Kika Sprangers (NL)

The music of saxophonist and composer Kika Sprangers (°1994) balances on a fine line between vulnerability and strength. A vision to combine the two, shared musically through a love for unorthodox instrumentation and tension arcs meant for symphonic passages or a heavy silence. Her quintet album Mind’s Eye (2022) is an ode to imagination.

In the Netherlands, Kika is long recognized as one of the finest young talents in contemporary jazz, receiving numerous awards for her work as a composer and bandleader. She was awarded the Rogier van Otterloo Award 2021 (by the Metropole Orchestra) as an upcoming composer and did a 2-year artist-in-residence program at TivoliVredenburg Utrecht. In this trajectory (supported by the Dutch fund for Performing Arts) Kika recorded new music with her Large Ensemble and in duo with harp player Remy van Kesteren, guitarist Mikkel Ploug and pianist Kit Downes. These recordings will be released in 2024.

“Kika Sprangers tells a story like only the utmost promising artists can.” – Volkskrant ★★★★

“An enchantingly beautiful concert” – NRC Handelsblad ★★★★★

“Musical adventurer Kika Sprangers is showing strong growth and maturity as a musician” – All About Jazz

“With the album Mind’s Eye Sprangers stands out again with the beautiful balance between the carefully invented arrangements and the fairly and well-deserved confidence she has in her band members.” – TROUW ★★★★

“Kika Sprangers is not only an exceptional composer, as well as an instrumentalist with great lyrical qualities. – Jazzthetik ★★★★★