Kika Sprangers Quintet – river, river

From deep stillness to orchestral power: the sonic palette of saxophonist and composer Kika Sprangers is large and inclusive. In her new music, the river becomes a metaphor for a human being and a life cycle: how it develops, streams, finds its own way, meanders and swirls. For Kika this is an especially personal subject: she was born in Nijmegen and grew up near the river. This concert celebrates the release of her new album river, river on DOX Records.

With her distinct, melodic and dark saxophone sound, Kika Sprangers is a leading voice in the Dutch jazz scene. In 2025 she won a prestigious Edison award for her album (In)finity. On river, river she collaborates with her band to create a sonic world that captivates, overwhelms and moves the listener. The predominantly wordless vocals by Anna Serierse fuse seamlessly with Kika’s saxophone sound. Pianist Koen Schalkwijk, double bassist William Barrettand drummer Wouter Kühne complete the quintet.

‘Her style automatically draws you in and is deceptively simple, but never unpredictable’ (NRC on Kika Sprangers).