Sanem Kalfa’s Invisible Columns among inJazz’s daring Dutch highlights

The most famous fixture on the Dutch jazz calendar may be the North Sea Jazz Festival, but it’s the more boutique, three-day showcase festival, inJazz, that really gives up-and-coming and established Dutch artists an opportunity to shine and to network.

The 17th edition kicked off in Amsterdam, before transferring to Rotterdam for two more nights (and days) of music and debate. As Martin Fondse, current ‘Composer Laureate’ of the Netherlands stated in his opening address to a gathering of music professionals: “jazz is not a style, it’s a state of mind where curiosity is key,” and there was certainly plenty to be curious about in the eclectic programme – with the added bonus that all concerts were free to the public.

Amsterdam’s iconic waterside venue Bimhuis hosted the opening night’s four acts with Sanem Kalfa’s group Miraculous Layers making the biggest impression. Kalfa on cello and shamanic-like vocals distorted with electronics was joined by Tineke Postma on saxophones, Sun-Mi Hong on drums and Marta Warelis on piano.

The following day’s proceedings transferred to Rotterdam where the bulk of the programme took place within spitting distance of each other, across five stages at Lantaren-Venster, Club MOOD and Studio NAVB. Highlights included the AVA Trio, a heady blend of double bass, saxophone and Middle-Eastern style percussion. Esat Ekincioglu’s battered looking instrument appeared to be patched up with gaffer tape, but that didn’t impede his gutsy playing. The Zebra Street Band (pictured below), a sextet comprising two drum kits plus various brass delivered a rambunctious set, with John Dikeman giving it plenty of welly on his baritone sax.

The Meral Polat Trio gave one of the most impressive performances of the whole event, albeit on a stage that felt rather neglected and tucked away upstairs at Studio NAVB. But no matter, as one senses Polat could perform at a bus stop and be equally captivating. Besides being a talented singer-songwriter, Polat is also an actor which explains her aptitude to scrutinise the audience as much as they do her. She ricocheted between styles, one moment singing a tear-inducing Zazaki Kurdish ballad she learned from her grandmother, next emitting full-throated ululations. ‘Ez Kî Me (Who Am I?),’ is the title-track of her debut album and the name of a poem her father wrote to her when asked ‘What does it mean to be human?’. It sounded deeply spiritual when Polat’s soaring vocals combined with Chris Doyle’s soulful organ playing and Jens Bouttery’s subtle drumming.

The following afternoon saw the announcement of the Boy Edgar Prize, the most prestigious award in Dutch jazz and improvised music. This year’s winner was Monica Akihary, a Dutch singer-songwriter with roots in the Molucca Islands. A highly respected and popular figure, Akihary will be co-curating the Sounds of Diversity programme at this year’s North Sea Jazz, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the former Dutch colonies.

The closing concert was in conjunction with North Sea Round Town – the fringe event of NSJ – and another occasion to experience Sanem Kalfa, NSRT’s Artist in Focus. Entitled ‘Invisible Columns,’ she called it her “dream project”, a collaboration with electronic sound artist Jan Bang, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and the keyboard player Kit Downes. It was held at the former tobacco factory, Van Nelle, an apt vast space with soaring steel columns and sparse purple-hued lighting. The theme was confrontations – those invisible columns in our lives that make us stronger, Kalfa explained to me some days before. It was also about challenging the audience and in that respect, she succeeded as there were moments that felt overwhelming. Afterwards Downes remarked it had been a high-wire experience, akin to jumping off a cliff for a living. It certainly felt thrilling and kaleidoscopic. But the overriding sense was that Kalfa is a powerhouse vocalist who joins the ranks of audacious and bold artists such as Polat and Akihary who are very much doing their own thing in their unique style.