Esther Van Hees/Blue Sands

Early bird price 13 euros Bob Nicasi, who passed away in 2025, remains one of the absolute Godfathers of Kempense jazz. As the founder of Jazz Onder Den Toren and for years the driving force behind the jazz programming in Mol, his influence was enormous. One of the talents he recognized early was Esther Van Hees. Bob and his wife were regularly in the audience when she started performing in Mol and the surrounding area as a teenager. Esther would now like to bring a warm homage to this irreplaceable jazz promoter. A tribute that we would like to celebrate together, with a free drink. Cheers! With her duo Blue Sands, Esther won the Edison Award for best vocal jazz album of the year in the Netherlands in 2025. Blue Sands consists of Esther Van Hees and bass guitarist Reindert Kragt. The duo surprises not only with Esther's fascinating voice or Reindert Kragts's virtuoso bass. The real surprise lies in the rich and diverse repertoire: from own work to Radiohead to Steve Kuhn, from Brian Wilson to Françoise Hardy. A range of styles that nevertheless forms a wonderfully coherent, intimate and compelling whole. “Music that is impressive without unnecessary show of power. Virtuoso, emotionally charged and with a magnificent imagination. A record that touches you immediately, but that creeps deeper under your skin with every further listening. Because in every individual note, whether it is sung or played, besides a great knowledge of the matter, so much experience and above all so much love resonates.” (Edison jury report)