Catalogue
The catalogue is an overview of all released O.A.P. albums since the establishment of O.A.P. Records.
Click on the album icon to listen to some audio-samples, watch the youtube video trailer (when available) and find out more about the albums.
To buy an album, click on ‘add to cart’. Continue in the shopping cart (top right of the page) and click ‘proceed to checkout’ to complete payment and order.
Showing all 50 results
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The Tenor Team – Live at “De Witte”
€ 15,00On November 21, 2025, a unique jazz concert took place in society De Witte in The Hague. The tenor saxophonists Stan van de Wetering and Floriaan Wempe, accompanied by pianist Jasper Soffers, bassist Hans Mantel and drummer Gijs Dijkhuizen, played a varied program on that occasion. Well-known songs such as "Moonlight in Vermont", "Robin's Nest" and "Poor butterfly", "Save your love for me" got a new, energetic performance that has now been recorded on a CD: The Tenor Team - live at "De Witte". The rich, musical tradition of tenor teams that once originated in America is given a new dimension by this concert - and now by the live album released on O.A.P. Records. The craftsmanship, enthusiasm and interplay ensure a balanced and exciting performance of a total of eight compositions: from uptempo to swing.
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Dutch Jazz Band -Fresh Jazzy Notes
€ 15,00"Fresh Jazzy Notes" is the title of the Dutch Jazz Band's first CD. A catchy title, but with the risk of being taken too lightly. Understandably, the band wanted to avoid the blockbusters of the established jazz repertoire. A search for compositions with feeling, swing, and room for a touch of lyricism. Enjoyable to perform, without being overly forceful. Without becoming superficial. This resulted in a beautiful musical balance where swing remains dominant, and jazz history sneaks in a bit. In twelve surprising compositions, written between 1931 and the 1960’s. With a typical bop theme like Hank Mobley's "Funk in Deep Freeze" and the emphasis on the melody of Lee Morgan's "Ceora". Or via a composition like "The End of a Love Affair". This sextet displays a beautiful unity in approach and tone. Pleasantly natural and always swinging. Yes, "fresh". (Text: Bert Jansma, Jazz journalist)
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The Jaeger Experiment – Stability
€ 15,00Almost every composition heard on Stability was written just over a decade before these recordings were made. Each of the trio’s members had gone through various challenges and turmoil in their lives over that time but have since arrived in somewhat calmer waters. And so the concept of Stability came to be - all three musicians play the music with the experience and lessons of life’s twists and turns behind them, stabilized into their music and personality.
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Dutch Jazz Ensemble – The Cole Porter Notes
€ 15,00'The Cole Porter Notes', a simple-looking title for the second CD of the 'Dutch Jazz Ensemble'. Deceptively simple. Because that title emphasizes an attitude towards Porter's music. They are his notes, he is the leader, he shows the way. This Dutch Jazz Ensemble does not consist of six egos who compete with those notes, who have to win a war, but of enthusiasts, who want to enjoy how beautiful, delicious and intriguing those sequences can be. And they play their game with it, in style and swinging. The Dutch Jazz Ensemble makes it a close 'homage' to Porter. To quote one of his own crazy strings of words: “It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delectable, it's delirious, it's deluxe, it's de-lovely.”
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Karel Boehlee Quartet – Live at Marriott The Hague
€ 15,00Four of Holland's best musicians, a great atmosphere and audience, a beautiful grand piano and perfect sound. All the ingredients were present for a perfect afternoon of jazz. A balanced mix of jazz standards and own compositions by master pianist/composer Karel Boehlee enchanted the enthusiastic audience. Together with saxophonist Paul van der Feen, bassist Tijs Klaassen and drummer Joost van Schaik, they created wonderful jazz. Karel and his men reached their musical peaks whilst making it all look so easy, everything unfolding on the moment, interactive and playful. A live concert on August 13, 2023 which will not be easily forgotten.
