Episode 34: Alex Simu

Clarinettist and saxophonist Alex Simu is the lead of an international quintet, their latest project is called "Echoes of Bucharest". In this episode we discuss the clarinet and how he is contributing to the manufacture of new forms of the instrument, his love for Bucharest and the music it has inspired, as well as his approach to film composing.

Alex recommended In the search of the miraculous by P.D. Ouspensky.

Please visit Alex’s website for more information, tour dates and to purchase his music.

Music featured in the episode:

“Slowly Dancing for Peace” from the album Echoes of Bucharest.
Alex Simu - clarinets
George Dumitriu - guitar, viola
Franz von Chossy - piano
Jörg Brinkmann - cello
Kristijan Kranjčan - drums, cello

”Quiet Storm” from the album Free Fall
Alex Simu - clarinets
Lucian Ban - piano

Episode 33: Floris Kappeyne

Pianist Floris Kappeyne has just released his second trio album Synesthesia. We talk about how he dove deep into jazz tradition at a young age but then chose to study classical music, the parallel he draws between the human voice and synthesizers, and the addition of live visuals to his performances.

Floris recommended the work of audio visual artist Tarik Barri, as well as Tolstoy’sThe Death of Ivan Ilych.

Please go to Floris’ website to purchase his music and find more information.

Music featured in this episode:

“IX” and “IV” from the album Synesthesia.
Floris Kappeyne - piano, synthesizer
Tijs Klaassen - bass
Wouter Kühne - drums
Janneke Stoute - vocals

Picture by Govert Driessen

Episode 31: Reinier Baas

Guitarist Reinier Baas recently released "Smash Hits", an album with his longtime collaborator Ben van Gelder and the prestigious Metropole Orchestra. In this episode he tells Pat about the process of translating his small ensemble compositions into orchestral pieces, his particular voice on the guitar, as well as his new project "Minute music", a series of one minute pieces written specifically for Instagram video.

Reinier recommended Kit Downes’ solo record Obsidian, as well as Joris Roelofs and Han Bennink’s record Ikarus (as discussed on episode 19 of this show!).

Please visit Reinier’s website to purchase his music and find tour dates.

Music featured in this episode:

”Stuiter” from the album Smash Hits
Reinier Baas - guitar
Ben van Gelder - saxophone
Christian Elsässer - conducting
Gerd Hermann Ortler - arrangement
and all the members of the Metropole Orkest

“Filter” unreleased recording
Reinier Baas - guitar, coffee filter, sympathetic piano strings

thumbnail picture by Govert Driessen, edited by Stijn van der Pol.

Episode 27: Efraim Trujillo

Saxophonist Efraim Trujillo and his organ trio The Preacher Men just released their second album Blue. In this episode we discuss the blues and its many forms, the importance of rhythm in Efraim's music and how the band got to record with legendary producer and engineer Al Schmitt.

Efraim recommended William Ferris’ book Blues from the Delta.

Please visit Efraim’s website for more information, tour dates and to purchase any of his music.

Music featured in this episode:

“Lost and Nowhere to be Found” and “Into the Blue” from the album Blue.
Efraim Trujillo - saxophone , vocals
Eline Gemerts - lead vocals
Rob Mostert - hammond organ
Chris Strik - drums
Rory Ronde - guitar
Michael Varekamp - trumpet

thumbnail photo by Ferry Knijn

Episode 26: Gerri Jäger

Drummer Gerri Jäger is one half of the duo Knalpot, and they have a new record out called Dierendag. In this episode, Gerri discusses his hybrid electronic/acoustic drums setup, the history of Knalpot, as well as his new project as a leader STUG.

Gerri recommended the electronic music artist Chris Clarke.

Please visit Gerri’s website to get more info, tour dates and to purchase any of his music.

Music featured in this episode:

“Indianerwurst” from Knalpot’s album Dierendag.
Gerri Jäger - drums, synths, electronics
Raphael Vanoli - guitar, synths, electronics
Sandor Caron - sound design

"Breathing” by STUG, live at Korzo The Hague 23/11/17
Sofia Jernberg - vocals, sampler
Joachim Badenhorst - tenor saxophone
Raphael Vanoli - guitar
Trevor Dunn - bass
Gerri Jäger - drums, electronics

thumbnail photo by Raoul Hilbink

Episode 25: Stephanie Francke

Stephanie Francke is a member of the Spoken saxophone quartet. In this episode of the show she talks to Pat about their new album Artic Monsoon, how she came to be a jazz musician, and taking a step back from the stereotypical role of saxophonist as leader and soloist.

