Europe has a formidable presence on the global Jazz scene. The continent is producing the next generation of immensely talented Jazz musicians from illustrious music schools such as Jazz Institute Berlin, JazzCampus Basel, Siena Jazz University, Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Royal Academy Of Music, Paris Conservatory, The Royal Conservatory Of Brussels, the Fransz Liszt Academy Of Music, Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg and the Royal College Of Music.
©Daria Mikhnova
Julia Perminova is a talented pianist and composer. She was born in Tyumen, a city located in the Siberian part of Russia. Julia began her musical journey at the age of four, and a year later enrolled in piano classes at a local music school. She quickly showed promise, winning a competition for the best school anthem.
In 2005, Julia was admitted to the Tyumen College of Arts, specializing in pop and jazz music. During her studies, she caught the attention of professionals and was invited to join one of the finest jazz bands in the Tyumen region, which later became the Governor’s Orchestra. In 2011, she moved to Yekaterinburg, where she performed with renowned jazz bands and founded her own projects, the Free Organ Trio and the New Time Quintet.
In 2013, Julia relocated to Moscow to pursue her studies at the Gnessin Academy of Music, from which she graduated with honors in 2017. Already in her freshman year, she won several international competitions, including the Kim Nazaretov Contest for Young Jazz Musicians in Rostov-on-Don (2013), the Grand Piano in Jazz contest in Moscow (2014), Gnesin’s Jazz Competition in Moscow (2014), and the Johnny Răducanu International Jazz Festival in Brăila, Romania (2014). She was also featured at the International Festival Future of Jazz, organized by Russian saxophonist Igor Butman, and later performed with Vladimir Spivakov and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia.
©Daria Mikhnova
In 2018, Julia released her debut trio album Revival, recorded in Moscow. That same year, she relocated to Europe, where her international career began to flourish. In 2021, she completed the European Jazz Master (EuJam) program at the Jazz Institute Berlin. The program also included studies at leading European conservatories in Amsterdam and Paris, giving Julia the opportunity to broaden her artistic horizons and collaborate with international musicians. Since then, Julia has performed her original music at well known European venues, such as Duc Des Lombards in Paris, Zig Zag in Berlin, and Bird’s Eye in Basel. In 2021, she released her solo piano album Imagination, recorded in Amsterdam, and became a member of the prestigious international jazz program Focusyear in Basel, where she regularly performed with leading jazz artists from New York, such as Lionel Loueke, Miguel Zenon, Becca Stevens, and many others. In 2022, she released her second solo album, Way To My Star. In June 2023, Julia released her latest album, Freedom, recorded with talented young musicians from Germany, Portugal, and Ukraine.
In 2024, Julia completed the Jazzcampus Basel composition program under professor Guillermo Klein. During her studies there, Julia was selected as one of the finalists of the “Spheres of Genius” competition for symphonic orchestra composers in Vienna. The same year, she released the duo album Echoes of Home in collaboration with singer Tatiana Nova.
Julia is currently based in Paris, where she continues to develop her projects, perform internationally, and compose new music. She is frequently invited to perform with prestigious ensembles such as the NDR Bigband, Basel Sinfonietta, and the Parisian orchestra Appassionato. At the same time, she successfully tours with her trio project, winning the hearts of audiences across Asia, Europe, and South America.
Born in Nuremberg in 2002, Linda Scharnagl is a dynamic voice in the next generation of European jazz. With a foundation that bridges classical training, jazz education, and a bold personal artistic vision, her work reflects both depth and exploration. Linda began her formal musical journey after graduating high school in 2020. She studied Jazz Saxophone at the University of Music Würzburg (2021–2023) under Hubert Winter, originally pursuing a degree in music education.
