account
basket
Challenge Records Int. Logo
"I see my life in terms of music." - Albert Einstein

Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw

The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (JOC) – the Netherlands’ best big band with the most swing, according to many – was founded in 1996 by Henk Meutgeert and others as the New Concert Big Band. Since 1999, on the initiative of then-Concertgebouw managing director Martijn Sanders, it has proudly borne the name of Het Koninklijk Concertgebouw ['The Royal Concert Hall'].

The JOC performs worldwide with jazz greats the likes of Benny Golson and Oleta Adams and talented young blood, with José James, Christian Scott and Ruben Hein among the pool. The JOC connects with its audiences, whether in large or smaller settings and makes jazz, in the broadest sense of the word, accessible to audiences of all ages and expectations. Through its shows abroad, the JOC manages to bring Dutch jazz far afield and to the stages of famous concert halls. Approximately 35,000 visitors are drawn to the JOC's concerts each year.
 

Principal conductor Dennis Mackrel

As of November 2015, the JOC is led by principal conductor Dennis Mackrel (1962). Mackrel started his professional career at the age of ten and at twenty became the Count Basie band’s youngest ever drummer. Mackrel played with orchestras such as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Carla Bley Very Large Band and the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band. He grew from sideman to bandleader in his many partnerships with European orchestras such as the UMO big band from Helsinki (Finland) and the WDR big band from Cologne (Germany). In 2010 he returned to the Count Basie Orchestra as bandleader, where he remained until 2013.

The partnership with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw dates back to 2004, when he made several appearances as a drummer. Starting in 2014, Mackrel conducted the orchestra on numerous occasions, including in the historical main hall of the Concertgebouw.
 

Talent development

As pioneers in the Dutch jazz scene, the JOC has initiated two projects for top talent in (jazz) music: Rhythm Changes and the Arrangers project. Over the course of these projects, young talent got given the opportunity to experience large(r) stages in a professional environment. These projects bring new life and new music to the big band genre and build bridges between the generations on stage as well as reach out to audiences.
 

Line-Up: Juan Martinez artistiek leider, Dennis Mackrel chef-dirigent, Rob Horsting dirigent/chef arrangeur Saxen: Joris Roelofs (lead), Jorg Kaaij, Simon Rigter, Sjoerd Dijkhuizen, Juan Martinez Trompetten: Jelle Schouten (lead), Wim Both, Jan van Duikeren, Ruud Breuls Trombones: Jan Oosting (lead), Ilja Reijngoud, Bert Boeren, Martin van den Berg Piano: Peter Beets, gitaar: Martijn van Iterson, bas: Frans van Geest, drums: Marcel Serierse, Martijn Vink  

Featured on

Threnody (double-vinyl)
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
Threnody
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
The Jazz Influencers
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
Crossroads (double vinyl)
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
Crossroads
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
I Didn't Know What Time it Was
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw & Dr. Lonnie Smith
I Didn't Know What Time it Was (vinyl)
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw & Dr. Lonnie Smith
Scribblin'
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw feat. Jan van Duikeren
Tribute to Ray Charles
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw / Madeline Bell
Blues for the Date
Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw / Peter Beets

Videos

Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw ft Madeline Bell - Unchain My Heart
Para Poli by Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw
Shortcut from the album Crossroads by the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw