Biography

Trumpeter Gidon Nunes Vaz (born in Amsterdam 1991) has been involved in the city’s jazz scène for the last 15 years. Arising on an early age out of the jazz workshops of Peter Guidi, he graduated for his Master degree at the Conservatory of Amsterdam in 2015, as a student of Ruud Breuls. During his degree he also studied with Terell Stafford and John Swana at Temple University (Philadelphia, USA) in 2013. An important part of his student time he spent on research about trumpeter Kenny Dorham (1924 – 1972), to write his thesis about the unknown life story and the unique playing style of Dorham. Apart from his own bands: a sextet and quartet, Gidon is a widely asked sideman in the Netherlands, he has played with The Eric Ineke JazzXpress, Rein de Graaff Quintet with Gary Smulyan, John Engels Quintet and a variety of professional big bands and ensembles. In 2008, he won the Baseline Codarts Jazz Award, given to him by the legendary bassist Hein van de Geyn (Chet Baker Quartet 1987). In the last years Gidon has produced several albums on Tritone Jazz Records. His music is well received by jazz lovers and musicians.

Played with:

Benjamin Herman Organ Quartet, Dutch Concert Big Band, New Cool Collective Big Band, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Orkest van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht, BvR Flamenco Big Band, Northern European Jazz Orchestra, José Bolita Big Band, Jazzmania Big Band, CVA Concert Big Band, Temple University Jazz Band, New Generation Big Band, Dreamgirls (musical), Soldaat van Oranje (musical) Sonny’s Inc., Bop This!, Eric Ineke JazzXpress, Rein de Graaff Quintet (with Gary Smulyan), John Engels Quintet, Henk Meutgeert Trio, Peter Beets/Henk Meutgeert New Jazz Orchestra.