artists
Jorik Bergman
Excess or reduction? Both.
Neither is Jorik Bergman afraid of large ensembles nor of a performance of the same calibre. As a flautist, composer and bandleader, she impresses with her precision and the creation of a multi-faceted richness of sound that is equally at home in excess and reduction.
The Dutch musician, who lives in Cologne since 2020, tries to explore new terrain with each of her works and projects and thus maintains a refreshing openness to unexpected outcomes: In May last year, ‘Jorik Bergman and her large, imaginary big band constellation’ performed for the first time. The big band exclusively performs Bergman’s compositions, in which giraffes, cowboys, a zero-gravity attitude and climate change are also addressed with humour and thoughtfulness. The highlight of the first tour of this project was a concert as part of the ACHT BRÜCKEN festival in the Philharmonie in Cologne.
In a trio with pianist Simon Below and Victor Gelling on double bass, she is currently working on a new repertoire between notated music and improvisation. The Julius Eastman Project, consisting of eight musicians from Cologne, Berlin, Amsterdam and Brussels, is dedicated to the minimal music of the American composer Julius Eastman. At the 11th Week-End Fest under Bergman’s direction, the ‘Mingus Project’ was premiered. A tribute to the legendary bassist and composer Charles Mingus, with the aim of presenting Mingus’ demanding and emotionally charged compositions from a fresh perspective.
Bergman was asked in a panel discussion how it is possible to develop one’s own voice with such openness. ‘No idea,’ was her answer, and her wide-ranging musical paths speak for themselves. Since moving to Germany, Bergman has won the ‘Zukunftsmusik’ composition competition organised by the Bundesjazzorchester 2022 and the ACADÉMIE DE COMPOSITION JAZZ 2023 organised by the ONJ (Orchestre National de Jazz) in Paris, among others.