BIMHUIS TV Presents: Loek van den Berg Quintet

Close-knit, melodically focused band led by young, prize-winning saxophonist. Loek van den Berg saxophones, Nathan Surquin trombone, Aseo Friesacher piano, Cas Jiskoot bass, Martin Hafizi drums Saxophonist Loek van den Berg stirs the imagination with his narrative, layered compositions. While staying focused on the melody, his band members have all the room the improvise and explore the gritty edges. Seafarer, the second album by the quintet, exudes this spontaneous character. It shows how close the members have become as the result of international tours with concerts in, among others, Spain, Turkey and India. In September 2023, Loek van den Berg and his band won the Edison award in the category Jazz Newcomer National, for their debut album Wayfarer. With the title song of that album, the band leader won the award for best composition in the Dutch Jazz Competition of 2022. In the summer before that, the band reached second place in the Getxo International Jazz Competition, and in 2019 Loek won the Erasmus Jazz Prize. ‘A thoughtful player with a round, melodic sound… beautiful imaginative compositions that have the wind in their sails’ (NRC). Video: Ramon Lights: Audio: