Club Concert | Martin Fondse & Jawa Manla: Kitchen Stories

Martin Fondse (1967) is a pianist, composer and arranger who does not conform to box-ticking. For Fondse, there are no strict boundaries between styles such as classical, jazz and world music; he blends them all effortlessly.

Martin collaborates with a variety of inspiring musicians in different ensembles: with his own orchestra, small groups, duos and solo. In 2022 and 2023, he held the position of Composer Laureate, ambassador of Dutch composed music. He won the Boy Edgar Award in 2017, the biggest jazz award in the Netherlands. He has performed with, among others, Pat Metheny, Peter Erskine, and George Duke.

Martin has been working with the Syrian-born oud player and singer Jawa Manla for a long time. Together they performed in the acclaimed production Stille Nacht am Silbersee, a musical pilgrimage with actress Ariane Schluter. More recently, the Arabic maqams (scales) of Jawa and the Western harmonies of Martin met in the programme Neo Roots. Two authentic and curious musicians, delivering a dynamic musical exchange.

In Kitchen Stories, the kitchen is brought to life, searching for personal stories. The scent of your grandmother’s olives, freshly chopped parsley from your childhood kitchen. Flavours and memories are transformed into music: the perfect recipe to stimulate the senses. A culinary and musical dialogue.

Cast:
Martin Fondse – piano, electronics, vibrandoneon
Jawa Manla – oud, vocals
Modar Salama – percussion