Millennium Jazz Orchestra & Izaline Calister - Poëtisch Water

On Sunday, 23 March, the Millennium Jazz Orchestra will join forces with vocalist Izaline Calister to present the captivating programme Poëtisch Water, which translates to Poetic Water. This immersive musical experience blends jazz, poetry, and visual art, centred around the theme of water. The powerful combination of multilingual poetry, visual storytelling, and jazz-infused music enriched with improvisation makes this a memorable and moving experience.

A Story of Water, Told Through Music and Visuals

Composer and arranger Joan Reinders has set a collection of water-themed poems to music, performed by the charismatic Izaline Calister. For this special programme, the MJO will be joined by the talented harpist Sanne Bakker. In collaboration with De Stad Verbeeldt in Zwolle, the performance will feature visual projections created by photographer Boukje Venema and visual artist Wendy Eggen, inspired by the poems and music.

A Diverse Musical Palette

Reinders' compositions range from jazz and modern classical to warm ballads and vibrant Latin jazz, with room for improvisation. Izaline Calister’s warm voice blends seamlessly with the MJO’s rich musical palette, having collaborated with the orchestra on previous projects. Calister’s engaging stage presence allows her to captivate audiences effortlessly — sometimes tender, sometimes lively.

Harpist Sanne Bakker plays a prominent role in the performance. Reinders explains: "The sound of the harp pairs beautifully with the theme of water, allowing us to create both exciting and subtle dynamic contrasts."

Poetry as the Heart of the Performance

“Our starting point was poetry with water as its theme,” explains Reinders. “As a composer, you are bound by the rhythm of the text.” Together with Izaline Calister, he selected poems in Dutch, English, and Papiamento. Izaline, who was born and raised in Curaçao, embraces poetry with natural cadence: "There’s music in the sea, the rivers, and the rain. Being mindful of water is the common thread."

The programme features fourteen pieces, including two instrumental works. Reinders has composed eight new pieces himself and arranged several of Izaline’s water-themed songs for this project. Among the chosen poems are works by Jan Terlouw, Gerrit Komrij, Hendrik Marsman, Emily Dickinson, and Astrid Roemer. Additionally, Zwolle’s city poet Bauke Vermaas contributed a specially written poem titled ‘De Uiterwaarden’ (The Floodplains).

Visual Art Enriching the Narrative

To enhance the storytelling experience, the MJO has collaborated with De Stad Verbeeldt to create a visual counterpart to the music. Conceptual photographer Boukje Venema produced a series of images inspired by the poems and music, which were then transformed by visual artist Wendy Eggen into captivating visual projections. Reinders adds: "Language, imagery, and sound combine beautifully in this programme, each enhancing the other." These visuals will be displayed on a large screen during the concert.

With its diverse language elements, rich musical tapestry, and stunning visuals, Poëtisch Water promises to be a moving and memorable experience for all audiences.

Line-up

Joan Reinders - compositions, arrangements, and musical direction
Izaline Calister - vocals
Sanne Bakker - harp

Saxophone Section

Gerlo Hesselink - alto saxophone 1 (lead), soprano saxophone, flute
Rob Sijben - alto saxophone 2, soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute
Joao Driessen - tenor saxophone 1, soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute
Luuk de Vries - tenor saxophone 2, clarinet, flute
Vincent Klep - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet

Trumpet Section

Bas Konings - trumpet 1 (lead), flugelhorn
Peter van Soest - trumpet 2, flugelhorn
Rémi Keupink - trumpet 3, flugelhorn
Herman Nijkamp - trumpet 4, flugelhorn
Anne-Marie ten Heggeler - trumpet 5, flugelhorn

Trombone Section

Gregor Sperzel - trombone 1 (lead)
Simon Pugsley - trombone 2
Jan Peter van der Hoeve - trombone 3
Lars de Bie - bass trombone, bass tuba

Rhythm Section

Dirk Balthaus - piano
Bart Tarenskeen - double bass
Felix Schlarmann - drums

Sound Engineer

Chris Weeda