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Saturday, December 20th, 2025, 5:00 PM – House of Hard Bop. In this 4th and final broadcast dedicated to Phil Woods, we hear him and his quintet in a series of standards recorded in 2002. Recording standards had never really occurred in his impressive recording career. He preferred to give forgotten “gems” a new life. But now—he is just over 70—he focuses on arranging and performing a dozen “classics.” The result is The Phil Woods Quintet – American Songbook. Apparently, it was well received—five years later, American Songbook II would see the light of day. The 2002 edition has since been called American Songbook I. “It’s an understatement to say that Phil Woods was one of the greatest jazz alto saxophone players to ever set foot on this planet.” (Quincy Jones) Lineup Brian Lynch – trumpet Bill Charlap – piano. His 8th recording with Woods. Steve Gilmore – bass. Woods’ bassist for over 25 years. Bill Goodwin – drums. Regular drummer with Woods since 1976. 1 A Foggy Day (George Gershwin) 2 All the Things You Are (Jerome Kern) 3 I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Cole Porter) 4 When the Sun Comes Out (Harold Arlen) 5 I Concentrate on You (Cole Porter) 6 Summertime (George Gershwin) 7 Everytime We Say Goodbye (Cole Porter) 8 Right as the Rain (Harold Arlen) Summertime The intro takes its time. Gershwin’s two parallel, atmospheric chords are repeated instrumentally in a building manner: piano solo, piano + bass, the drummer gently joining in. The repeating rhythmic motif, “soft Latin,” draws the listener in. That rhythm is a constant, especially in the bass. Woods’ clarinet joins in, also as an intro motif. Only then does the familiar melody sound through the muted trumpet. Don’t miss the opening bars of the piano solo—”Gershwin,” but Charlap-esque. The closing bars, after the theme’s reprise, receive as much time and attention as the intro. And what do we hear there in trumpet and clarinet? Exactly, a quotation from another Gershwin composition, “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” Could the meaning of that title refer to the arrangement just finished? Because Phil Woods could, of course, also make something completely different of it? Colorful sounds from the pianist in this fading phase. Dreamy… Floating… Arrangements The arrangement of “Summertime” clearly has its own signature. Does that also apply to the other pieces? Is there a difference in complexity (and quality)? You can also focus your listening on that. But maybe you’re already doing that. House of Hard Bop – Eric Ineke Klik for the Guide Klik for the 1st broadcast. Klik for the corresponding News Item. Klik for the 2nd broadcast. Klik for the corresponding News Item. Klik for the 3rd broadcast.   Feedback sturen

Pocket Concerts (15)  Fay Claassen—one of the Netherlands’ most celebrated jazz voices—collaborates with pianist Karel Boehlee, guitarist Peter Tiehuis, and bassist Theo de Jong on their latest album, Soulprint. Released in late 2025, the album features a deeply personal collection of original compositions, blending jazz, soulful grooves, and atmospheric songwriting. With her characteristically warm, expressive voice, Fay takes the listener on a musical journey full of poetry and subtle improvisation. Throughout her career, she has won several prestigious awards, including four Edison Jazz Awards, the Chet Baker Award, and a gold record. Together with her brilliant band, she delivers music that is timeless, sincere, and unmistakably Fay Claassen. Pocket Concerts is made possible by World of Jazz, injazz, the Netherlands Jazz Archive, Buma Cultuur, and Podiumkunst.net.

