WAAN

A fresh look at the future of jazz

WAAN belongs to a new generation of bands that effortlessly connects jazz with the energy of electronics, improvisation, and contemporary grooves. The quartet centered around saxophonist Bart Wirtz and keyboardist Emiel van Rijthoven, joined by bassist Matteo Mazzú and drummer Mark Schilders, creates a distinctive sound in which danceable rhythms, layered electronics, and free improvisation naturally come together.

With producer Oscar de Jong (Kraak & Smaak), WAAN impressed with their debut album Echo Echo (2023), which garnered rave reviews, two Edison Jazz nominations, and airplay on international stations, including Jamie Cullum’s BBC programs. The band subsequently performed at festivals and venues such as Paradiso, Bimhuis, Transition, Amersfoort Jazz, Eurosonic, and Jazzahead.

In early 2026, the second album, We Want WAAN, was released, on which the band once again broadens its musical horizons. The new compositions are rawer, more adventurous, and rhythmically bolder, with influences from jazz, electronica, hip-hop, and ambient. The collaboration with American artist Ivy Sole and the distinctive production by Oscar de Jong underscore the versatility of the new work.

With WAAN, Porgy en Bess presents a concert that seamlessly aligns with the rich jazz tradition of the stage, while simultaneously demonstrating how that tradition continues to evolve.

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