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Remco Hofman Quartet – Mellow Jazzy Moods
€ 15,00Jazz has a thousand faces. From uptight, playful to spectacular. The jazz that the Remco Hofman Quartet presents on this CD goes for another feeling: subtle, mellifluous, without any hectics. The English language has a label for it: ‘fireplace music’. Music that one can bring home to enjoy tranquilly with a glass of wine in front of that open fire. It starts at the quartets home, the Netherlands, with composer Rogier van Otterloo’s hitsong ‘Dat mistige rooie beest’ (That misty reddish animal) from the movie ‘Turkish delight’, made famous by Toots Thielemans. You can’t miss the joyful pleasure in the way pianist Hofman chooses his notes here. The second solo voice in his quartet is guitar player Ron Lezer, remarkably versatile. He colours, brings deep warmth and can ‘sing’ on his instrument. Moreover two songs in which guest-trumpetteer Victor Borkent adds an important voice to the quartet: in ‘My funny Valentine’ and in a surprising version of ‘Summertime’. Jazz with an almost romantic approach, with lyricism and emotions, but always swinging. Driven and supported by the precisely dosed rhythms of drummer Barry Olthof and bassist Willem van Wijngaarden.
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Remco Hofman Trio – Blue summer notes
€ 15,00In Jazz it's not about what you do, but it's about what you don't do. With this in mind, combined with blue notes, you get a twisted swing and it becomes very recognizably Bebop. The combination of piano, bass and drums is the ideal basis for a musical jazz party. This CD is the result of friendship, dedication, guts, spontaneity and years of musical discovery. Taking into account that good health is no longer a given for everyone (Remco), that age does not play a role (Jacques) and that experience plus routine provide total peace and harmony (Barry), this trio has risen above themselves. These musicians loved playing for you and they hope that you will enjoy the blue notes with a summertime feel!
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Scott Hamilton with the René ten Cate Quartet – LIVE in the Netherlands
After an impressive career playing and recording with countless jazz greats from Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney to Benny Goodman and Woody Herman, tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton relocated to Europe in the 90’s and started working as a soloist traveling around the world playing concerts, club dates and making records. His playing still displays that boundless energy, creativity and unique straight-ahead swing style that quickly made him a household name since he burst on the scene in the middle seventies. Scott has built up a dedicated group of fans around the globe and continues to travel to play with his musician friends everywhere. This concert was recorded in the medieval town of Gouda, organized on short notice by René ten Cate, a seasoned pianist, drummer and vibraphonist who managed to find a good theater and had enough time to drum up an enthusiastic audience. A date was available in Scott’s tour schedule and René picked up the phone to put a band together in which his weapon of choice would be the vibraphone. This date had Scott playing with some old and some new friends in the best jazz tradition. The music was made on the spot and in the moment, intros and codas were fully improvised and everybody in the band fully trusted each other to do whatever was needed to make the music sound good. For good jazz sometimes that’s all you need.
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Daeyeon Shin – The Stranger (Vinyl)
€ 17,50Daeyeon Shin (Daejeon, S-Korea, 1996) Daeyeon Shin is a composer and pianist who was born in Daejeon of South Korea. He began studying piano at the age of 16 and playing both classical and jazz. His music is based on Jazz and modern classical music. The Daeyeon Shin trio was formed in 2016 around the Korean Pianist Daeyeon Shin. The band also consists of Mathijs Mens on drums and Jurriaan de Kok on bass. The Daeyeon Shin trio mainly plays their own compositions influenced by artists such as Eldar Djangirov, Alan Pasqua. For the band interaction is central. All compositions written and arranged by Daeyeon Shin.
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Hanna Marieke Trio – Rhythms Of Grace
€ 15,00‘Rhythms Of Grace’ invites you to stand still and listen attentively. Hanna Marieke’s compositions challenge you to view the world from a different perspective. She finds light, hope, grace and beauty in her everyday life. Lyrical jazz with a touch of classical and gospel music is the language that she uses to express her view on this world. This is how the album came to be. When listening to ‘Groundwater’ you can almost see spring bursting out from the trees. With ‘A Moment’s Choice’ an important choice is at center stage, which is translated into an energetic twist. The album takes you on the journey of Hanna Marieke’s life; from a slow morning walk with ‘Quiet times’ to an inner battle with ‘Whisper Louder’. Her bright voice enters with the third piece on the album. She opens the piece singing about the character of time, after which you can hear the clock ticking when the constant groove comes in. The calmness and playfulness of the music are reinforced by the acoustic jazz trio. The thrilling interactions between the musicians are dynamic yet in peace with each other. The album characterizes itself by its feminine character. Hanna Marieke is one of the rare female pianists in the Netherlands. Her album doesn’t scream for attention, it invites you to find empathy for life as it is.
