Metropole Orkest Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Arakatak Alongside New Releases from Gianmarco Ferri and the Marqués-Therrien Duo
The global jazz landscape is currently witnessing a significant convergence of tradition and innovation, anchored by the 80th-anniversary celebrations of the Metropole Orkest and a series of high-profile releases from rising stars in the European and North American scenes. As the Metropole Orkest releases its milestone album Arakatak, the jazz community is also turning its attention to the refined trio work of Italian guitarist Gianmarco Ferri and the intimate, improvisational dialogue of pianist Albert Marqués and trumpeter Rachel Therrien. Together, these releases represent a diverse cross-section of the genre, ranging from massive symphonic-jazz fusions to the fundamental interplay of small ensembles.
The Metropole Orkest: Eight Decades of Symphonic Jazz Excellence
The Metropole Orkest, based in the Netherlands, occupies a unique position in the musical world as the world’s largest professional pop and jazz orchestra. Founded in 1945 by Dolf van der Linden at the behest of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting system, the ensemble was designed to provide a versatile musical backbone for radio and television, blending the power of a big band with the lush textures of a symphony orchestra. Over the last 80 years, the Metropole has evolved from a broadcast utility into a global powerhouse, winning multiple Grammy Awards and collaborating with artists ranging from Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie to modern innovators like Snarky Puppy and Jacob Collier.
The release of Arakatak serves as the centerpiece of the orchestra’s 80th-anniversary festivities. Under the direction of Chief Conductor Miho Hazama—the first woman to hold the position in the orchestra’s history—the album is an internal celebration, featuring compositions primarily written by the orchestra’s own members and close associates. This shift toward internal curation highlights the immense individual talent within the 50-person permanent roster, which includes a full string section alongside a traditional jazz big band.
Arakatak: A Technical and Creative Breakdown
The album’s title track, "Arakatak," was composed by French-horn player Morris Kliphuis, setting a tone that challenges the boundaries of "minimalism" and "maximalism." Hazama’s direction is noted for its precision, managing the "roar" of the massive ensemble without sacrificing the subtle nuances required for modern jazz. The tracklist includes contributions from world-renowned figures who have long-standing ties to the Metropole:
- Luminosity by Donny McCaslin: Known for his work on David Bowie’s Blackstar, McCaslin provides a piece that some analysts describe as "cinematic," utilizing orchestral longueurs and a subtle rock-inflected pulse.
- The Most Important Question by Mark Guiliana: The drummer-composer brings a complex rhythmic layer to the orchestra, featuring perky woodwinds and an "anthemic tumult" that concludes with a Morse code-inspired coda.
- Doesn’t Matter by Louis Cole: Closing the album, this track leans into the "fusion" aspect of the Metropole, blending jazz sensibilities with echoes of English string rhapsodies reminiscent of Michael Tippett and Vaughan Williams.
Data from the Netherlands Public Broadcasting (NPO) indicates that the Metropole Orkest remains one of the most prolific recording ensembles in Europe, averaging over 150 studio hours per year. The 80th-anniversary campaign includes not only the Arakatak release but also a series of live performances across Europe, aimed at reinforcing the orchestra’s relevance in a digital-first music economy.
Gianmarco Ferri and the Evolution of Modern Hard-Bop
While the Metropole Orkest operates on a grand scale, Italian guitarist Gianmarco Ferri continues to carve out a space in the "mainstream" jazz sector with his latest release, Sweet And Lovely. This album follows his 2024 effort, On The Scene, and marks a continued refinement of his "super-cool" peregrinations on the guitar. Ferri, a rising figure in the Italian jazz circuit, represents the persistent appeal of the jazz trio format, which prioritizes swing, technical clarity, and the shared intuition of the performers.
The Trio Dynamics of Sweet And Lovely
Recorded in Civitavecchia in late 2025, Sweet And Lovely sees Ferri collaborating with a high-caliber rhythm section that bridges the gap between the European and American jazz scenes. The retention of drummer Luca Santaniello and the addition of American bassist Doug Weiss—a veteran of the New York scene known for his work with Al Foster and Eddie Henderson—provides a sturdy foundation for Ferri’s Wes Montgomery-influenced style.
The album is structured into two halves: the first focuses on the reinterpretation of standards, while the second showcases Ferri’s original compositions. Notable tracks include:
- Butch And Butch: An Oliver Nelson composition where the trio demonstrates its ability to "swing" with traditional authority.
- You Missed The Turn: A ballad that highlights Ferri’s melodic sensitivity.
- Laying It Down: The closing track, which allows Weiss to demonstrate a "Ray Brown-like drive."
Industry analysts point to Ferri’s work as evidence of a "Hard-Bop Renaissance" in Europe, where young musicians are returning to the foundational sounds of the 1950s and 60s, albeit with modern production values and a more globalized perspective on rhythm.
