Annelie

L’Equipe Lab – The Freedom of Jazz, the Power of Collaboration

What began as an open studio experiment evolved into one of the most dynamic and acclaimed jazz collectives in the region. A “small big band” where freedom, groove, and virtuosity meet, now reaching audiences far beyond borders.

L’Equipe Lab is a “small big band” made up of top musicians from the jazz scene, with roots in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. These sought-after musicians have shared the stage with big names like Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Toots Thielemans, Gregory Porter, Patti Austin, Belle Perez, Benjamin Herman, and Eric Vloeimans. Their track records are underscored by honors such as a Grammy Award, the Dutch Jazz Competition, and the Alfa Award for Best Songwriter. Under the name Jo Didderen & L’Equipe de Rêve, this ensemble has released four albums over the past decade, filled with “Happy Jazz” for heart, head, and feet. Danceable, yet also suited for quiet listening. Accessible, yet deep. True songs, but full of improvisation. In Equipe Lab, the band is given full freedom to experiment: entering the studio with no set plan, creating a live setting there, and seeing what happens. Sometimes with the full band, sometimes with just a part of it. Jazz, Meters-style funk, lullabies, South African rhythms, bird sounds, blues—you name it. L’Equipe Lab swings, twists, surprises, soothes, thinks, explodes, and comforts. Anything goes, everything’s allowed. The only signs they follow are “Toutes Directions”;where they end up, they’ll find out along the way...