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Dutch Jazz Ensemble – Lazy Notes
CD SOLD OUT ‘Lazy Notes’, not a word of a lie. Remarkable, because the Dutch Jazz Ensemble is a newly formed group of musicians from different generations. They know each other from the gigs and jams in the pubs and clubs of The Hague. Here united for a joint feeling for all those beautiful jazzstandards. From Hoagy Carmichaels ‘Skylark’ to Victor Youngs ‘Beautiful Love’. Together with the old gold of ‘Black Orpheus’, ‘Estate’, ‘Angel Eyes’, ‘Body and Soul’. Or lesser known compositions as guitarplayer-singer Sacha Distels ‘The good life’ and Henry Earl (= Hank) Mobley’s ‘This I Dig of You’. So don’t expect doors to be opened to a soundscape of frightful innovations, here the doors swing open to a venue full of warmth and respect for the character of these songs. With the tender touch of Patrieck Bonnets sax, the graceful swing of René ten Cate’s vibes, the crystal clear guitar articulations of Wouter van Deventer and the adventurous trumpet of Kees Kamphuis who forbids it to become too smooth. All tightly backed by the experienced rhythm section of Remco Hofman (piano), Willem van Wijngaarden (bas) and Barry Olthof (drums). Their tasteful ‘Lazy Notes’ are good for happy recognitions, and urge one to sit down, relax and enjoy.
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Don Braden / Joris Teepe Quartet – In the spirit of Herbie Hancock (Best Jazz album Downbeat U.S.A. 2021)
€ 15,00It was a full house on November 15th 2019 when the Don Braden / Joris Teepe Quartet played “In the spirit of Herbie Hancock” in De Witte. Expectations were high knowing that Don and Joris have more than 25 years of collaboration behind them. Long ago they immediately recognized their compatibility of personalities and attitudes. Their last album “Conversations” (2016) is strong proof of that and was highly acclaimed among others by DownBeat Magazine. Judging by the standing ovation at the end of the concert on November 15th the same might happen to this album. The music of the great pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, arranger, composer and actor Herbie Hancock (April 12th, 1940), one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound, inspired Don and Joris to arrange a varied selection of his compositions from ballads to blues and straight-ahead to medium swing. They also added two of their own compositions that were strongly influenced by Hancock. All excellently performed by a finely tuned Dutch-American quartet showing visible and audible joy of playing in the spirit of their iconic collegue.
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The New York Second – Emergo
€ 15,00The compositions on this album are compelling, and stay with you after listening – it is as if they have always existed. The composer, Harald Walkate, is a pianist who combines a career in finance with a passion for jazz and whose playing is subtle – reminiscent of a philosopher who liberates himself in lyricism, and in the grooves of compositions that are often driven by a funky feel (‘Higher and Higher’). Never egocentrically exuberant; rather the attentive foreman of the quintet that he employs in spinning his tales. The album title ‘Emergo’ is inspired by the motto of Dutch province Zeeland (Luctor et Emergo), and the composition ‘A Water’s Cloak’ (written for the ZeelandJazz festival) is a sonification of the epic struggle against the sea in that part of the country: the quiet, the storm and its drama, followed by the reconstruction. Walkate’s quartet The New York Second is a close-knit group in its own right, but special guest trumpeter Teus Nobel lends it additional depth, with sumptuous improvisations including the muted trumpet solo in ‘Hadrian’s Hill’. But also in lush two-voiced harmonies together with saxophonist Frank Paavo, for example in ‘That Does It’, a piece that brims with gospel and soul influences. It all conspires in making ‘Emergo’ a refined and colorful album. Often with a funky touch (courtesy of Marijn van de Ven on bass and Max Sergeant on drums), as in the theme ‘Hello Joey’, in which Walkate discovered – after its completion – the influences of Quincy Jones and Joe Zawinul. Harald Walkate may be a less familiar name in jazz circles, all the more remarkable is his album ‘Emergo’. ‘Emergo’ offers music that is elegant and intimate. But also multi-faceted and vivacious.
