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The Dam Jawn

The Dam Jawn is a collective of five young, international musicians from the Amsterdam jazz scene who first met in Philadelphia. They have already released three albums: Master Street (Challenge, 2023), Forward! (Cellar Live!, 2024) and Triphasic (Dox Records, 2026).

The Dam Jawn refuses to be confined to a single style or genre. Instead, its members constantly expand their musical boundaries in search of new sounds. They operate as a small democracy: five voices, five visions, finding unity through sound. There is no single path and no single leader. Every piece is a conversation—an open space where each member contributes equally, both in performance and composition. Each show becomes a shared challenge, mirroring the dynamics of any functioning society. Together, they create something none of them could achieve alone: music that is alive, honest, and wide open to possibility.

The Dam Jawn: Forward!

by Jack Bowers
February 12, 2025

An addendum to the title of the Amsterdam-based quintet Dam Jawn's latest album, Forward!, reads “featuring Dick Oatts," which is perfectly suitable, as the acclaimed alto saxophonist plays a pivotal role in the tight-knit group's latest discourse, as he did on its earlier recording, Master Street (Challenge Records, 2023). For those who may be wondering about the group's name, it is an amalgam of Dam (for its Amsterdam home) and Jawn, a term widely used in Philadelphia ...

Album Review

The Dam Jawn featuring Dick Oatts: Forward!

Read "Forward!" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
December 12, 2024

The Dam Jawn's Forward! is an exhilarating journey through the sonic spectrum of modern jazz, elevated by the presence of alto saxophonist Dick Oatts. This collaboration captures the creative energy of five talented young musicians presently living in Amsterdam (hence the Dam in the name) alongside a veteran master, weaving a tapestry of grooves, colors and moods into a cohesive and engaging whole. Of the nine tracks in this session, eight are original compositions from the various band members; the ...

"While some circles show a certain disdain for the achievements of jazz’s past, it’s refreshing to hear an ensemble that fully embraces the tradition once again"

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