Kika Sprangers & Koen Schalkwijk
Coming to you from the studios of the Concertzender / World of Jazz: Pocket Concerts. Featuring this edition: Kika Sprangers & Koen Schalkwijk
Dutch saxophonist Kika Sprangers (b. 1994) and pianist Koen Schalkwijk (b. 1988) form a deeply expressive musical duo, celebrated for their lyrical interplay and evocative improvisations. Kika is known for her velvety tone and compelling compositions, and recently she was awarded the Willem Breuker Prize (2024) and commissioned by North Sea Jazz to write a large-scale piece. Her latest album with her Large Ensemble, (In)finity, explores themes of eternity and human vulnerability. Koen, who studied jazz piano in Amsterdam and Philadelphia, won the Keep An Eye Records prize early in his career, which led to his debut album Two Cities. As a composer and educator, he leads projects like the duo Schalkwijk / Govaert and contributes his piano and Wurlitzer to Kika’s quintet. Together, they create a rich, emotional sound world that’s both intimate and grand.
Filmed and recorded live in November, 2025.
SET LIST
1. Descending (K. Schalkwijk)
2. Esfahan (K. Schalkwijk)
3. Estuary (K. Sprangers)
Digging the Archives:
4. De Sprong, O Romantiek der Hazen (M. Mengelberg)
MUSICIANS
Kika Sprangers – alto & soprano saxophones
Koen Schalkwijk – piano
POCKET CONCERTS TEAM
Production: Arjan Went & Co de Kloet
Digging the Archives: Frank Jochemsen (NJA)
Sound: Wijnand de Groot
Sound assistant: Anton van Halderen
Camera: Arnaud Heymel (Heymel Visual)
Camera assistant: Yara Heijmel (AllYouMedia)
Camera assistant: Anne Reijman Hinze
Editing: Arnaud Heymel (Heymel Visual)
Design: Marcel van den Broek (Oak)
Host: Ide van Gelder
THANKS
Mark van Schaick (Buma Cultuur)
Toni De Toni (inJazz)
Theater Kikker Utrecht
Raph van den Driesschen
Astrid Schenk (Worldofjazz.nl)
Jasper van den Broek (Concertzender)
Niklaas Hoekstra (Concertzender)
Sem de Jongh (Concertzender)
Daen’s planten, Utrecht
Pocket Concerts is made possible by World of Jazz, inJazz, het Nederlands Jazz Archief and Podiumkunst.net.