Kika Sprangers Quintet – river, river

Edison-winning saxophonist creates an immersive sound world based on her new album.

From deep stillness to orchestral power: the color palette of saxophonist and composer Kika Sprangers is all-encompassing. In her new music, the river becomes a metaphor for humans and the course of life: how it develops, flows, finds its own path, swirls, and meanders. For Kika, it is a particularly personal subject: she was born in Nijmegen and grew up by the river. This concert is dedicated to her new album river, river, released by the label DOX Records.

With her distinctive, melodic, and dark saxophone sound, Kika Sprangers is a leading figure in Dutch jazz. This status was underscored by winning an Edison Jazz National for the album (In)finity. On river, river, she creates a sound world with her band that takes you along, overwhelms, and moves you. The mostly wordless voice of Anna Serierse blends effortlessly with Kika’s saxophone sound. Pianist Koen Schalkwijk, double bassist William Barrett, and drummer Wouter Kühne complete the quintet.

Anna Serierse vocals, Kika Sprangers sax, Koen Schalkwijk piano, William Barrett bass, Wouter Kühne drums