The Paradox is one of Stephan’s home spots during every year at Roadburn - so what would be more appropriate than him having a closer look at this year’s line-up!?
While curating my own Roadburn schedule I often not only try to catch as many intriguing artists as is somehow reasonable - and as line-up clashes allow -, but ideally also to include all of the different big and small stages in my running order. One very special stage which joins the festival on Friday and Saturday and already brought me many fond memories since its introduction in 2022 is the Paradox. The well-established Jazz club not only stands out with the classic red curtain stage, but also with its unique mostly Jazz-adjacent programme, which is booked independently but in close conjunction with the Roadburn spirit.
Not counting potential secret shows (who knows?) there will be six opportunities to enjoy the special atmosphere of this cozy stage this year:
Friday, April 19 Be sure to get in line early when Patrick Walker (Warning) will perform songs from his project 40 Watt Sun on Friday! Known to draw crowds at Roadburn the man and his acoustic guitar will surely captivate a packed room with his emotional songs. Swedish sax player Martin Küchen’s 8-piece ensemble Angles will bring a genre-transcending performance with The Death of Kalypso, an ambitious project self-described as Free Jazz Opera. Led by the charismatic vocals of Elle-Kari this show promises to be a memorable experience far from anything else you’ll hear at the festival. With a slightly misleading name the Belgian Under the Reefs Orchestra actually is only a trio of guitar, drums and bass saxophone. Expect a proggy Jazz Fusion ride with a range from light funky licks to huge cinematic crescendos and roaring Rock outbreaks!
Saturday, April 20 The fellow Belgian quartet Early Life Forms, who will perform on Saturday, play a style which on paper may look quite similar, but actually leans more into atmospheric soundscapes on one side and an organ-driven Rock sound with Tzadik Reords vibes on the other. But you know what? It’s pretty damn impossible to predict what exactly will happen with these type of free-thinking improvising Jazz cats. The same goes or the UK trio Ill Considered: Will they bathe us in Ambient textures, walk us through smokey night alleys or shake us with crazy freakouts? Whatever they’ll do, it surely will happen with enormous chemistry. And finally Dutch guitar player Theo Holsheimer continues the Paradox tradition of a “Heavy Jazz Jam” with a sextet line-up that includes brass, keys and viola. With the experience of him and drummer Philipp Moser at mashing up Metal and Jazz in their band Cilice , this show will suerly be a creative punch that will rewire many synapses in the audience.
