Gideon Tazelaar and Ian Cleaver are prominent young stars on Amsterdam’s jazz firmament. They have played together since they were 11 and spent countless hours on and off stage cooperating. On the way they created a distinct blend, following jazz tradition’s famous trumpet/sax alliances. Over the years they have become two of Europe’s most versatile improvisers on their respectable instruments, and have performed with the likes of George Coleman, Wynton Marsalis, Reginald Workman, and many more.

Summer 2020  they managed to lure the brilliant Copenhagen bassist Felix Moseholm and the legendary drummer Jorge Rossy to Amsterdam for a series of concerts. After the first shows, they realized they had a special bond and decided to book a studio at the very last minute. There they captured the spontaneity of the new-found group, the energy, and spirit of their vibe, resulting in Gideon Tazelaar and Ian Cleaver’s first official release (released in Spring 2021). Also with special-master-guest appearances by Benjamin Herman and Joris Roelofs.

Ian Cleaver
Trumpeter Ian Cleaver (1996) is one of the great promises of Dutch jazz. Born and raised in Amsterdam, he started improvising at a young age. Working professionally since the age of 16, he performed with various small/big bands at venues like the Concertgebouw, North Sea Jazz Festival, Bimhuis and more. He has shared the stage with the likes of Reginald Workman, Ack van Rooyen, John Engels, Eric Ineke, Dick Oatts, Jason Marsalis, Ben van Gelder, Jesse van Ruller, Benjamin Herman and Jorge Rossy.

Gideon Tazelaar
Gideon Tazelaar (1997) is a saxophonist residing in New York where he studies at the Juilliard School. Gideon grew up in the Netherlands and started playing the saxophone when he was seven years old. Within one year he made his national TV debut performing in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. From the age of 11 he started to play professionally and played at the North Sea Jazz Festival almost every year, among others, with his own quartet. At 14 he was admitted to the Bachelor’s degree program at the Conservatory of Amsterdam which he finished summa cum laude at the age of 18. Next to being acknowledged as a mature bandleader, he performed throughout many countries in Europe, in Russia and in the U.S.A. as a sideman with Wynton Marsalis, dr. Lonnie Smith’s sextet, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, George Coleman, New Cool Collective, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Johnathan Kreisberg, Benjamin Herman, Ruud Jacobs, Ferdinand Povel, John Engels etc.