Saturday, December 13th, 2025, 6:00 PM – Vocal Jazz. Jazz singer and programme maker Ineke Heijliger fills her final broadcast of the year with songs “that were still on the shelf.” She switches between America and the Netherlands, and thus between English, Dutch, and… Yiddish! Interest and quality are—as always in Vocal Jazz—the constant factors within a wide range of styles. Mirjam van Dam This vocalist (born 1970, pictured) works in many rooms of the music and theatre building. After studying at the Academy of Cabaret and the conservatories of Hilversum, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, she is active in the genres of jazz, pop, chanson, cabaret, and musical theater. Three pieces from her album Yiddish Jazz (2023). 1. Tey Far Tsvey is the “cozy” opening. The title may not ring a bell, but after a few bars it’s clear which standard it is. The Latin-dance opening shifts to swing after the first chorus, with Yiddish replaced by English. 2. Ovntlid (Evening Song) crosses the jazz boundary. It’s a Yiddish verse song. Melancholy in a minor key. “Quiet evening, dark gold, I sit with a glass of wine…” 3. Who’s Yehoodi is the positive, cheerful conclusion to this section. —————————- Kenny Barron Newly released is the album “Songbook” by 82-year-old pianist Kenny Barron. The cover features his name and the title. The fact that several vocalists are featured is not mentioned. It’s Barron’s first recording with singers. “Illusion” creates a sharp contrast with Van Dam’s previous piece. Its extremely slow tempo and meditative atmosphere are the main features. The singer is Cameroonian-American Ekep Nkwelle. “Minor Blues Redux” is indeed a blues in a minor key. Faster tempo – sung by American Catherine Russell (born 1956). Spacious piano solo in the middle section. ————————————— And also: Gerlo Hesselink Quartet/Flora de Geus Two pieces from the album Meant for You 2, released in 2024: Boom (Boom) and Geluk, nog meer Geluk (Happiness, even more Happiness). Singer Flora de Geus sings without lyrics. Lyric-less singing, using the voice as a wind instrument – we already find it in 19th-century classical music. Continued in the 20th century. And in jazz: Nelly Frijda with Boys Big Band (composed), and scat (improvisation). Prepare to be surprised! —————————————- Mirjam van Dam She opened this program, and she also closes it; after Yiddish and English, in a third language. Does Dutch-language vocal jazz exist? Absolutely. Think of Rita Reys, “Sun in Scheveningen”: “Ice cream, soda, tonic / In a lounge chair I sunbathe / on the beach.” (YouTube) Mirjam van Dam – 187 Dutch songs! Waltz in the Night, a delightfully rotating three-quarter time. CD Luister Eens, swinging Dutch songs – with composer/pianist Lex Jasper. Full programme and line-ups in the Programme Guide . Vocal Jazz – Ineke Heijliger

Saturday, December 6th, 2025, 8:00 PM – Behind the Dikes. For altoist Piet Noordijk, Charlie Parker was the undisputed number one. But Parker had to share that place of honor with… Frank Sinatra! Volkskrant journalist Frank van Herk certainly didn’t anticipate that comparison in his 1997 interview with Noordijk. Noordijk: “What is number one in jazz music? Timing, exactly. There are very few jazz musicians with Frank Sinatra’s timing.” After studying clarinet at the Rotterdam Conservatory in the 1950s, which he completed with honors, Noordijk played in nightclubs and the Hilversum broadcasting studios, among other places. He is lead altoist with orchestras such as the Skymasters, the Metropole Orchestra, and the Boy’s Big Band. In the mid-1960s, he fronted the renowned Misha Mengelberg/Piet Noordijk Quartet, which became one of the most talked-about combos in Dutch jazz history. He played with some of the greatest Americans: Ben Webster, Nina Simone, Dexter Gordon, and Wynton Marsalis. The string of collaborations is endless, the list of albums and CD recordings infinite. A comprehensive article about the Mengelberg/Noordijk Quartet, written by Ben Zwanink (also the author of this News Report), appeared in Jazz Bulletin magazine. From it, the following quote about Noordijk: “Piet is an over-energetic, high-voltage bop alto player with an unerring intuition for constructing long solos. His musical flow of ideas can be traced back to a familiar bebop source, but this never leads to a string of standardized formulas. Speaking a dynamic musical language, he always tells his own story, never the same thing twice.” Playlist: Album: A Tribute To Rogier I Remember Rogier Why Do I Love You Piet Salto Album: New Quintet What Is This Thing Called Love Goodbye Frankie And Johnny Album: Pete’s Groove Pete’s Groove Pete’s Hit In 2007, alto saxophonist Piet Noordijk celebrated both his seventy-fifth and sixtieth birthdays at the BIMhuis in Amsterdam. Noordijk celebrated this joyous occasion with his bands Pete’s Groove, the Misha Mengelberg/Piet Noordijk Quartet, and the Piet Noordijk Boptet. Top Dutch jazz musicians, including Jack van Poll, Martijn van Iterson, Misha Mengelberg, Ruud Jacobs, Han Bennink, and Rik Mol, joined him on stage. (AD) Album: Jubilee concert: Live at the Bimhuis Amsterdam Ballad Medley (Mona Lisa – You Don’t Know What Love Is – But Beautiful – Embraceable You) ———————————————— For more information, see De Gids. This is the second—and final—programme about Piet Noordijk. Klik for the first programme. Behind the Dikes – Hajé Nordbeck