Tom van der Zaal received a grant for developing new music. With the project From Mali to New York, Tom delves into the rich tradition of West African polyrhythm and its implementation in jazz. The focus is on rhythmic concepts from Wassolon (Mali) and Senegal, exploring how these structures can be translated to his own instrument and integrated into compositions.Tom is a jazz saxophonist from The Hague, a winner of several awards, and active internationally. He has shared the stage with international artists such as Peter Bernstein, Willie Jones III, Roy Hargrove, and performed at venues like the North Sea Jazz Festival, Bimhuis, and in cities including Hong Kong, Bangkok, Mumbai, Rome, Berlin, London, and many others. Tom is praised for his powerful sound and expressive playing, moving between tradition and innovation.