Kika Sprangers (NL)

From profound stillness to orchestral power: this is the much-acclaimed palette of saxophonist and composer Kika Sprangers (Nijmegen, 1994). Listening to Sprangers is like looking at a Rothko painting: hidden within her musical swathes of colour are undercurrents that unconsciously draw the audience in. With her distinctive, melodious and dark saxophone sound, Sprangers is a leading voice on the Dutch jazz scene. That status was underlined in 2025 when she won an Edison Jazz National Award for the album (In)finity.

In Kika’s quest for what makes us human, her new project river, river (2026) is her most personal work to date. Her new music reflects the river as a metaphor for humanity and the course of life: how it develops, flows, goes its own way, meanders or swirls violently. Kika grew up by the river and can relate to this metaphor. The concert series celebrates the release of the eponymous album, which the band recorded at Wisseloord Studios with producer Mete Erker and sound engineer Ted Masseurs. Together with her band members Anna Serierse, Koen Schalkwijk, William Barrett and Wouter Kühne, she creates a soundscape that transports, overwhelms and moves you. Anna Serierse’s mostly wordless vocals blend effortlessly with Kika’s saxophone sound. On this new album, the band members play together effortlessly in an emotional interplay full of intention. The band has a strong collective sound that envelops you as a listener. Live, the music comes to life through adventurous ensemble playing and improvisations.