Jasper Somsen Invites ...
Tuurlijk, ook in 2027 gaan we weer door met de Jasper Somsen Invites … concerten. Zoals altijd zal Jasper collega jazzmuzikanten uitnodigen om samen een bijzondere avond voor ons te verzorgen. Deze concerten organiseert Jazz in Wageningen samen met Visum Mundi aan het vrijheidskwartier. En natuurlijk in nauwe samenwerking met Jasper zelf.
Visum Mundi tovert de oude receptie ruimte van de aula om in een gezellige jazzclub! Een perfecte plek dus!
Voor de vaste liefhebbers én mensen die graag laagdrempelig eens de beste jazz uit Nederland willen beleven zijn de Jasper Somsen invites … concerten de ideale plek.
Improvisational jazz music
The successful concert series by the Wageningen-based double bassist, composer, and producer has been running for over ten years and has become an indispensable part of Wageningen's rich arts and culture program. The formula is as unique as it is simple. Jasper invites one or two fellow musicians. These can be established names or up-and-coming (international) talents. Then, for one evening, they dive into each other's music. The special combination of instruments (deviating from their usual lineup) ensures that something truly special is created on stage every time! In short, pull jazz musicians out of their comfort zone, sit on the edge of your seat… and enjoy!
On Thursday, February 18, 2027, Jasper welcomes two experienced Dutch artists: singer Josee Koning and pianist Hans Vroomans. Prepare yourself for a Brazilian atmosphere!
Josee Koning
Josee Koning is perhaps the most Brazilian singer in the Netherlands. Koning introduced Brazilian music to the Netherlands in the 1980s with the legendary band Batida. Since then, she has been the leading lady of Brazilian music in the Netherlands. Throughout her international career, she consistently creates unique crossovers between jazz, Brazilian, and Dutch-language music. In doing so, jazz forms the foundation of her musical craftsmanship.
Expressive, velvety voice
Josee has released fourteen albums and is renowned for her velvety, expressive voice. She has performed on countless stages and festivals in Europe and Brazil and has worked with Brazilian greats such as Ivan Lins, João Bosco, Dori Caymmi, and the Orchestra Jazz Sinfônica from São Paulo. Her latest album, Doce Presença Live in Amsterdam (2026), is a beautiful recording of a special concert held in June 2024 at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam, featuring Ivan Lins as a special guest. It features tracks from the studio album Doce Presença (2024), produced by Ivan Lins, who describes it as “delicate, intimate, melodic, soft, lovely and peaceful, with the true bossa nova atmosphere”. In 2026, Josee presents the program 60 Years of Brasil ’66 – the Music of Sergio Mendes, with singer Egle Petrosiute, pianist Hans Vroomans, drummer Yorán Vroom, and bassist Matheus Nicolaiewsky.
Hans Vroomans
Hans Vroomans, born in The Hague, discovered the piano at the age of four. From the age of nine, he studied classical piano and later jazz, pop, and world music at the conservatories of The Hague and Rotterdam. His further studies took him to New York, where he lived for five years. An offer to become principal pianist at the Metropole Orchestra led him to decide to return to the Netherlands. With this leading, Grammy Award-winning orchestra, he moves through all possible styles: pop, jazz, film music, and world music. He has shared the stage and made recordings with an endless list of artists, including some of the biggest names in the music world: Vince Mendoza, John Scofield, Bob Brookmeyer, Kurt Elling, Ivan Lins, Lalah Hathaway, etc.
Laura Fygi, Trijntje Oosterhuis
Outside of the orchestra, he has toured internationally and frequently performed with Dutch singers such as Laura Fygi and Trijntje Oosterhuis. Hans is also a regular guest with German radio big bands such as the WDR Big Band in Cologne and the HR Big Band in Frankfurt. With the NDR Big Band from Hamburg, he was part of Al Jarreau's final European tour in 2016, during which he performed music by Duke Ellington. He has recorded several trio CDs and a solo piano album, and is currently working on a new trio album featuring Brazilian music. He is a permanent member of Klaro!, a quartet with saxophonist Karolina Strassmayer and drummer Drori Mondlak, with whom he has toured Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria.
Hans has been affiliated with the jazz department of the Amsterdam Conservatory since 2001.
Jasper Somsen
The namesake and driving force behind the Jasper Somsen invites … series is Wageningen-based double bassist, composer, and producer Jasper Somsen. He is a versatile musician with an open mind. He is primarily known as a jazz musician, but his interests and expertise also encompass classical music, pop, world music, film music, and theater productions.
Jasper Somsen has collaborated with some of the best musicians in the international jazz scene, including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi, and Paolo Fresu.
Edison World/Jazz Award
In 2020, Jasper won the Edison World/Jazz Award with the band of Portuguese singer Maria Mendes. This was followed by four Grammy nominations with the same band. Jasper performs worldwide and can be heard on approximately 60 albums, video and film music productions. In addition to his busy schedule as a musician and studio producer, he is a lecturer at the ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem.
Tickets concert
Just like the previous Jasper Somsen Invites …, this concert also starts at 20:30 (two sets, with a break).
Nog even wachten
You can order your ticket for this edition of Jasper Somsen Invites ... in Visum Mundi with Josee Koning and Hans Vroomans here (at Jazz in Wageningen) soon.
Location
The Jasper Somsen invites… series is organized by Jazz in Wageningen in collaboration with Visum Mundi. The concerts will take place in the historic monumental building (the auditorium) of Visum Mundi in the freedom district.
Address: Generaal Foulkesweg 1, 6703 BG Wageningen
Check for route and parking options for Visum Mundi on Google Maps.
Fonds Podiumkunsten
The concerts off Jazz in Wageningen are made possible by the Fonds PodiumKunsten.
