1/2 James Martin with his band in Breda (photo: Jan Peels).
Breda is full of jazz music for four days. More than 150 different bands play on dozens of stages throughout the city during the 51st edition of the Breda Jazz Festival. The largest and oldest four-day jazz festival in the Netherlands and Europe started at Grote Markt on Thursday at one o’clock.
“It’s jazz without stress,” says Bart Aarts with a laugh. He and his girlfriend Dana are enjoying themselves at the stage at the Havermarkt. “I’ve been living in Breda since I was 1 year old and haven’t missed a festival since. The great thing is that you see all ages here and it’s very relaxed. Five years ago there was a lot of rain, but usually the weather is beautiful, now also It’s more fun than NorthSea Jazz, that’s a bit elitist,” says Bart. “People with less money can also enjoy all the music here. Sometimes they bring their own beer. This is more fun than King’s Day, a kind of carnival 2.0 where you only meet nice people.”
For four days, Breda is again under the spell of jazz. Since 1971, the Breda Jazz Festival has grown into a major four-day music event for a wide audience. About 250,000 visitors come to the festival every year. During the music party, traditional jazz styles and related music types such as blues, zydeco, cajun, Western Swing and jump-‘n-jive can be heard.
“It’s a party every year.”
Chris Strik sits behind the drum kit on stage, it’s a home game for him. “The organization asked if I wanted to play with musicians from New Orleans on Thursday. Of course I wouldn’t say no to that. Chris lives in Breda and he is a drum teacher at the Nieuwe Veste (Center for the Arts). “I’ve been playing at this venue for 25 years. festival and every year it’s a party again.”
Chris studied drums at the Utrecht conservatory where he graduated cum laude. Since then his career has taken off enormously and he can regularly be found on stages at home and abroad. Every day in Breda for the next few days.
“I can’t stop listening to this music.”
There is plenty of dancing at a stage further down town. “Last year I stood here with my leg in plaster, moving a bit,” says a woman who dances. “I can’t stop thinking about this music. It’s great fun. I’m glad my leg is whole again,” she shouts when she disappears again among the other dancers. She can continue dancing until Sunday.
Talk show at Omroep Brabant
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Omroep Brabant broadcasts a live talk show about Breda Jazz on the web, app and TV. Every day Eefke Boelhouwers reviews it with nice atmospheric images and interesting guests. The broadcast starts at 9.30 pm and lasts until 10 pm.