NightCats BigBand

4+ (group) performers

Indoor and outdoor

Orchestra

2 hours

12 x 6 meters

NL

THE NIGHTCATS BIG BAND DUTCH SONGBOOK!
From the American Songbook to the Dutch Songbook!

The NightCats Big Band has embarked on a musical journey that is not only surprising but also groundbreaking for the Dutch jazz scene. Almost everyone is familiar with the American Songbook, the collection of iconic American songs that inspire jazz musicians worldwide. But what happens when you apply these concepts to the rich tradition of Dutch music?
The NightCats Big Band hosts a Special Guest every year, and gigs with Bert Boeren and Michael Varekamp raised the question: Is Dutch (language) music suitable for jazz? And more importantly: are there high-quality songs among them that have the potential to become jazz standards?
In their search for answers, the big band delved into the archives and discovered a treasure trove of untapped possibilities. Musical director Patrick Schmidt set to work and adapted existing Dutch classics into new, exciting big band arrangements.
In addition, the band collaborated with leading arrangers such as Henk Meutgeert (Metropole Orchestra, Skymasters, The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw), Rob Horsting (The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, the Marine Band, the Air Force Band), and Daan Bogers (BOSCO), who also contributed to the project with fantastic arrangements for the NightCats BigBand Dutch Songbook.
The result? An astonishingly interesting, exciting, and challenging program. The repertoire consists partly of Dutch-language classics, which take on a new dimension thanks to refreshing jazz arrangements.
We now have a special program on the music stand, including a jazzy version of Jacques Brel’s “La Chanson Des Vieux Amants,” better known in the Netherlands as “Liefde Voor Later” by Herman van Veen.
And in addition to a Dutch-language version of “Fly Me to the Moon,” we’ll also be performing jazzy versions of true Dutch gems such as “Meisjes Van Dertien,” “Aan De Amsterdamse Grachten,” and “Is Dit Alles.” And how about beautiful songs like Wim Sonneveld’s “Burgemeester Beekmanlaan” and Rita Reys’ “Zon In Scheveningen”? And a beautifully arranged “Het Voelt Zo Goed”—an interpretation of “Feelin’ Good,” made famous by Nina Simone and many others.
With the “NightCats BigBand Dutch Songbook!”, we’re taking a major step toward rediscovering Dutch music—all within the context of jazz. It’s a program that not only breathes new life into Dutch songs but also pushes the boundaries of the genre.
Of course, we’d love to perform our program multiple times. Has this piqued your interest? Submit a request.

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