New-West
July 13 AKONO 14.00 met het Klein Leerorkest i.s.m. Klassiek op het Amstelveld in De Duif
Lilian Vieira takes you on a journey to her birth country, Brazil. Next to the Brazillelectro with Zuco103 and the close harmony group Cantorias, Lilian is playing with lot's of talented musicians. She performs various styles of samba, funk, and choros from Rio de Janeiro; Forró from the northeast, and samba de roda from Bahia. Expect an immersive program filled with music from the heyday of Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, Luiz Gonzaga, Noel Rosa, Cartola, Jackson do Pandeiro, and others. Lilian's enchanting presence, paired with her unique vocal style and accompanied by these musicians, results in a captivating Brazilian performance where joy and melancholy are intricately intertwined.
Lilian Vieira LIVE
May 31 with Gideon van Gelder playing Clube da Esquina, Chassé Theater, Breda
June 2 with Zuco103 @Wilhelminaplein, Bridge Eindhoven Guitar Festival, Eindhoven
June 8 Sesjun Lilian Vieira Masterclass & presentation, Muziekpodium DJS, Dordrecht
June 9 Lilian Vieira Trio, Jazz Sunday, Oosterbeek
June 28 with Cantorias, City Proms, Leeuwarden
June 29 with Egon Kracht ensemble, UITfestival, Almere
June 30 with Zuco103, On the Roof, Amsterdam
As a child, Izaline would always sing, even in children’s choirs such as 'Perlitas,' led by the famous Rudy Plaate. For this project, Izaline selected songs from her youth—ones that every Antillean enjoys singing along to—composed by renowned figures like Richard Simon, Padu Lampe from Aruba, and the aforementioned Rudy Plaate.
Izaline, together with Thijs Borsten, had the songs adapted into Dutch by children's book author Koos Meinderts. They recorded new arrangements of the songs, with contributions from others musicians. This CD is accompanied by a picture book. Based on these songs, they have collaborated with director Kiki Jaski to create a theater program with which they are currently touring.
Line up: Izaline Calister, Thijs Borsten (piano), Danny Rombout (percussion)
For singing along please check www.bondiagoeiemorgen.nl
Bon Dia, Goeiemorgen Tour 2024
February
14 Schoolconcerts Wijk bij Duurstede
20 Podium Hoge woerd- De Meern
March
10 Kunstlinie Almere Flevoland (KAF)
24 Het Kielzog, Hoogezand-Sappermeer
April
13 Musis & Stadstheater Arnhem
14 Leidse Schouwburg, Leiden
21 Schouwburg Tilburg
May
27 Schouwburg, Tilburg
28 Schoolconcert, Tilburg
(..) Even now, nearly half a century onward, Barnes seems to have lost none of the elegance and charm she brought to that gig. She and the MJO make a lovely couple.
For more info please check Millenniumjazzorchestra.nl
Izaline Calister: In 2023-2024, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. My great-grandmother Juliet (1836-1875) experienced it all: slavery and its abolition. 
On October 3rd of last year, after 228 years, Tula, the leader of the largest slave revolt on Curaçao (part of the former Dutch Antilles), was rehabilitated by the Dutch government." This rebellion in 1795 was brutally suppressed, and Tula was sentenced to death. Subsequently, it was taboo for a long time to commemorate Tula.
By telling the story of the freedom fighter Tula and how he influenced the life of Izaline's great-grandmother, she connects history with the present and celebrates the future through singing her own passionate and moving music.
Tourdates:
June 27 Theater de Lieve Vrouw, Amersfoort
June 28 Theater de Leest, Waalwijk
June 30 De Kleine Komedie, Amsterdam
Juli 1 Theater Castellum, Alphen a/d Rijn
Please check for more dates www.izalinecalister.com
Line up:
Izaline Calister: lead vocals, script, acting
Ed Verhoeff: guitars
Ilja Reijngoud: trombone
Lidrick Solognier: percussion
Vocalist/guitarist Joana Almeida is the first, female classical fado guitarist in Portugal. She moved to Amsterdam,NL in 2020 and formed Cacha Mundinho quartet with Sjahin During. Almeida composes original pieces in Portuguese, drawing inspiration from fado and traditional Portuguese troubadour songs but imbuing them with her unique and contemporary perspective. Elements from Cape Verdean and Brazilian music are seamlessly combined with the improvisatory agility of top-notch jazz.
Lusophony encompasses all regions and cultures that share the Portuguese language, including Portugal, the Middle East, Africa, Brazil, and India.
In this special case, 'cacha' is derived from Cape Verdean creole and is a variation of 'catch', while 'mundinho' originates from 'mundo' and means 'small world'.
Line up (all based in NL):
Joana Almeida (Portugal) vocals & guitar
Maripepa Contreras (Spain) oboe & duduk
Pedro Ivo Ferreira (Brazil) double bass
Sjahin During (Turkey/Netherlands) percussion
https://www.cachamundinho.com
The arrangements are fantastically beautiful. (....) And that goes for the entire album – the songs are amazing, the vocals are beautiful, and all four musicians are phenomenally skilled, playing together exceptionally well. Gorgeous, just gorgeous!"
