Dick De Graaf

For over 40 years, I have played a leading role in European jazz as a tenor saxophonist with a distinctive and personal style. As a composer, I embrace elements from diverse musical genres, and as a passionate mentor, I have guided many young musicians. My teaching career at Dutch music academies culminated in 2017 with a doctoral study that explored the connection between 20th-century compositional techniques and modern jazz, a theme that continues to resonate in my performances and compositions. In 2022, I was honored with the prestigious Edison Oeuvre Award for Jazz, recognizing my long-standing and innovative contributions to the genre. Building on this milestone, my quartet embarked on an extensive tour through jazz clubs across the Netherlands. In 2025, with a new quartet album and an exciting jazz-meets-classical project featuring classical vocalists, I will set out once again, inviting longtime fans and new listeners alike to experience my musical storytelling.