NICA live: POLLON feat. Aurora Nealand

A call from afar that continues to echo: During their residency in Cologne in 2024, Aurora Nealand and the trio POLLON met and performed together on stage even back then. What began as a chance encounter will now continue this fall with several joint concerts.

The multi-instrumentalist, who lives in New Orleans and New York, switches effortlessly between saxophone, clarinet, vocals, and accordion—and between musical worlds, ranging from the early, swinging jazz of the American South to contemporary and experimental music. This evening she’ll be bringing her accordion: an instrument that breathes, weaving soundscapes one moment and gripping the listener rhythmically the next. In combination with saxophone, bass, and drums, it opens up new hues for POLLON, ranging from folk-inspired elements to soaring improvisation.

POLLON’s music is the poetic expression of a reality to be grasped through the senses. Theresia Philipp, David Helm and Thomas Sauerborn improvise fearlessly and wildly; their pieces come across as impulsive and dynamic, yet a gentle vulnerability resonates within them. Since the band’s founding in 2013, they have released three albums, most recently △△△ (2022), nominated for the German Jazz Prize as Best Album of 2023. Their interplay, honed over the years, blends harmony and exuberance, and the mystique of their music is always palpable and audible.

With Theresia Philipp and Thomas Sauerborn, two NICA artists will take the stage. For Theresia Philipp, this is a special evening: after three years of support through NICA artist development, this is her final concert in the series as a grant recipient.