The Dutch town of Nijmegen, close to the German border, has been home to the Music Meeting Festival since 1985. This annual event differs from most world music festivals in that the focus isn't on pure tradition, but rather on the meeting of different musical styles and genres from across the globe, including Western jazz and improv. Many of these collaborations are initiated by the festival. For a three-day period coinciding with the Christian holiday of Pentecost, the scenic Park Brakkenstein on the outskirts of town has been transformed into a festival site with three stages and a multimedia zone around a large open space surrounded by trees.

Maite Hontelé, who left behind her a successful career as a trumpet-playing bandleader in the salsa capital of Medellín, Colombia, became artistic director of Music Meeting Festival in 2019, taking over the helm from Wim Westerveld, one of the festival’s founding fathers, who remains involved as co-programmer.

Hontelé’s background in salsa was certainly helpful in putting together a special part of this year’s edition, entitled Cuba Upside Down, which constitutes roughly one third of the programme. One of the highlights will be Ping Pong Piano, a performance involving two grand pianos and four players from Cuba who ‘throw’ melodies and phrases to each other like a game of table tennis. As Hontelé explains, “this is a project I’m especially excited about, because these four fantastic musicians come from very different backgrounds. Rolando Luna plays both traditional Cuban music and jazz. Ivan ‘Melón’ Lewis, winner of a Latin Grammy, was responsible for the creation of the timba style of salsa in the 90s. Because I really wanted to include a woman, I was very happy to be able to book Marialy Pacheco, a musician with a classical background who has often played together with Omar Sosa. And last, but not least, there’s Ramón Valle, our very own Cuban master from Amsterdam.”

“Our Cuban component also includes Alain Pérez with his salsa orchestra, plus Osain del Monte, an ensemble of 13 musicians that combines percussion, dancing and singing. They are very hot in Cuba at the moment and this will be their first concert in the Netherlands. Percussionist and singer Brenda Navarrete is going to be the ‘wild card’ inserted into the game. She will be all over, performing both solo and with several of the bands. Together with percussionist Vernon Chatlein from Curaçao she will also prepare a special surprise.”

Brenda Navarrete

There will be lots of music from elsewhere in the world as well. Djely Tapa hails from Mali but lives in Canada and is known for her subtle blending of African tradition with electronics. Damir Imamović from Sarajevo revives Bosnian sevdah by letting its often suppressed Turkish influences ring though again, while introducing improvisation based on Arabic maqams. Hontelé comments: “Rita Payès from Catalonia, Spain is another artist I’m really thrilled about. She’s still young but already an amazing singer and a huge hit on YouTube. Her mother will be with her, accompanying her on guitar. For her, too, it’s going to be the first time she has performed in the Netherlands.”

Damir Imamović

The rock-tinged music of the Berlin-based trio Tolyqyn, led by viola picker and vocalist Roland Satterwhite, will be heard in Nijmegen for the second time as they were also part of last year’s online edition of the festival, Music Meeting All Ears. Hontelé says, “this time I hooked them up with KO Brass, a Dutch quintet with a background in New Orleans-style jazz, but also in rock and contemporary composed music. Both bands jumped at the chance and will meet to rehearse together on June 4 and 5, before giving a joint concert on June 6.” Music Meeting's younger audience will certainly appreciate Chouk Bwa & The Ångstrømers, a rather danceable combination of Haitian voodoo with electronics cooked up in Brussels.

Music Meeting has a reputation for programming jazz and experimental music as well. In terms of quantity there may be less of that this year, but this is more than made up for by The Hidden Tune, a unique collaboration between the Orang Orang Drum Theatre from Malaysia (a group that breaks down the barriers between music, theatre and dance) and composer and saxophonist Angelika Niescier with her trio from Germany. She composed a suite in eight parts, combining South-East Asian styles with jazz improvisation.

In addition to the three regular stages, there is an All Ears Area, where background information about the artists and their music will be offered in the form of live interviews, short acoustic sets, films and videos. To avoid clashes with the nearby stages, wireless headphones will be available to ensure undisturbed listening conditions.

Music Meeting Festival 2022, Park Brakkenstein Nijmegen NL, takes place from June 4-6. 

For more details visit www.musicmeeting.nl