Meet Our Community
Niels Lan Doky International Jazz Collective Denmark
Tell us a little about your organization’s mission.
“The Niels Lan Doky International Jazz Collective is an association of prolific musicians from Europe, North America and South America, devoted to presenting unique and exclusive jazz performances of which cannot be heard anywhere else. The collective is led by pianist Niels Lan Doky, who was knighted by HM The Queen of Denmark and whom the international press has hailed as “the best pianist of his generation” and “one of the most important pianists that European jazz has given us in the last 45 years”.
Inspired by artistic organizations such as The Royal Danish Ballet, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Niels founded the Niels Lan Doky International Jazz Collective on September 12th, 2017 as an association of musicians. Inspired in part by the world of classical music, all of the NLD IJC’s programs reverse the jazz world’s traditional narrative which speaks about the artists first, before speaking about the music that they play. The NLD IJC speaks first and foremost about the music – and only secondarily about the artists who perform it. For all of their programs, they cast musicians in view of serving the music – not vice versa.”
When have you celebrated International Jazz Day before?
2014, 2015, 2020, 2021
Why does your organization celebrate International Jazz Day?
It is the most perfect example of democracy in action, and has the power to cross all borders and boundaries.
Tell us about a favorite memory from International Jazz Day
Live interactive video call with Marcus Miller (in 2014 or 2015) dialoguing about the values of jazz, between our event in Copenhagen (with Marcus projected live on a big screen at our event ) and the main IJD event (where Marcus was located).
How do you think jazz can improve people’s lives?
See the TEDx Talk – Niels Lan Doky “How Jazz Wisdom Will Change Your Life”.
