Bandler Ching, Meral Polat and Pietre play in Rotown

The Jazz International Rotterdam Foundation (JIR) supports creators and creates adventurous concert experiences in Rotterdam. Under the public name RAUW, the foundation organises various live events and talent development programmes with partners. On 24 May, there will be a new editie with Bandler Ching, Meral Polat and Pietre in Rotown.

Pietre ('stone' in Italian) is led by bassist and composer Alessandro Fongaro. He was North Sea Round Town's Artist in Focus just last year. Together with Nicolò Ricci (tenor sax), Jesse Schilderink (baritone sax) and Sun-Mi Hong (drums) forms. Their debut First time (a)live celebrated the end of the lockdown with a recording of their very first concert. This year, they present the studio album Pietre.

Multidisciplinary artist Meral Polat broke through with her debut album Ez Ki Mi (2022), in which she explored her Kurdish roots. In 2025, her new album Meydana Gel will be released, with themes of resisting oppression and fighting for women's rights. Inspired by Turkish psychedelic rock and Nigerian Afrobeat, Polat and her musicians create a cross-border sound world that connects eras and cultures - always with a modern sound and a powerful message of love and equality.

Brussels-based Bandler Ching comes from the quiver of composer and saxophonist Ambroos De Schepper. He flawlessly combines contemporary jazz, electronica, trap and hip-hop.

Cover photo: Alessandro Fongaro by Willem de Kam