The Intimate Dialogue of Marqués and Therrien
The third pillar of this current jazz wave is the collaborative effort of Spanish pianist Albert Marqués and French-Canadian trumpeter Rachel Therrien. Their latest album, Dialogue Vol. II, released via Chronograph Records, is a masterclass in the piano-trumpet duo format. This specific instrumentation carries deep historical weight, invoking the spirit of the seminal 1928 "Weather Bird" recordings by Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines.
Historical Context and Performance Style
Marqués and Therrien’s partnership is part of a broader lineage of duos that includes Oscar Peterson’s work with Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as the more avant-garde pairings of Chet Baker and Paul Bley. Dialogue Vol. II consists of 13 tracks, primarily "enduring melodies of modern jazz" or standards, which the duo uses as a springboard for spontaneous, often "quixotic" improvisation.
The duo’s approach to the Great American Songbook is characterized by a "joyous spontaneity." For example, their rendition of "A Night In Tunisia" captures the song’s exotic personality through a piano introduction that preserves the original shape while allowing for new harmonic exploration. On "Caravan," Therrien maintains a rigorous melodic line while Marqués adds a walking bass element on the piano, effectively filling the sonic space usually reserved for a full rhythm section.
Track Highlights and Original Contributions
While the album is largely an homage, it includes three original compositions that offer insight into the duo’s personal musical identities:
- Abraham Lincoln Brigade (Marqués): A piece reflecting Marqués’s interest in historical and political themes.
- Formentera (Marqués): A Spanish-tinged composition that leans into the pianist’s cultural roots.
- Papa (Therrien): A nostalgic piece that showcases the trumpeter’s ability to convey meditative gravity.
The album was recorded in New York in October 2022, but its release in the current cycle places it at the forefront of the "minimalist" jazz trend, where the focus is on the raw interaction between two master musicians rather than complex arrangements or large-scale production.
Broader Implications for the Jazz Industry
The simultaneous release of these projects highlights several key trends within the global jazz industry. First, the survival and thriving of an institution like the Metropole Orkest suggest that there is still a significant market for large-scale, high-budget jazz productions, particularly when they are supported by public broadcasting frameworks. However, the critical reception of Arakatak also raises questions about the "cinematic" nature of modern orchestral jazz and whether the genre is leaning too heavily into film-score aesthetics at the expense of traditional jazz improvisation.
Second, the contrast between Gianmarco Ferri’s hard-bop trio and the Marqués-Therrien duo illustrates the ongoing tension between "mainstream" preservation and "dialogic" innovation. Ferri’s work satisfies a demand for high-quality, relaxed mainstream jazz that honors the legacy of figures like Wes Montgomery. Conversely, Marqués and Therrien represent a more adventurous, "fun-filled" approach to standards that appeals to listeners looking for a fresh take on familiar melodies.
Statistical Context of the Jazz Market
According to data from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), jazz remains a stable, albeit niche, segment of the global music market, accounting for approximately 1.5% to 2% of total music consumption. However, the genre performs significantly better in "physical" and "high-fidelity" digital sales, where audiophile listeners are more likely to invest in high-quality recordings like those from V2 Records, WoW Records, and Chronograph Records.
The geographical spread of these artists—from the Netherlands and Italy to Spain, Canada, and the United States—further confirms that jazz is no longer a US-centric art form but a truly globalized language. The inclusion of American musicians like Doug Weiss and Donny McCaslin in European-led projects highlights the fluidity of the modern jazz labor market, where international collaboration is the norm rather than the exception.
Chronology of Major Jazz Events: 2022–2025
To understand the context of these releases, a timeline of the recording and planning phases is essential:
- October 2022: Albert Marqués and Rachel Therrien record Dialogue Vol. II in New York, beginning the post-production phase for Chronograph Records.
- January 2024: Gianmarco Ferri releases On The Scene, establishing the groundwork for his reputation as a leading mainstream guitarist in Italy.
- Late 2024: Metropole Orkest begins intensive studio sessions for Arakatak under Miho Hazama, celebrating their 79th year and preparing for the 80th-anniversary launch.
- October 2025: Gianmarco Ferri records Sweet And Lovely in Civitavecchia, Italy, with Doug Weiss and Luca Santaniello.
- Early 2026: Official release and international distribution of Arakatak, Sweet And Lovely, and Dialogue Vol. II, accompanied by European tour dates for the Metropole Orkest.
As the jazz world moves forward, these three releases serve as a barometer for the health of the genre. Whether through the massive, 50-piece roar of the Metropole Orkest, the steady swing of the Ferri trio, or the intimate conversation of the Marqués-Therrien duo, jazz continues to prove its adaptability and its enduring power to engage with both its history and its future.
