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What I'm up to

A unique sound within the world of chamber music: INSOMNIA

For his new programme ‘Insomnia’, saxophonist Dick de Graaf invited two talented young singers to join him. Nina Jeltema completed her vocal studies at Codarts in 2025, and Linda Ropa will finish her master’s at the Utrecht Conservatoire in 2026. Previously, she had already studied classical piano and singing at the Rovigo Conservatory (Italy).

Together, they represent the next generation of musicians and feel right at home in De Graaf’s hybrid chamber music, which incorporates elements from pop, jazz, and classical music.

In addition to his roles as saxophonist and composer, De Graaf also steps forward in ‘Insomnia’ as a writer and adaptor of lyrics, shining his light on the world of today. Alongside his own texts, he draws on poetry by, among others, Judith Herzberg, Paul McCartney, and Remco Campert.

Thanks to the surprising combination of saxophone and two female voices, with a dynamic division of roles between soloist and accompaniment, ‘Insomnia’ offers a unique sound within the world of chamber music.

Lifeline: recent cd and concerts

Enjoy our wide-ranging musical horizons, spanning rhythmic jazz and free improvisations on my own compositions, as well as arrangements of works by Franz Schubert and Charles Mingus.

Bach also makes an appearance, with improvisations where I revisit my first instrument, the flute.

New single on Spotify

To shop: CD's and sheet music

My album and cds are for sale in serious music stores, on bandcamp and in my new webshop. Here, you can also order sheet music of the tunes on our recent album Festive. The tunes are posted as they appear on the record, that is: written for Bb tenor and soprano saxes and piano. The bass part is integrated in the piano part. In case you are interested in any other instrumentations, you can contact me by e-mail

This also goes for music sheets of the music on the cd Lifeline, and less recent albums. Don’t hesitate to contact me for more information or instruction.

Bezoek de webshop

The press about Dick's music

Tenorsaxofonist De Graaf toont zich gedurende het hele concert als een meester van de beheersing: een ervaren musicus die boven de materie staat en steeds vanuit een soort helicopterview soleert. Zijn toon is majestueus en zijn improvisaties hebben een bijna uit steen gehouwen karakter.

Cyriel Pluimakers over livestreamconcert Jasper van ‘t Hof maart 2021, Jazzenzo 22 maart 2021

De toon van De Graafs tenor is warm en uitnodigend. Zijn spel is behalve door gecomponeerde muziek evenzeer beïnvloed door vogelgeluiden rond zijn huis, getuige titels als A Crow Calling, Bird Buzz en Sparrows. En dat geeft de muziek een plezierige dartelheid.

Gijsbert Kramer, Volkskrant 9-2-2018

Heerlijk is het om de zangerige tenorsaxofoon van De Graaf majestueus boven de andere musici te horen uittorenen. Bijzonder is de rol van de ritmesectie, die niet alleen begeleidt maar ook regelmatig op de voorgrond aanwezig is. Het melodisch en ritmisch sterke spel van pianist Witteveen combineert prachtig met de stevige contrabas van Lievestro en de dynamische drums van Hueting.

Cyriel Pluimakers over Bird Buzz, Jazzenzo november 2017
Dick de Graaf Quartet – Festive
Individual lessons and coaching sessions

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