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United Hammond Jazz Quartet – Live at ‘De Witte’
€ 15,00It has become common practice now: jazz concerts, recorded live on cd by O.A.P. Records, right in the centre of The Hague at the splendid location of what is officially known as “The Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit De Witte", a private club founded in 1782 and generally referred to as 'De Witte'. In 2018 it was saxophone legend Scott Hamilton and company who were invited by the Jazz Table and this time Mike LeDonne, one of the leading Hammond B3 organ players in the world and master alto saxophonist Vincent Herring supported by two of Holland’s finest jazz musicians, Martien Oster on guitar and Hans Braber on drums, appeared in “De Witte” on Monday April 8th 2019 as part of their “That Feeling” tour. A quick decision was made when on the eve of a tour through The Netherlands and Germany it appeared that Mike LeDonne on Hammond B3 and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring were interested in performing and recording at De Witte. Accompanied by Dutch guitarist Martien Oster and drummer Hans Braber these two famous Americans gave an inspiring and eventful concert for an enthusiastic audience on April 8th. The characteristic, funky and soulful sound of Mike’s Hammond B3 joined by the crisp and versatile playing of Vincent on alto saxophone interspersed with well chosen solos by Martien on guitar and supported by solid drumming of Hans made this a truly united Dutch - American performance. Two sets were played full of variation with two compositions by Mike LeDonne himself inspired by hammond heavy weights such as Jimmy Smith, Richard “Groove” Holmes and “Brother” Jack McDuff and also compositions or arrangements by Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole and Sammy Davis jr.
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Scott Hamilton – Blue ‘N’ Boogie
€ 15,00Hearing Scott Hamilton play, is like listening to a declaration of love that already lasts for many years but still is as potent as then. And what a joy to recognize how the tenorman absorbed the musical idiom of the jazzgreats of his youth, from Coleman Hawkins to Ben Webster, and shaped his very own language and pronounciation for it. On his musical journeys in a stylistically mixed-up world, he always found in any country musicians who were glad to speak that language with him. As in the Netherlands in OAP’s ‘Blue 'N' Boogie’: the contagious swing of drummer Frits Landesbergen, light when it can, forceful when it has to be. Or bassplayer Hans Mantel who lovingly provides his punctuation marks and reminds one (e.g. in Franz Léhars ‘Yours is my heart alone’) of a George Mraz. Italian pianoplayer and singer Francesca Tandoi is a discovery. Who heard her play and sing Bruno Martino’s ‘Estate’ doesn’t want it any other way; the romance of ‘Maybe you’ll be there’ is matching. Within her stylistically pure piano adventures always a nose for the right ‘blue notes’. Hamiltons choice of repertory mirrors the timelessness of his taste. Dizzy Gillespie’s swinging titlesong next to ‘The sheik of Araby’ that dates from 1921 but sparklingly is lifted over years and time. Or the non-sentimental beauty of ‘Body and soul’. Or Duke Ellington’s ‘Come Sunday’, with echoes of Johnny Hodges. ‘Blue 'N' Boogie’ is sheer pleasure.
