The Making of the New Album: Video
NEW EUROPEAN JAZZ: Undercurrent 5 featuring Angelika Niescier & Suzan Veneman
In March 2026, the group Undercurrent 5 featuring Angelika Niescier & Suzan Veneman recorded the new concept album 'Current State of Affairs'. Recorded at the illustrious Studio 2 on Heuvellaan in Hilversum (The Netherlands), where many of the great jazz players played concerts and made recordings. Under the inspiring leadership of producer Peter Bjornild and technician Frans de Rond, the group of five of Europe's best improvisers demonstrates what a close-knit unit of like-minded individuals can achieve. The album will be released in 2026 by both Zennez Records and Sound Liaison (for high-resolution audio recordings). The new conceptual album 'Current State of Affairs' brings a exciting series of new compositions portraying no less than the ongoing battle of good and evil. Disturbing extreme political and capitalist powers are wrecking civil society and the earth's climate. Is there still hope for all living creatures on this planet? To capture the opposite energies of chaos and harmony, the album brings to life a kaleidoscopic unity of fresh improvised music. The album connects in harmony five of the best improvisers in Europe: in downright disturbing times nowadays they portray unity and share the same universal language of music. 'Current State of Affairs' offers a showcase of different musical styles, moods and compelling stories. Melodies from the heart tell a story while the band moves through musical landscapes using different timbres and contrasts. Freedom of expression, strong interplay and fierce improvisations are on the menu. The album will be available on Zennez Records and on Sound Liaison (for High-Resolution Audio Recordings). And also on Bandcamp!
Live Music Videos of Undercurrent Trio & Undercurrent Orchestra
Line up:
Angelika Niescier (POL/DE) – alto saxophone
Suzan Veneman (NL) trumpet & flugelhorn
Iman Spaargaren (NL) tenor saxophone & clarinets
Guillermo Celano (ARG) guitar
Marcos Baggiani (ARG) drums
Photo Undercurrent Trio & Suzan Veneman (c) Olga Beumer / Photo Angelika Niescier (c) Arne Reimer
Latest video live at Jazz in de Fruitvis, Rotterdam 2025:
(black & white photos (c) Marcel Thomassen)
In 2025 Undercurrent Trio & Suzan Veneman had their 'Cloud Song The Netherlands Tour' and played concerts at o.a. TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht), BIMhuis (Amsterdam), Paradox (Tilburg), Jazz in Wageningen, Hot House (Leiden), Nieuw & Diep (Den Helder), Sound of Europe (Breda).
"★★★★☆ It is really to be hoped that Suzan Veneman will be heard a lot more with the Undercurrent Trio of reed player Iman Spaargaren, who last year released the equally exciting and sparkling album Cloud Song" (Gijsbert Kamer, de Volkskrant, concert review)
"On 'Cloud Song' the trio has invited a fourth kindred spirit. Suzan Veneman, a pleasantly idiosyncratic trumpeter with a beautiful sound" (Robin Arends, Jazzism)
‘Cloud Song’ is pure beauty compressed onto a small silver disc" (Tom Beetz, Jazzflits)
"The album ‘Cloud Song’ can easily be set to ‘repeat’ to discover the intensely colorful sound contrasts and playful interactions" (Bernard Lefèvre, Jazzhalo)
Short Biographies:
Angelika Niescier is one of the exceptional musicians who has for some time been redefining the contours of the international jazz scene. As a bandleader and composer she won prestigious awards, e.g. The German Jazz Award, WDR Jazz Award. She has been working with the likes of Kris Davis, Gerry Hemingway, Luke Stewart, Sylvie Courvoisier, Ralph Alessi, Ernie Watts and Tyshawn Sorey just to name a few. Angelika is performing internationally on clubstages as well as renowned festivals e.g. at the unerhört! Zürcher Jazzfestival, Vancouver International Jazzfestival, Constellation Chicago, Jazzfest Berlin, Winterjazzfest New York, Jazzfestival Molde, at Jazzgallery NYC, the Elbphilharmonie, Philharmonie Berlin und Philharmonie Essen.
Jazz trumpet player Suzan Veneman is quickly establishing her place on the scene, capturing audiences with her adventurous and soulful sound. Comfortable with many genres in of modern music, she can be seen playing with a wide variety of bands, including the Beets Meutgeert New Jazz Orchestra, the Millennium Jazz Orchestra, Zack Lober’s NO FILL3R, Sprank, the Patrieck Bonnet Quintet and her own ambitious projects ‘Zinder’ and the Suzan Veneman Sextet.
Iman Spaargaren plays different reeds. He was Young VIP in 2012 which gave him the opportunity to perform with his own group at renowned venues all through The Netherlands.
"Melody and lyricism are strong features of saxophonist and composer Iman Spaargaren. With clear expositions he wanders on paths leading to adventure" (Jan Jasper Tamboer, het Parool).
North Sea Jazz Composition Prize winner Guillermo Celano plays guitar:
”Celano spices his cohesive compositions with stylistic quirks, creating intensely melodic and refreshing frameworks for improvisation – a rare gift” (Andy Hamilton, The Wire)
Guillermo has worked with o.a. Michael Moore, Joachim Badenhorst, Clemens van der Feen, Ellery Eskelin, Chris Cheek, Ingrid Laubrock, Gerard Kleijn, Joost Kesselaar, Robin Verheyen, Josef Dumoulin and Gorka Benitez.
Marcos Baggiani is a versatile drummer with firm roots in improvised music. Over the years he has been working with o.a. Sylvie Courvoisier, David Kweksilber, John Edwards, Ernst Reijseger, Han Bennink, Achim Kaufmann.
