The young guard offers a musical adventure during North Sea Jazz

One of the most intimate and magical performances of the 43rd North Sea Jazz was Moses Sumney, 28 years old. The mysterious American singer sang the third day of the festival from effects devices, gave his rarefied falsetto a different timbre and let his high voices be reflected in loops. Sumney sang intensely, full of drama and emotion, in a dark Darling room, and her superimposed compositions were enchanting, catchy, and exciting.

Now the Darling Room was already the place where this sunny edition of North Sea Jazz three days you could find musical adventure for a long time. Friday with the dazzling French-Cuban sisters of Ibeyi and the intelligent spiritual soul music of Moonchild. On Saturday, a large group of young British urban jazz artists with compositions brimming with Caribbean influences, beat London beat and afrobeat. And next to Moses Sumney Sunday, also with the Flemish rapper Coely and the international Sevdaliza of Rotterdam.

Last weekend was a bloody edition of the jazz festival, where 25,000 people were constantly in motion, the cool of the fans sank through the corridors, so as not to miss the headliners or promise. This led to rooms that were quickly drained after the start of a performance, which were so full that security personnel were pointing the audience with signposts to other stages, and long lines. waiting everywhere

on-rehearsal, like Nile Rodgers & Chic, guitarist Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove and Earth, Wind & Fire. They clearly felt comfortable at the festival and made their turn again, without surprises or experience. So it was the announced concert of "The Roots & Friends", with the exception of a few appearances as a guest, after all the show we know of the hip-hop band that was a fixed value at North Sea Jazz for years. Known elements came back: a remake of 'Sweet Child O'. Mine & # 39; virtuosic solos on beat machines, tubes of You Got Me, infamous raps of masterful MC Black Thought and a catchy groove.

Chaka Khan, who had been scheduled regularly at the festival, provided a packed hall on Sunday, but only on the quality it is a mystery why he is asked again and again. She has not lost her original strength and purity for years and has made a routine, exhausted impression, where her supporting choir has had to take care of the real shots, and the Metropole Orchestra has reinforced the melodies in his tubes at the expense of the original groove.

again provided a crowded room, but for years it has not regained its original strength and purity. Photo Andreas Terlaak

Better than the French-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf who, in turn, jumped, pumping and pumping with a fist in the air, the Belgian orchestra of 64 musicians Casco Phil and the audience. The result sounded like a magic orchestra afrobeat, propelled by percussion and measured shots of dozens of bows at a time. Angélique Kidjo, the Benedictine diva of Afropop, sang the story of the Queen of Sheba in seven powerful compositions

The damning project of Maalouf and Kidjo was one of the themes of the day. a theme that North Sea Jazz has given this weekend: that of African and Afro-Caribbean musical culture. There was Sunday salsa by Rubén Blades, and Afro-Cuban jazz by Harold López-Nussa and Ramón Valle. The artist-in-residence Michael League has also joined this trend with his trio with drummer Antonio Sánchez and Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez. He gave a glowing world premiere of his project "Elipsis", with Yoruba rhythms and strident vocals from West Africa as the basis for full percussion experiments. His group Bokanté on Sunday with weak vocal less pronounced, despite the three virtuosos of African strings that helped League in his quest for the blues. Acquired over the last three days, the league did not show itself very impressive on Friday with its own Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orchestra – its artistic interpretation was not very adventurous.

Some artists have already got a standing ovation just by walking on stage. Jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (77) is neither young nor flamboyant and often has to sit during his concert. But with his spiritual jazz, he knew how to captivate the attention of the audience and the viewer.

Read also the Michael League interview: "Give me a blank canvas and I'll go"

Jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (77) often had to sit down during his concert. But he took care of the public with his spiritual jazz. Photo Andreas Terlaak

Impressive Jett Rebel

The North Sea Jazz traditionally featured soul music of all colors and sizes, legends of the O Jays who were in the Netherlands for the first time elegant soul show by Leon Bridges with his voice influenced by the great men of the classic soul. Deva Mahal, the daughter of Taj Mahal, with her powerful voice, colored by the history of blues, soul and gospel, supported, among other things, by a sucking organ and a guitarist who wove dances of reggae here and there. Aloe Blacc, who has skillfully taken the audience, and also built in a reggae block, "because reggae is soul music for me too". And Maxwell, who gave a sympathetic and harmonious show, with a pristine white singer who huddled with ladies in the audience and gave them a pillow and said how much he loved everyone.

The song "You Do not Know" by Leon Bridges.

Among the stars of the pophead are the performances of Jett Rebel, who impressed with his subtle and powerful vocal adaptation. from Whitney Houstons 'I Have Nothing', and Anderson .Paak, the best of his skin when he was sitting behind his drums, rap and singing came up in the music and his band did well at the Steam, including a beautiful sifted performance of "The Bird" and a surprise performance by Cee Lo Green, who was on the festival's program on Sunday.

The culmination of the jazz route was, of course, in the Darling Room. There, saxophonist and stage mentor Shabaka Hutchings closed the British urban jazz program with his Sons of Kemet. Supported by tuba player Theon Cross and two drummers, he danced the hall in a hard groove adventure along with Afrobeat and London jazz.