Fie Schouten studied with Harry Sparnaay. She is a teacher of bass clarinet at the PC Conservatory in Groningen. She is also the driving force behind the bi-annual Basklarinet Festijn (Bass Clarinet Feast). For the 36th ZJFT Fie Schouten wil finally cross musical paths with France’s best-known clarinettist, Louis Sclavis. His love for the bass clarinet goes back to the 1980s. In 2009 he performed at the ZJFT Prologue with pianist Aki Takase. It will be an exciting meeting of two duos, in which French and Dutch views on improvisation will be exchanged.

This unusual ensemble is the brainchild of guitarist Jeroen Kimman. In his compositions he creates his own universe. Like a curious anthropologist he takes his musicians to uncharted territories. And his music is every bit as mysterious as this may sound. He veers off the beaten track in seven league boots. For the ZJFT, bandleader Kimman has assembled a fantastic septet. Four years ago, Jeroen Kimman performed in Aduard with Sleep Gunner, in which he instrumentally recreated the country music of the vocal harmony duo The Louvin Brothers with lap steel guitarist Mark Morse.

Saxophonist Jan Klare is starting to be a ZJFT regular (1000, The Dorf, Furiopolis, 1000+Eugene Chadbourne, Rket). For his latest project 3000 he has extended his quartet to include the American trombonist Steve Swell, a former student of Roswell Rudd. Bandleader Jan Klare has a love for outspoken musicians. With Belgian trumpeter Bart Maris and the always brilliant rhythm section of Wilbert de Joode and Michael Vatcher, jack of all trades Klare from the German city of Münster has struck an inexhaustible gold vein.

Bassist Luc Ex made a composition with city noises for a 7 metre long horn, Object Sonore. Luc Ex can also employ the basic material, the loose fragments, as an improviser. The horn, which is three metres high, was developed by Peter Zegveld, based on an idea by Luc Ex. The mobile instrument has been mounted on a trailer so it can partake in all kinds of art projects. During the ZJFT the monster can be found at the Schaphalster lock, where the horn will be ready for a spatial duet with saxophonist Ada Rave.

The band Kruidkoek makes Garage jazz with a capital G. With a mixture of jazz, rock, a homemade light show and a great deal of improvisation and humour, every concert is a surprise, not in the least for the band itself. They have been going for ten years now, with some changes in the line-up. Recently, Kruidkoek gave itself a shot of adrenaline with guest performances by poet/spoken word artist Joost Oomen, who (unfortunately) will be performing at the Parade festival at the end of August. It’s not a reason to deny the satisfied jazz cyclist an energetic closing party at a new location near Garnwerd, the Allesboerderij, on the other side of the Reitdiep.