Martin Fondse's Wild Card

Versatile composer and pianist Martin Fondse and multidisciplinary artist Femi Dawkins explore the power of the Wild Card: the unpredictable factor, the joker that defies rules and moves freely between structures. In card games, the Wild Card is the trump, the ultimate symbol of freedom. It can take on any role, break game patterns, and bring unexpected twists. In society, the Wild Card plays a similar role: it is the thinker, the disruptor, the artist—questioning rigid ideas and creating space for something new. Radical love, radical hope—anything is possible.

For Wild Card, Martin and Femi dive into a world where acoustic instruments, electronics, spoken word, poetry, and visual art merge. Through live sampling and projections of Dawkins' visual artwork, they engage in dialogue—with each other and their surroundings. There is no fixed game plan—Wild Card brings surprises, improvisation, and a constantly shifting perspective.

In this collaboration between Martin Fondse and Femi Dawkins, the Wild Card becomes a voice: radical, poetic, and confronting. Dawkins' powerful, socially critical texts on justice, the history of slavery, and the human search for meaning form a striking dialogue with Martin’s reflective and adventurous music. There are no predefined roles—both take on the Wild Card position, moving freely between disciplines and embracing the unexpected.
Martin and Jesse celebrate 10 years of musical collaboration in 2025. Their journey began at the Netherlands Youth Jazz Orchestra (NJJO), and today, Jesse is a prominent saxophonist on the Dutch music scene. His fiery, raw sound adds an energetic dimension to this edition of Wild Card.

composities, piano, electronics: Martin Fondse
spoken word & visuals: Femi Dawkins
Special Guest:** Jesse Schilderink** - Saxen