jazz at de Doelen: a new season full of
expectations and encounters
Jazz and de Doelen have been inseparable for decades. Since the 1960s, our stage has been open to international legends and the vibrant Rotterdam jazz scene.
Legendary concerts featuring artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughan have made history and transformed de Doelen into a haven for enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.
This season, we're building on this. Here, the rich history of jazz meets the innovation of today: from captivating swing to exciting improvisations, from deep roots to unexpected influences from Arabic music and other cultures. International legends share the stage with emerging artists, while audiences are occasionally surprised by the energy and freedom of this genre.
We've put together a few top tips for all jazz lovers.
Alessandro Fongaro’s Pietre
Pietre (‘stones’ in Italian) is the chord-less quartet led by bassist Alessandro Fongaro, known for his work with Sun-Mi Hong, Ambergris, and Brainteaser Orchestra. Pietre is a scream to live again, to love again. As if recovering from an emergency stop, the music stutters, crashes, and pushes itself forward, imbued with stories about love and friendship that are expressed in intensity, sensitivity, and vulnerability. The two saxophonists show an impressive range, supported by a close collaboration between double bass and drums.
Friday 26 September 2025 | 20:30 | Eduard Flipse Zaal
Dhafer Youssef
Dhafer Youssef is a pioneer who has connected Middle Eastern music with the global jazz and world music scene. His oud playing is both technically brilliant and deeply emotional, effortlessly combining tradition and innovation in a unique musical experience.
Saturday 4 October 2025 | 20:30 | Grote Zaal
Marysia Osu
As a classically trained artist with a desire for aesthetic independence, Marysia Osu is working on her own powerful form of freedom music. With improvisations that brush against jazz, she is part of the Brownswood Recordings circle – one of our favorite labels – which will release her new album ‘Harp, Beats & Dreams’ on 18 October.
Friday 10 October 2025 | 20:30 | Eduard Flipse Zaal
KNEEBODY
Kneebody is a genre-transcending quartet from Los Angeles that since 2001 has taken a completely unique place in the contemporary music world. Their sound is a powerful mix of the energy of rock, the complexity of chamber music, and the freedom of jazz improvisation. With roots in both the classical tradition and the underground scene, Kneebody forms a collective in which experiment and precision come together seamlessly.
Wednesday 29 October 2025 | 20:30 | Jurriaanse Zaal
Riley Mulherkar Quartet
Riley, his first recorded salvo as a soloist, is the sonically modern setting for Mulherkar’s vulnerable, melodic interpretation of the rich tradition with sound design shaped by producers Rafiq Bhatia and Chris Pattishall. Bhatia and Pattishall surround Mulherkar in a series of structured, intricately designed spaces and focus the lens of a cinematographer on the continuum of great old songs and new Mulherkar pieces that fit right in. Described as “über hip, modern and yet timeless” (Downbeat), it is a radically bold sound drama.
Thursday 6 November 2025 | 20:30 | Eduard Flipse Zaal
Les Égarés
Les Égarés is not just an album, it is a lively musical experiment and a poetic journey made by four masterful musicians: Ballaké Sissoko (kora), Vincent Segal (cello), Vincent Peirani (accordion), and Émile Parisien (saxophone). These artists, long known for transcending genres, melt their talents together in a seamless, ego-free collaboration that defies categorization. The result is a flowing, genre-transcending sound that draws from jazz, classical, traditional, and avant-garde influences.
Thursday 27 November 2025 | 20:30 | Willem Burger Zaal
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw ft. Camille Thurman & Tyreek McDole conducted by John Clayton
Go swing into the holidays with the most beautiful jazz classics with a nod to Christmas! The renowned Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw brings, under the direction of none other than Grammy-winning composer and double bassist John Clayton, a heartwarming concert with two American rising stars. Saxophonist & vocalist Camille Thurman has already toured with the world-famous Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Expect ‘Christmas Jazz at its finest’ by artists who know their craft!
Saturday 13 December 2025 | 20:30 | Jurriaanse Zaal