Stephanie recommended Yuval Noah Harari’s bestseller Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.

Please visit Stephanie’s website, as well as that of the quartet Spoken for more info, tour dates and to find where you can purchase their music.

Music featured in this episode:

“Inspector” from the album Arctic Monsoon by Spoken+2.
Stephanie Francke - alto and soprano saxophones
Wietse Voermans - alto saxophone
Jasper van Damme - tenor saxophone
Ruben Verbruggen - baritone saxophone
Sanne Huijbregts - vocals, glockenspiel
Friso van Wijck - drums, percussion

”Two Moons” from the album Ripples.
Stephanie Francke - soprano saxophone
Koen Schalkwijk - piano
Guus Bakker - bass
Niek de Bruijn - drums

Episode 24: Mark Haanstra

Bassist Mark Haanstra joins Pat to discuss his duo project with viola player Oene van Geel. They talk about this unusual instrumentation, creating music based on the photography of Udo Prinsen and their new record Shapes of Time.

Mark recommended taking a look at the work of photographer Udo Prinsen, as well as listening to Raphael Vanoli’s solo album Bibrax.

Please visit Mark and Oene’s website for more information and to purchase Shapes of Time.

Music featured in this episode:

“Skúli” and “Cyclo” from the album Shapes of Time.
Mark Haanstra - bass guitar, double bass
Oene van Geel - viola
Raphael Vanoli - guitar, effects
based on the photography of Udo Prinsen

Episode 23: Kevin van den Elzen

In this episode, my guest is drummer Kevin van den Elzen. We discuss the scene in Los Angeles, why he chose to move there and what that has meant for his career, as well as his love for Big Band music.

Kevin recommended Kenny Werner's book "Effortless Mastery", that you may remember was previously recommended by Bobby Petrov in episode 3 of the show!

Please visit Kevin's website to find his tour dates and to purchase any of his music.

Music featured in this episode:

"Take it Day by Day" live at the Bimhuis on 06/10/2017.
     Kevin van den Elzen - drums, composition
     Ben van Gelder - alto saxophone
     Mike Lebrun - tenor saxophone
     Adam Hersch - piano
     Max Kraus - bass

"Hero with a thousand faces" by the Dutch Concert Big Band live at the Grachtenfestival on 16/08/2018.
     Vince Mendoza - composer
     Jasper van Damme, Donald Simoen, Bernard van Rossum, Joao Driessen and Jessie Brevé - saxophones
     Jos van den Heuvel, Peter Keijsers, Matthias Konrad and Bart van Gorp - trombones
     Ywo Lamonaca, Florian Sperzel, Coos Zwagerman, Gidon Nunez Vaz and Jan-Willem te Kiefte - trumpets
     Koen Schalkwijk - piano
     Durk Hijma - guitar
     Tobias Nijboer - bass
     Kevin van den Elzen - drums
    
    

Episode 22: Itai Weissman

In this episode my guest is the Israeli saxophonist and EWI player Itai Weissman. We talk about his band Used to be New and their record Popular Emotions as well as his love of the EWI, its history and its status as a misunderstood instrument.

Itai recommended practicing sports!

Please visit Itai's Bandcamp page to purchase his music, and follow this link to the new album on Spotify.

Music featured in this episode:

"Binyamin" and "N.I.S." from the album Popular Emotions.
     Itai Weissman - saxophone, EWI
     Diego Rodriguez - bass
     Henning Luther - drums

Episode 21: Camiel Jansen

In this episode, bassist Camiel Jansen joins me to talk about his band Ikarai, working with both jazz and classical musicians and their new boxing themed project MUHAMMAD.

Camiel recommended the book Congo: The Epic History of a People by David Van Reybrouck.

Please visit Camiel's website, as well his band Ikarai's to find tour dates and purchase any of his music.

photo by Karen van Gilst

Music featured in this episode:

"Flight of the Butterfly" from MUHAMMAD and "Fernweh" from FLY.
     Camiel Jansen - bass
     Julian Schneemann - piano
     Jeroen Batterink - drums
     Tessel Hersbach - violin
     Yanna Pelser - viola
     Bence Huszar - cello

Episode 20: Joost Lijbaart

In this episode, drummer/percussionist Joost Lijbaart is my guest on the show. We talk about his long lasting musical relationship with Yuri Honing, the origin story of his latest project Under the Surface, and his approach to musical entrepreneurship.

Joost recommended the band Codona, specifically their ECM album The Codona Trilogy.

Please visit Joost's website to find his tour dates and to purchase any of his music.