Read more:
..PASSIONATELY UNPREDICTABLE MUSIC
The FLUID FORM CLUB is hosted by resident band Witch 'n' Monk: Mauricio Velasierra’s radically electrified Latin American flutes and Heidi Heidelberg’s jazz-punk guitar/bass and anarchic soprano vocals. For every club event this defiantly original duo invites a second band to share the bill. The format is unexpected, but suffice to say there is an element of collaboration between both bands.
The FLUID FORM CLUB was created in Witch‘n’ Monk hometown Berlin, to host a very specific breed of musicians who make passionate music and all have one thing in common: they evade stylistic classification and explore genuinely new sonic territory. So far Witch ‘n’ Monk have partnered with musicians such as: Marja Nuut, ECM artist Seb Rochford band Pulled by Magnets, Japanese vocalist satsuma-biwa-player Junko Ueda and French refreshing, post-punk duo Pili Coït.
For more infos please check http://www.fluidformclub.net.
Allthatjazz.com (..)the latest album by The Netherlands' superb Millennium Jazz Orchestra, offers clear proof that "music with a message" need not be barren nor bland. Amazonia is a vibrant and colorful eight-part suite by composer / arranger Joan Reinders, whose disheartening theme is the loss of the Amazon rainforest.
Jazzradar.com (..) In an eight-part suite, the compelling story of the threatened Amazon region is told. A timely narrative, wrapped in beautiful music and songs, convincingly interpreted by vocalist Lilian Vieira.
Writteninmusic.com (..) The result is very beautiful, especially due to the combination of Lilian Vieira's beautiful Brazilian singing and the compositions by Joan Reinders, who took the poems of De Mello and Lilian as a starting point for them.
More info? Please check Millennium Jazz Orchestra or listen the album (Zennez Records) @Spotify
NEW ALBUM PRODUCED BY IVAN LINS
The legendary Brazilian composer, pianist, and singer Ivan Lins will join Josee Koning on stage presenting her new album Doce Presença. In addition to Ivan Lins producing this enchanting album of international caliber, Ivan Lins and Josee Koning can also be heard in the duet "Plus Fort que Nous" and the closing track "Doce Presença."
Ivan Lins describes the album: “It’s delicate, intimate, melodic, soft, sweet, peaceful, has great lyrics and a close to the bossanova atmosphere. Our album is delicious!” Watch the story of Doce Presença here https://youtu.be/tNdo7vI4WGo?feature=shared
Josee performs the pieces from 'Doce Presença' with Ivan Lins and an international super 5-tet. They reunite with master guitarist Leonardo Amuedo, who currently resides in the US. He is accompanied by his son, the talented drummer Danilo Amuedo. Enjoy listening to the first single Plus fort que nous -the only one in French- a duet with Ivan Lins. “It was his idea to record this beautiful French song from the film 'Un homme et une femme' (1966)." Listen here @Spotify
CD Presentation
June 19 Beauforthuis, Austerlitz
June 22 LantarenVenster, Rotterdam
June 23 Bimhuis, Amsterdam
Line up: Josee Koning (vocals), Ivan Lins (keys, vocals), Leonardo Amuedo (guitar), Danilo Amuedo (drums), Hans Vroomans (piano), Matheus Nicolaiewsky (bas)
More dates t.b.a.
As a follow-up to their theater show about Izaline's father and her birth island Curaçao, this show explores the perceptions that the Dutch and Antilleans have of each other. Along with beautiful songs, they delve in a humorous manner into cultural differences and prejudices. Experience how Izaline and Thijs masterfully incorporate these aspects into an intriguing musical program.
JUNE 16 Theater De Bussel,Oosterhout
JULY 10 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
For all dates please Thijs Borsten Productions
In this documentary, Izaline and Thijs embark on the Ruta di Tula in Curaçao, where they encounter artists, musicians, historians, and a pastor. Tula, who once worked as a slave on Knip plantation, led the largest slave revolt on Curaçao August 17, 1795. Alongside other enslaved individuals, they protested against their working conditions. When plantation owner Casper Lodewijk van Uytrecht remains unresponsive, they decide to journey to the capital to seek justice from the governor. On their way, about 2000 other enslaved individuals joined their cause. 
In the end, Tula and many others paid the ultimate price with their lives, but the rebellion became a national symbol.
Tula himself was declared a national hero in 2010, and in 2023, after 228 years, he was rehabilitated by the Dutch government. The documentary was originally broadcast on Dutch Television on August 17,2023. However, due to the rehabilitation of Tula on October 3rd, 2023 the documentary was re-aired on the NPOEXTRA channel and can still be watched here. In addition, the special concert at Zuurzak plantation in Curaçao, featuring Izaline Calister, Thijs Borsten and more musicians, was also broadcasted.
The documentary has been awarded with a significant number of prizes!
Cinematography & Photography Awards London
Brussel Capital Film Festival België
Round The Globe Film & Music Festival USA
Luleå, Norrbotten Sweden
Heart Of Europe International Monthly Film Festival (HEI) Slovakia
Curieus for these new samba grooves? Please Listen here@ Spotify
www.lilianvieira.com
