Inspired by legendary venues like New York’s Blue Note, London’s Ronnie Scott's we introduce Amsterdam’s Contra: the place to enjoy intimate jazz concerts from your dinner table. A chef's menu is served, accompanied by our wide selection of wines. To keep the balance between the listening experience and sharing the moment, the concert consists of 3 sets of 35-40 minutes, each followed by a break to enjoy your table, your company, and the atmosphere. A dinner ticket includes a table reservation. Only coming for the music and a drink? Then buy a regular ticket or (if you're a student or max. 25 years old) a student ticket.

This september a new residency program starts and we're extremely happy and proud to announce our new 4 month resident: Avishai Darash!

Pianist, composer, and bandleader Avishai Darash presents his new trio featuring drummer Joe Blaxx and bassist Omer Govreen (on September 17 and December 17 Seb Overall will play bass). With Heart-Bop, the trio explores the language of hard bop from a contemporary perspective. Rooted in the tradition of the 1950s and ’60s, the focus is on groove, clarity, and interplay, with a program of original compositions and arrangements that both respect the idiom and reflect a modern approach. The trio treats swing as a flexible concept that is constantly evolving, shaped by their individual voices and collective interaction. Rather than reproducing a historical sound, Darash and his trio place this tradition in a new framework—retaining its directness and energy while remaining open to a broader, contemporary musical context. The result is a clear and accessible program that bridges tradition and modernity, approaching jazz as a shared and continuously evolving language. After their first show in Amsterdam at Contra during the Red Light Jazz festival, this summer the trio recorded their first album in Wisseloord.

Avishai Darash - piano
Seb Overell - double bass
Joe Blaxx - drums