Jasper Blom & Ben van Gelder: Crosswords

Jasper Blom and Ben van Gelder bring CROSSWORDS to LantarenVenster: a new quintet built around two of the Netherlands’ leading saxophonists. Alto saxophonist Van Gelder and tenor saxophonist Blom create transparent jazz without a chord instrument, giving the horns, bass and drums plenty of room to breathe.

The music moves between Van Gelder’s lyrical, vertical compositions and Blom’s more exploratory pieces. Van Gelder is known for his personal approach to the alto saxophone and his connection to the New York jazz scene. Blom won the Boy Edgar Prize in 2019, while his recent work with the Metropole Orkest was named Pick of the Week by DownBeat.

The quintet is completed by three musicians with strong individual voices. Trumpeter Hermon Mehari brings together American jazz and Eritrean influences, bassist Phil Donkin has worked across London, New York and Berlin, and drummer Wouter Kühne is one of the most in-demand young drummers in the Dutch jazz scene.

Expect elegant interplay, open compositions and plenty of space for musical conversation. Proper saxophone business, basically. 🎷

Details
Event: Jasper Blom & Ben van Gelder: CROSSWORDS
Date: Saturday 5 September 2026
Start: 20:30
Location: LantarenVenster, Rotterdam
Address: Otto Reuchlinweg 996
Tickets: €19, including €3 service costs
Seating: Seated concert, free seating
Music: Jazz

Line-up
Ben van Gelder, alto saxophone
Jasper Blom, tenor saxophone
Hermon Mehari, trumpet
Phil Donkin, double bass
Wouter Kühne, drums