EU Mini-Fest
Top jazz musicians from across Europe take the stage, in partnership with the European Union Delegation to the United States.
This mini-series celebrates America’s 250th anniversary and the power of jazz to bring people together across borders and cultures.
SAKOBI (Vilem Spilka)
Czech Republic
Saturday • September 5
7:30PM P Street Warehouse
SAKOBI features Radek Zapadlo (saxophone), Vilém Spilka (double bass), and Martin Kleibl (drums). Having played together for years in various groups, they share a deep musical connection and intuitive onstage chemistry. Radek Zapadlo has been a strong presence on the Czech jazz scene for over two decades, collaborating with artists such as Matej Benko and Ondřej Ruml, performing with the Cotatcha Orchestra, leading his own group Four in Blue, and working extensively with the Vilém Spilka Quartet. After eight years with the Brno Philharmonic, drummer Martin Kleibl moves effortlessly between classical, jazz, and pop. He performs in the OK Percussion duo with internationally acclaimed marimbist Martin Opršál, collaborates with singer Petr Bende, and is a key creative force behind the Vilém Spilka Quartet. For SAKOBI, Vilém Spilka made a bold move—switching from his primary instrument, guitar, to double bass, which he began seriously pursuing during the COVID pandemic. This shift brought a fresh sonic identity and new compositional direction to the trio.
SAKOBI’s set combines jazz standards with original music from their two albums, released on Bivak Records. All three members contribute with their songs while Spilka composes most of the repertoire, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources—from his hometown of Brno to Japan, subtly referenced in the band’s name. In that spirit, the trio’s debut album was titled Banzai!—an exclamation meaning something like “Hooray!” or “Long live!” and their fresh outing San - meaning three in Japanese.
Stylistically, SAKOBI resists easy categorization. Their music draws from the jazz tradition and other African American styles, while also weaving in influences from Moravian and broader folk music. The result is dynamic, colorful, and full of personality.
This performance is made possible thanks to a partnership with The Embassy of the Czech Republic and The European-American Cultural Foundation.
Ricardo Toscano
Portugal
Sunday • September 6
Portuguese saxophonist Ricardo Toscano is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices of his generation in European jazz. Renowned for his lyrical sound, remarkable virtuosity, and deep understanding of the jazz tradition, he has become one of Portugal’s most acclaimed jazz musicians.
Born in Lisbon in 1993, Toscano emerged as a leading figure on the Portuguese jazz scene at a young age. His debut album, Ricardo Toscano Quartet (Clean Feed Records, 2018), received widespread critical acclaim and established him as one of the country’s foremost improvisers.
While firmly rooted in the language of modern jazz, Toscano has also played an important role in expanding the presence of jazz within Portugal’s broader musical landscape. His collaborations with artists from different genres—notably acclaimed fado singer Camané—have helped create meaningful connections between jazz and Portugal’s rich musical heritage, introducing new audiences to the expressive possibilities of improvisation.
In addition to leading his own ensembles, Toscano has collaborated with many of Portugal’s most respected musicians and has appeared at leading jazz festivals and concert venues, earning a reputation as one of the country’s most compelling live performers. His ability to combine technical brilliance with emotional depth has made him a sought-after artist for projects that span both traditional and contemporary musical languages.
Today, Ricardo Toscano stands among the leading ambassadors of Portuguese jazz on the international stage. His music reflects a rare balance between the rich legacy of the American jazz tradition and the cultural identity of Portugal, creating performances that resonate with audiences across borders through artistry, spontaneity, and a distinctive musical voice.
This performance is made possible thanks to a partnership with The Embassy of Portugal and The European-American Cultural Foundation.
Elsa Nilsson
Sweden
Sunday • September 6
4:30PM Union Stage
Brooklyn-based flutist and composer Elsa Nilsson’s work engages high-level improvising and layered, cinematic orchestration; her artistry, an earnest and actionable desire to collaborate with multimodal artists and the changing world around her. The Gothenburg native’s solo leader releases include include Atlas Of Sound - Quila Quina (2024), Pulses (2023), Atlas Of Sound - Coast Redwoods (2022), Dark Is Light Is (2021), Hindsight (2020), After Us (2018) and Salt Wind (2017). She’s named Flutist Of The Year in the Downbeat 2025 poll, is the 2018 winner of the National Flute Association’s Jazz Flute Competition, and the recipient of multiple Chamber Music America grants, including a 2022 New Jazz Works grant for Band of Pulses. Elsa graduated from Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet in Gothenburg; she received her bachelor of music from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and her master of music from NYU. She has served as a professor of Rhythmic Analysis and Socially Engaged Artistry at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music since 2020, and led master classes across the U.S.
This performance is made possible thanks to a partnership with The Embassy of Sweden and The European-American Cultural Foundation.
Domas Žeromskas
Lithuania
Sunday • September 6
6:30PM Union Stage
Domas Žeromskas is a 25-year-old jazz pianist and composer from Vilnius, Lithuania, where he came of age performing alongside local jazz veterans, to soon emerge as a sought-after player, known for his technical versatility and soulful, eclectic taste. Domas released his debut album “Infinite Itinerant” (featuring Braxton Cook) at the age of 18 and since then has been recording and touring internationally with artists such as Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Gregory Tardy, Farayi Malek, Tom Scott, his own acclaimed trio and was also part of Euroradio Jazz Orchestra, hosted by WDR. His sophomore record “Meditations on Providence and Perseverance, Vol.1”, featuring Gregory Groover Jr., Nadje Noordhuis and Alexandria DeWalt appeared in March 2024.
The 2nd volume of this project, featuring Joel Ross, Langston Hughes II and Luan Pommier, followed 2 years later. Domas is currently based in Boston, having graduated from Berklee College of Music and pursuing his masters at the New England Conservatory.
This performance is made possible thanks to a partnership with The Embassy of Lithuania and The European-American Cultural Foundation.