North Sea Jazz is one of the world’s largest jazz festivals. This weekend jazz lovers can indulge in their favourite music at the 34th edition of the festival in the southern Dutch port of Rotterdam. For many jazz musicians playing here is a dream come true.

All the big names are coming to Rotterdam: international stars like George Benson, Burt Bacharach, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock and Toots Thielemans.

And brilliant Dutch musicians like Piet Noordijk, Candy Dulfer, the Metropole Orchestra and Michiel Borstlap.

This is just a selection, as alongside the big names, there are less well-know jazz musicians playing. Even music students are welcome. For instance, the Conservatory of Amsterdam has put together a 20-strong jazz orchestra. They are due to play at the entrance of the Ahoy complex in Rotterdam on Sunday afternoon.

A dream come true
"It is special for a student to be taking part in the North Sea Jazz Festival," says alt saxophonist Jonas. Drummer Felix agrees. "It is kind of a dream come true for a student to be allowed to play. The conservatory does not play at the festival every year. I have just graduated. That way the first time you play here is as a student and hopefully, maybe, one day, you return under your own name. But that is an even bigger dream."

Every day this week, the students were busy rehearsing. They play music that can easily be called historic: numbers from the Porgy and Bess album with legendary trumpet player Miles Davis, with the original arrangements by Gil Evans. It is particularly difficult material. Jazz tutor Justin DiCioccio from New York has come over specially to coach the band.

"I want to make music at the highest possible level. This music is monumental and they can learn a lot about what music is about. Of course it is a brilliant experience for them to play at an internationally renowned festival. They have to put their best foot forward and aim for the highest level. Music is about emotions and feelings. Everything has to feel like a groove."

Listen to part of the rehearsal

Soak up the atmosphere!
Porgy and Bess is special for Ruud Breuls too. He plays the trumpet and flugelhorn solos. The first time he played at North Sea Jazz was in 1985. What would he say to the young musicians?

"Soak up the atmosphere! For them that is the most difficult thing. Everyone can play anything technically. But what you share with the audience are the nuances and emotions. If they get your vibes, you will feel theirs. There are definitely talented musicians in the Netherlands that can do that and I am very proud of them. Nevertheless, people have to get a feeling for details. That is the best thing in the end."

It is not a problem for the students that band leader Justin DiCioccio works so hard on the arrangements. Every time they are motivated to work with the intricate rhythms and complex harmonies. They already performed the arrangements in May and then all went well. But this time it is different, says one of the trumpet players, it is a famous festival. And who knows, maybe they will be ‘discovered’.

"Of course you never know which artists are passing by. We are playing fairly early on Sunday, at the entrance. That is probably when all the big names arrive. So I hope, if all goes well, that is when they happen to hear us."

North Sea Jazz Festival