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Scott Hamilton – Jazz at the club LIVE from sociëteit De Witte
CD SOLD OUT When, early seventies, Scott Hamilton made his international debut, it was a kind of sensation. On the album cover he looked like a guy from the fifties or even earlier. The music he played also had the taste of yore. Of all those great swingers that preceded him. Scott Hamilton seemed a fad that would fade. Not so with Hamilton. Happily. His style was a matter of pure love. A love to which he stayed faithful. With that ideal mastery of the flowery language of swing and bop. Up to the smallest punctuation marks. Being able to use them fluently in enjoyable stories everyone could like. By lovingly blowing new life into his ‘standards’. In The Hague’s ‘Literaire Sociëteit De Witte’ the Jazz at the Club- programme brought Hamilton together with Dutch jazzmusicians who could have been his blood relatives, musically speaking. Drummer Frits Landesbergen who as a young musician already gathered all the important jazz prizes in his country and always swings. Bass player Hans Mantel a musician who can caress, swing ánd sing on his instrument. With the youngest of the band, piano player Francesca Tandoi, originally from Rome but living in The Hague, who supports and solos with lots of phantasy and a perfect timing. And whose singing voice is as important. Because of the ear-pleasing intimacy and romance of her expression in ‘Maybe you’ll be there’ and ‘Estate’. ‘Scott Hamilton Live’ offers a delightful journey from what jazz was to what it is. With the ancient ‘Sheik of Araby’ (1921, from a Rudolf Valentino-movie) to Dizzy Gillespie’s ‘Blue 'N' Boogie’. From ‘Dein ist mein ganzes Herz’, from the Franz Léhar operetta ‘Das Land des Lächens’, as a jazz piece titled ‘Yours is my heart alone’. To Irving Berlins beautiful ‘How deep is the ocean’ or Gene de Pauls ‘I’ll remember April’. Welcome to the world of the eternal lover, Scott Hamilton.
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Martien Oster Quartet Featuring Harold Mabern – Handshake
€ 15,00It is one of the miracles, and at the same time essentials, of jazz: guitarplayer Martien Oster’s text accompanying his new album ‘Handshake’ tells how he found out two American musicians he admired were in Holland and how he just asked them to join him on an album. No rehearsals, no deeply thought-over arrangements, just the joy, fun and drive of the music and of playing for the first time together. Now, that’s jazz. Osters guests are stellar jazzmusicians: Joe Farnsworth and Harold Mabern. Oster remembered pianist Mabern from quite a while ago when Mabern accompanied the great Wes Montgomery in Europe. Mabern is the living connection between jazz and blues, listen here to his own ‘Rakin’ and scrapin’, (once title piece of an album he made with George Coleman and Blue Mitchell). When the New York jazzclub Smoke decided to issue its own series of cd’s, the first musician they asked was Mabern. Together with Joe Farnsworth, probably the busiest drummer in New York. And here they are, in the Netherlands, with Oster and Canadian –Dutch bassplayer Steven Willem Zwanink. The handshake they exchange is a warm and solid one. From Wes Montgomery’s ‘Road song’, to Charlie Parker-vehicle ‘Relaxing at Camarillo’s’, or the slowrocking swing of ‘Gee Baby, ain’t I good to You’ and the beauty of ‘My ideal’ and Kurt Weills ‘Speak Low’. A history of pure jazz, told by a unique one-time international quintet. You’ll want to join them.
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Leo Bouwmeester Trio – View Lines
€ 15,00The choice of two compositions strongly connected with the name of masterpianist Bill Evans speaks volumes on ‘View lines’, the new cd of the Leo Bouwmeester trio. Evans’own ‘Turn out the stars’, Earl Zindars ‘How my heart sings’, turned famous by Evans, here characterize pianist Bouwmeesters subtility, his feeling for musical shades, for the beauty of harmonies and his tendency to turn the adventure inside. He touches them with love and devotion. They typify the warmth Bouwmeesters cd radiates, including the four own compositions he presents. This is not the jazz of the theatrical grand gestures, or the conceited ego, this is music of beautiful developments, swinging with care and refinement but concise. Gershwins ‘I loves you Porgy’, Bouwmeesters own, strong compositions ‘View lines’ and ‘Park Evenue’, Bruno Martins lovely ballad ‘Estate’ are ideal examples as well. Bouwmeesters vision and his loves are intensely shared by his soulmates in rhythm and harmony: bassplayer Sanne van Delft and drummer Nout Ingen Housz. A tight trio caught here in a beautiful soundscape. With ‘Bebe’ (by the Brazilian Hermeto Pascual) Bouwmeester introduces a ‘latin’ element, with ‘Mr. C.I.’ (by composer Chano Dominguez dedicated to Cameron de la Isla) the Bouwmeester trio closes a very happy marriage between swing and flamenco.