A year abroad as part of an Erasmus+ partnership brought her to the Eastman School of Music in New York (2023–2024), where she studied Jazz Saxophone Performance with Charles Pillow. In 2024, Linda transferred to the prestigious Jazzcampus Basel to fully pursue jazz saxophone performance, studying under world-renowned musicians Mark Turner and Domenic Landolf. She is set to complete her bachelor’s degree there in summer 2026.
Her musical evolution has been deeply shaped by her long-standing involvement with top youth ensembles in Germany. She joined the Landesjugendjazzorchester Bayern (Bavarian Youth Jazz Orchestra) at a young age—initially on cello and flute. When the orchestra launched a big band, Linda taught herself baritone saxophone to be part of it, laying the groundwork for her deep love of the instrument. Since 2024, she has been a member of the Bundesjazzorchester (BuJazzO), where she’s collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Theresia Philipp, Niels Klein, and Reinier Baas.
Linda has also performed in large and small ensemble settings with notable composers and bandleaders including Mike Holober, Vanessa Perica, Guillermo Klein, Laura Jurd, Anna Webber, and Jorge Rossy. She has appeared with groups such as the Basel Jazz Orchestra, Sunday Night Orchestra, European Jazz Companions, and took part in the 2024 Keep an Eye summer program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
©Silas Isenmann
Her artistic influences are deeply rooted in the baritone saxophone tradition. Gerry Mulligan was her first barisax influence, but it was Pepper Adams who became her go-to player—his sound, drive, and phrasing left a lasting impact. She’s since drawn inspiration from greats like Harry Carney, Cecil Payne, Nick Brignola and Ronnie Cuber, and had the opportunity to learn from Gary Smulyan during her time in New York. While firmly grounded in the baritone lineage, her musical vision leans modern and genre-fluid, drawing her to tenor players like Ben Wendel and Walter Smith III. The album Stretch Music by Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), featuring flutist Elena Pinderhughes, was a major turning point in shaping her compositional voice—Elena remains one of her favorite musicians to this day. She often returns to the music of Chief Adjuah and Ben Wendel when writing, and cites Tony Lustig’s solo on Samora Pinderhughes’ “Transformation” as one of her favorite baritone solos. These influences and inspirations form a constantly evolving sound that bridges tradition with innovation.
In her group Linda Scharnagl Quintet, she showcases original compositions that reflect her artistic coming-of-age—intimate and expansive works rooted in emotional honesty and a diverse musical language. Her compositional style blends contemporary and modern jazz with classical and world music influences. A multi-instrumentalist, she performs on baritone saxophone, flute, and vocals. The quintet—featuring Sara El Hachimi (alto sax), Lucas Kewell (piano), Lucyann Ceballos (bass), and Jan Zeimetz (drums)—is currently preparing to record its debut album in 2025.
She is also a founding member of the Pentaphone Project, a bold and vibrant saxophone quintet that reimagines jazz, Latin, swing, and pop—without a rhythm section. Performing all their own arrangements of originals, jazz standards, and well-loved tunes, the group brings explosive energy, playful spontaneity, and the kind of deep musical connection that comes from a long-standing friendship.
Matilde Gori is an Italian jazz and classical trumpet player, arranger and composer, based in Livorno and Siena (Italy).
Born in 2001, Matilde Gori began her journey with the trumpet at the age of 8. She pursued classical studies and graduated with honors from the Conservatorio di Livorno. Alongside her classical training, she developed a passion for jazz music, inspired by her family from a young age. After completing her degree, she won a scholarship to the two-year jazz trumpet program at Siena Jazz University, where she is currently studying under the guidance of renowned musicians Alex Sipiagin and Ralph Alessi.
Matilde has participated in numerous classical music masterclasses with esteemed musicians such as Claudio Quintavalla, Andrea Conti, Marco Toro, Francesco Tamiati, Andrea Inghisciano, and Giancarlo Parodi. Professionally, she collaborates with various lyric-symphonic orchestras in the region, including the Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, the Orchestra del Teatro Goldoni, and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Grosseto, performing in many theaters across Italy.
