Candy Dulfer (Netherlands)

Renowned Saxophonist Candy Dulfer to Perform at Žalgiris Arena for the First Time

Welcoming spring, the “Kaunas Jazz” festival is already inviting everyone to make plans for winter. Today it is announced that, at the invitation of the festival, the world-renowned saxophonist Candy Dulfer and her band will perform at Kaunas’ “Žalgiris” Arena on December 14th.

The acclaimed music star has visited Lithuania for several decades, yet this will be her first concert in Kaunas. Candy Dulfer will return to our country after a break of nearly ten years.

“Candy Dulfer has long been on our wishlist of festival headliners. We are thrilled that she will shine in our lineup, symbolically crowning the 36th ‘Kaunas Jazz’ season at the end of the year. The concert will be powerful—Candy arrives in Lithuania with a ten-piece band,” announced the organizers of Lithuania’s largest jazz festival.

Tickets for Candy Dulfer’s concert, as well as other “Kaunas Jazz” events, are available at BILIETAI.LT.

A musician whose popularity in the jazz and funk scene remains unmatched by any other saxophonist. That is how the Dutch star, who achieved global acclaim back in 1989, is frequently described in music encyclopedias and magazines.

Born into a musical family (her father being saxophonist Hans Dulfer), Candy Dulfer has been playing since childhood. By twelve, she had already performed at the legendary North Sea Jazz Festival, and by fourteen, she had formed her own band.

Her first major career breakthrough came at just 18, when pop music queen Madonna invited her to open for her European tour concerts. A year later, her talent captivated the singer Prince, who invited Candy to perform alongside him and appear in his music video.

Indeed, this musical friendship spanned several decades—in 2004, Candy toured as a member of Prince’s backing band. “When I need sax, I call Candy,” famously said the iconic artist, who selected only the finest musical partners.

In 1989, Candy Dulfer released a track that became a global sensation. Recorded together with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics, the instrumental “Lily Was Here” unfolded like a romantic dance between guitar and saxophone. Produced for a Dutch film soundtrack, the track climbed into the top 20 across Europe, Australia, and the United States, and remains a staple on radio airwaves today.

The song is said to have been born as an improvisation at the end of a recording session and was not even originally planned for the film—according to the musician’s father, it was recorded in a single take without any retakes.

David A. Stewart & Candy Dulfer – “Lily Was Here”:

The track’s international success prompted Candy Dulfer to record her debut album, playfully titled “Saxuality.” Her virtuosic playing, charisma, and stage presence swiftly elevated her to stardom—the 21-year-old’s album charted in the US, sold over a million copies, and earned a prestigious Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

That same year, Candy Dulfer performed with the legendary British rock band Pink Floyd, and her list of musical collaborators runs long. Artists she has toured or recorded with in the studio include Lionel Richie, Van Morrison, Tower of Power, Sheila E., Maceo Parker, and many others.

Candy Dulfer – “Sax-A-Go-Go”:

In her native Netherlands, Candy Dulfer is also a television star who hosted her own interview show featuring musicians and accepted an invitation to serve as a judge on the TV show “The X Factor.”

Her career continues to thrive today—the musician’s discography includes twelve albums that blend jazz, funk, R&B, and expressive, instantly memorable melodies.

Candy Dulfer has sold more than 2.5 million records, and her live performances are always packed with energy and passion—every concert becomes a genuine celebration of great vibes.

Candy Dulfer – “Don’t Go”:

Her latest album, “We Never Stop,” released in 2022, once again proved her standing in the music world—one of the tracks was recorded with disco and funk legend Nile Rodgers, leader of the band Chic.

Candy Dulfer’s concert will close out the star-studded “Kaunas Jazz” festival year with a bang. The majority of the festival’s concerts will take place in April. US vocalists Lady Blackbird and Judith Hill will perform in Kaunas—tickets for both concerts are already sold out, though Judith Hill will hold an additional performance in Vilnius by popular demand.

Kaunas audiences will also hear Lithuanian jazz masters Dainius Pulauskas and Leonidas Šinkarenko with their bands, rising Belgian jazz star Adja, while Martha High, a long-time collaborator of the legendary James Brown, will tour four Lithuanian cities.

More festival program participants will be announced soon. All festival updates can be followed on the official website www.kaunasjazz.lt