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Laurence Fish – Sen’s Fortress
€ 15,00It strikes you right-away in the debut cd of jazzpianist Laurence Fish and his quintet that it evades trends, fashions or influences from too often visited corners of the musical universe. This is jazz, mainstream jazz, supported by the simple feeling of creating beauty, to fascinate and emote. Through ‘music pure’. Moreover Fish adds five, very diverse compositions of his own that are quite something. From the strong title-piece with its appetising, jumpy melodyline to the ballads ‘Dust’ and ‘Mariposa’. The former with a rich coloring by the three horns (tenor-, altosax and trumpet), whereas guesttrompetist Nanouck Brassers (now on flügelhorn) transcends the latter into one long dreamline. Fish’choice of standards speaks volumes: Johnny Mandels ‘Close enough for love’, Mercer Ellingtons ‘Things ain’t what they used to be’, Jobims ‘Ligia’. Strong character pieces, with insight and feeling supported by the young saxplayers Casper van Wijk and Tom van der Zaal, bassplayer Matheus Nicolaiewsky. And by ‘old masterhand’ Eric Ineke who uses both his hard drive and his subtle brushes for the dots, points and exclamation marks. Laurence Fish’s trio-version of Victor Youngs ‘Ghost of a chance’ says all about his musical attitude: Lovingly, with the guts to reveal solid beauty. “A half way point, yet a beginning”, Fish characterises his position in his endearing accompanying text. It makes you curious to hear his follow up.
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René ten Cate Trio – Solar
€ 15,00René ten Cate presents a beautiful and ear-catching range of surprises in his first album 'Solar'. The Dutch jazz scene knows him as a vibraphonist, here he shows himself a pianist armed with the same qualities: love and respect for the favorite compositions he chooses for his trio and a warm musicality, with a romantic hint. Highly recognizable in five, often sensitive, own compositions including ‘April Song ', ' Journey’ and 'Reflections', the latter highlighted with a beautiful ‘classic touch’. All of them played with a relaxed sense of timing whilst maintaining a driving feel for swing and groove. The 'standards' he chooses pleasantly vary in character and have very different origins. Miles Davis' title song 'Solar', George Colemans 'Amsterdam after Dark’, Ellington's ‘In a sentimental mood’ to Milt Jackson's ‘Bags Groove (in which he strikingly does not play the vibes) and Chick Corea's' Bud Powell’. Ten Cate takes his hat off to these songs from the modern jazz tradition, but still makes them completely his own, without the intention of creating an ego story. This applies to 'Solar' as a whole: this is a real trio playing and improvising, in which piano, vibes and the sounds of bassist Andy Valkenburg and drummer Barry Olthof create strong, 'intertwined' patterns. The latter musicians also provide two personal contributions (resp. 'Drifting on a cloud' and 'Free space swing'). With Ten Cate's first album 'Solar' we have a subtle piano trio like you don’t hear that often anymore. Work of three jazz men clearly on the same level of understanding. And enjoying that audibly.
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Jan Verwey – Dreamdancing
€ 15,00As a trio, we tried to create a mood reminiscent of Charlie Haden, Richie Beirach and Michel Petrucciani, but in our case with the harmonica as pivot, enabling us to create a special, unique texture. Because of this, the title “Dreamdancing” acquired a double meaning. Not only is the album named for the Cole Porter piece, but the ensemble’s special texture also lends the CD a dreamy aspect. The CD of course contains swing-pieces, but also free parts where rhythm hardly features, with beautiful bowed sections by Jasper, not coincidentally Enrico Pieranunzi’s fixed bass player. Both he and Johan played a strong part in creating the form of this album. Through his collaborations with Toots, Johan learned a lot about shaping the right musical setting for the harmonica. Both have worked with many international jazzcats. Furthermore, I wanted to send a message to all Dutch jazz musicians, encouraging them to continue playing the music of their forefathers, who, in a sense, taught them their ‘trade’ through the compositions they contributed. Of course there are the originals, your own work, and there are the Standards. I’ve created my own term: Original Standards. These are Realbook pieces that aren’t played that often but are, each one, cool jazz-pearls in their own right, such as those in classical music by, for example, Mahler, Beethoven and Bach. And classical musicians do honour their traditions!
