The fire of flamenco cante (voice), palmas (clapping), guitar and cajón, is taken to another level through colorful orchestration and the dynamic range of the Big Band.

In this symbiosis, characteristic flamenco harmonies and rhythms serve as a template for improvisation. Palmas, jaleos and Phrygian chords provide a fresh folkloric context, launching jazz solos in a new direction.

The BvR Flamenco big band won first prize at the Meerjazz International Big Band Competition in 2014 and the Keep an Eye on Jazz records competition in 2015 . Their critically acclaimed debut album “Jaleo Holandés”, released at the 2015 Flamenco Biennale featuring Martijn Vink and Miguel Rodriguez. As well as 2 international tours, they have recently performed at Rotterdam International Jazz Festival, the Amsterdam Bimhuis and the legendary North Sea Jazz festival.

“Luz de Luna” is their latest album (2017).

Bernard van Rossum is an Amsterdam based saxophonist, composer and arranger. As well as playing his original music and touring regularly with “Bernard van Rossum Quartet”, he is the leader of “The BvR Flamenco Big Band”.

Bernard grew up in multicultural setting, born and raised in Spain by an English mother and Dutch father. After a rocking adolescence playing drums, he discovered the saxophone and with it, the universe of jazz.

After completing his science degree in Scotland, he established himself in Barcelona studying saxophone at "Taller de Musics. In 2007 he started a Bachelor degree in Jazz at the “Conservatory del Liceu”, and travelled to the USA as an exchange student at UNT (University of North Texas) during his second year. In 2009 he transferred to Amsterdam Conservatorium, where under the guidance of Jasper Blom, Ferdinand Povel and Jure Hanstra, he graduated with a master degree in November 2013.

He is a founding member of the Catalan group "Lunar Project", with which he released "Supernova" (New Mood Jazz) and won the "Enderock" best new jazz project award 2008. In the 2012 Amsterdam Conservatorium “Arrangers Project”, his composition “Acuarela” was selected and played by the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw in the Amsterdam Bimhuis featuring Dick Oatts as a guest soloist. The 2015 arrangers project saw another one of his compositions "El último tango" selected and played this time conducted by him personally. In 2013 he was also a semi-finalist in the Keep an Eye on Jazz competition with “the 5th Element” and in the "Jazz Award Zeeland" with the Bernard van Rossum quartet. In 2014 he performed twice at the Amsterdam Bimhuis, first with the BvR Flamenco Big Band in the "Dutch jazz Competition" semifinal and later in the "Keep an eye on Jazz Award" final with the Vuma Levin 5tet. He won the best soloist prize two years consecutively at the Meerjazz international Big band competition.

He has performed in the Amsterdam Bimhuis, North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam International Jazz Festival, Flamenco biennale, Festival de Jazz de Canarias, Festival de Jazz de Tenerife, Festival de Jazz de Terrasa, Mighty Sounds Festival, Middelburg Jazz Festival, Meerjazz Festival, as well as in clubs and concert halls such as El Auditori, El Palau de la Musica (Spain), Palau Altea, Jamboree, Paradox, Mahogany Room (South Africa), Moloko (Russia) among many others.

As well as a leader, Bernard is a versatile side man, playing in projects ranging from ska and funk, to flamenco-jazz and South African music. He is also active as an educator, teaching saxophone, music theory and arranging, as well as leading flamenco-jazz workshops.