During her time at Siena Jazz, Matilde has the opportunity to study and collaborate with some of the leading figures in both the Italian and international jazz scene. In addition to working with trumpeters Alex Sipiagin and Ralph Alessi, she has collaborated with notable musicians such as Stefano Battaglia, Francesco Diodati, Alfonso Santimone, Francesco Bigoni, Dan Kinzelman, Andrea Lombardini, Nico Gori, Greg Burk, Federico Pierantoni, and Filippo Vignato. She has also attended masterclasses with prominent artists like Philip Dizack, Will Vinson, Marquis Hill, Hermon Mehari, David Linx, Enrico Pieranunzi, Maurizio Gianmarco, Mauro Grossi, Francesco Petreni, and Andrea Pellegrini.
Matilde has performed at significant music festivals, both national and international, including the Padova Jazz Festival, BrainZone Jazz Festival, Barga Jazz Festival, Lucca Jazz Donna, Piacenza Jazz Festival, Divino Jazz Festival, Empoli Jazz, Sion Music Festival (Switzerland), and Decibels Festival (Latvia).
She is actively involved in various original projects, including the jazz quintet Weavers of Dreams, which she leads, the MED Trio, and other new classical music initiatives. Among her key collaborations in the jazz scene are with Andrea Lombardini Quartet, the Big Band of Siena Jazz University, and the renowned marching band Magicaboola Brass Band led by Alessandro Riccucci.
Hailing from Denmark and Estonia respectively, the immensely talented duo met while studying jazz at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Complementing each other’s style and artistic difference, the smooth blend between Bertram international guitar and beautiful vocal talents of Kadi leave a lasting impression after first coming across them. The pair are united by a shared passion for performing and arranging music, they bring their unique artistry and heartfelt connection to every performance.
With a rich musical and cultural heritage, they add a vibrant touch of Estonia and Denmark to beloved pop and jazz tunes.
Though their journey as a duo is still young, their on-stage chemistry suggests otherwise. Bertram & Kadi DUO has been captivating audiences across the Netherlands, whether in cozy clubs or intimate venues. Their performances are like a great conversation: warm, engaging, and full of surprises, leaving audiences smiling long after the last chord fades.
BERTRAM HASSELAGER
Bertram Hasselager is a Danish jazz guitarist based in Amsterdam. He first picked up the guitar at the age of seven, a decision that set the course for his musical path. At seventeen, he was admitted to MGK, where he studied jazz and fusion under the guidance of trumpeter Thomas Fryland. During this period, Bertram became an active figure in the blues, fusion, and jazz scenes around Roskilde and Copenhagen, performing as a sideman with established artist Martin Gerup as well as with emerging local projects.
In 2020, during the first year of the pandemic, Bertram relocated to Amsterdam to study jazz guitar at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Under the mentorship of renowned teachers such as Jesse van Ruller and Rob van Bavel, he developed a strong interest in arranging, a practice that continues to shape his musical identity today.
Bertram is now an active part of the Amsterdam music scene, performing both as a sideman and with his own projects, including his Organ Trio and Bertram & Kadi Duo. His sound reflects a wide spectrum of influences; from Kenny Garrett and Pat Martino to D’Angelo and Stevie Wonder, blending tradition and with a modern edge.
KADI KALDMAE
The Estonian-born vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and musician. Immersed in music from an early age, she began with classical flute, then expanded into singing and piano, and by her early teens was performing in vocal groups – an experience that helped shape her ear and love for harmony. That passion eventually led her to the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she earned her degree in jazz vocals.
Today, Kadi performs in a variety of settings – from intimate duo concerts to larger band projects – moving easily across genres while bringing a strong sense of harmony and storytelling to each performance. Alongside her work in jazz, she also writes and releases original music under the artist name Kady Mae. Her debut single, “Scared or Stupid?”, showcases her playful pop side with lush vocal layers and groove-driven energy.