Music featured in this episode:

"Above" from the album Under the Surface.
     Joost Lijbaart - drums, percussion
     Sanne Rambags - vocals
     Bram Stadhouders - guitar, electronics

"Intertwined" with Batik from the album Headland.
     Joost Lijbaart - drums, percussion
     Wolfert Brederode - piano
     Ed Verhoeff - guitar
     Mark Haanstra - electric bass

Episode 19: Joris Roelofs

In this episode my guest is (bass) clarinettist Joris Roelofs. We discuss his choice to focus on the clarinet, his study and love of philosophy (Nietzsche in particular), and how his new duo with drumming legend Han Bennink came to be.

Joris recommended Franz Kafka's short story "Investigations of a Dog".

Please visit Joris' website to find more information about his projects, upcoming tour dates and to purchase any of his music.

photo by Marcel Bakker

Music featured in this episode:

"Guidi" and "Gustav 2" from the album Icarus.
     Joris Roelofs - bass clarinet
     Han Bennink - drums

Episode 18: Marike van Dijk

In this episode, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Marike van Dijk is on the show to talk about a new album by her ensemble the Stereography Project. We discuss how she got into writing for large ensembles, her collaboration with singer songwriters Jeff Taylor and Katell Keineg, and working with both Amsterdam and New York based bands.

Marike recommended Emma Frank's album "Ocean av", as well as the band Breastfist's new record "Amuse Deuce".

Please go to Marike's website to find her tour dates, more info, and to purchase any of her music.

Music featured in this episode:

photo by Lily Chen

"Paper Thin" from the album The Stereography Project feat. Jeff Taylor and Katell Keineg.
     Jeff Taylor - Vocals, Guitar
     Marike van Dijk - Alto Sax
     Anna Webber - Flute / Tenor Sax
     Lucas Pino - Clarinet / Tenor Sax
     Jay Rattman - bassclarinet / Alto Sax
     Alan Ferber - Trombone
     Sita Chay - Violin
     Meg Okura - Violin
     Eric Lemmon - Viola
     Susan Mandel - Cello
     Manuel Schmiedel - Piano
     Rick Rosato - Bass
     Colin Stranahan - Drums

"There You Go" from the album The Stereography Project feat. Jeff Taylor and Katell Keineg.
     Katell Keineg - Vocals, Guitar,
     Marike van Dijk - Alto Sax
     Charlotte Greve - Flute/Alto Sax
     Maarten Ornstein - Clarinet/Tenor Sax
     Ben van Gelder - Bassclarinet
     Matthias Konrad - Trombone
     Jasper van Rosmalen - Violin
     Annelieke Marselje - Violin
     Rani Kumar - Viola
     Amber Docters van Leeuwen - Cello
     Manuel Schmiedel - Piano
     Sean Fasciani - Bass
     Mark Schilders - Drums

Episode 17: Kaja Draksler

In this episode, pianist and composer Kaja Draksler is my guest. We discuss her choice to study contemporary classical composition, her various projects from octet to solo, her love of vocal music and the upcoming Doek festival.

Kaja recommended reading Carl Gustav Jung, specifically Four Archetypes and Memories, Dreams, Reflections.

Please go to Kaja's website to find her tour dates, info about each of her many projects, and to purchase any of her music.

Music featured in this episode:

photo by Beata Szparagowska

"A Promise is a Promise" from the album Gledalec.
     Kaja Draksler - piano, composition
     Björk Níelsdóttir - voice
     Laura Polence - voice
     Ada Rave - reeds
     Ab Baars - reeds
     George Dumitriu - violin, viola
     Lennart Heyndels - double bass
     Onno Goveart - drums, percussion
     text by Adriana Minou

"Dusk, Mystery, Memory, Community" from the album To Pianos.
     Kaja Draksler - piano, composition
     Eve Risser - piano
    

Episode 13: Dominic J Marshall

In this episode, pianist, keyboard player and beat maker Dominic J Marshall is on the show to talk about two new releases: his beat tape Compassion Fruit, and his trio record Cave Art vol. 2. We discuss his love of hip hop and beat music, how he brings produced music from the studio to the stage, and his decision to make a record with only covers.

Dominic recommended Doris Lessing's "Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta" (from her series of novels "Canopus in Argos")

Please visit Dominic's website to find more info, tour dates, and links to purchase his music.

Music featured in this episode:

"REspect" from the album "Compassion Fruit".
     Dominic J Marshall - keyboards, samples & electronics
     Jamie Peet - drums

"Kon Queso" from the album "Cave art vol. 2"
     Dominic J Marshall - keyboards & arrangement
     Sam Vicary - bass
     Sam Gardner - drums