The Jazz Focus Big Band is renewed! The award-winning youth big band is led by Lorenzo Mignacca since September 2019, continuing the mission of the ‘godfather of Dutch Jazz’, Peter Guidi. The 20-person big band is bursting with musical talent and really brings jazz to life. With Peter Guidi, the Jazz Focus performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, de Amsterdam Uitmarkt, in the Concertgebouw, and even at festivals in San Sebastian and Budapest. And now, with their beautiful sound, impressive notes, and fascinating solos, the Jazz Focus big band led by Lorenzo Mignacca won the first prize at the Prinses Christina Jazz Concours in 2019 and in 2021! The band also played at the National Big Band Concours, and in 2022 they will perform in Luxembourg, and they will return to the North Sea Jazz Festival!

To top it off, the band even conquered the first prize! The repertoire of the band is full of influences ranging from Thad Jones, Cole Porter, Buddy Rich, Mancini and Sammy Nestico to the more modern jazz of Gordon Goodwin and Michael Bublé.