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Inedits – Vortex
€ 15,00Inedits is a new band, conceived as the brainchild of bassist and bandleader Nuno Torres Marques (Lissabon, 1971). With Inedits Nuno explores the musical spectrum: he’s influenced by the combination tone / color and composes adventurous, melodic jazz. This interesting approach can be heard in catchy, drawn-out compositions. The listener will be taken on a journey through a wonderful hypnotic world that sometimes reflects hints of the Mediterranean. This is no coincidence considering the international line-up of musicians. The relatively young band has experienced some line-up changes and is now at full strength with new guitarist (Rui Silva) and drummer (Jimmi Hueting). In March 2015 the band went to the O.A.P. Studio and recorded the strong debut album 'Vortex'. This album show's us the fruit of vision, hard work and inspiration laid down by Nuno Torres Marques and company.
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Mezcolanza – Headbanger
€ 15,00On their debut album called ‘Headbanger’, the band takes the listener into a deep-rooted musical tradition of catchy jazz-melodies and afro cuban rhythms. The craftsmanship and musical ingenuity of keyboardist Peter Wenk (and associates) gives this record memorable melodies, depth and a danceable feel. Since its birth, the band has experienced a growing maturity and their group dynamics have become noticeably strong. This all comes together in the recordings sessions that Mescolanza did in November 2014 for O.A.P. Records. Interesting detail: percussionist Gerardo Rosales recently received a Grammy for his percussion work for various studio sessions in the USA. His contribution to 'Headbanger' is therefore a sign that Mezcolanza is an act to reckon with!
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Sintiromarus – Impressions of Gipsy Life
€ 15,00Passionate and remarkable gypsy ensemble Sintiromarus was founded in October of 2006 by primas Blichta Hoopman, the greatgranddaughter of the well-known Tata Mirando. The name Sintiromarus refers to the origin of the musicians and their music. Their first CD was released in October 2009 with the title Latcho Drom - which means ”Good Journey”. Sintiromarus brings gypsy musics that from the very first note weaves its way into the heart. Through their music you can join them on a journey of all various cultures which the gypsies experienced whilest travelling. The longing, the melancholy and the celebrations which can be heard and felt in their virtuoso playing, is a global language which speaks from soul to soul. In the compostitions written by the primas, sinti lady Blichta Hoopman, you can hear her own gypsy rhythm and musical freedom which leads right to the heart.
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Locomarket – Zingaria
€ 15,00Locomarket is a new Italian band on O.A.P. Records. Their first album Zingaria is a product of musical experiment by four childhood friends expressing their love for music and celebrating the moment of meeting each-other again. This musical experiment shows us that four different musicians can combine different styles of music and improvise to find a new balance. The result is a journey through an imaginary world where melody and rhythm are combined in fluid compositions. According to the band, the name Locomarket stands for a musical 'free-market' where ideas about melody, rhythm and sound are exchanged and smoothly reinterpreted. This music is created and written down on the spot, capturing the mood and airy atmosphere of a extraordinary moment in time. The wonderful sound and playing of award-winning accordionist Carmine Ioanna gifs this music an extra lift into another dimension. Recorded at O.A.P. Studio in The Hague, Locomarket first album Zingaria is now ready to be discovered!
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Genzo Okabe – Second Line
€ 15,00Second Line is the culmination of two years of research on early jazz by Genzo Okabe. By exploring the African-American music that flourished in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century, Genzo incorporated the essence of it's melodies, harmonies, and rhythm into his own compositions. The first half of the album is a tribute to early jazz music, introducing stride piano, second line rhythm, and the funeral march which is deeply rooted in the traditions of New Orleans. Slowly the album begins to demonstrate Genzo's individual manner of reconstruction and integration of these source materials, fusing them more freely with his interpretation of contemporary polyrhythm and reharmonization. Composed as an homage to the origins of jazz music, the album shows the rediscovery of the richness, effectiveness, and modernity of the early jazz, as well as the fundamental affinity with contemporary jazz music.
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Juraj Stanik Trio – WOW
CD SOLD OUT Piano player Juraj Stanik plays fresh modern jazz and is inspired by Herbie Hancock, Mulgrew Miller, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and other great musicians, without ignoring his own creativity. With musical ideas, elaborated on the basis of his academic musical education the number of his compositions is constantly being extended. Many times a subtle reminiscence of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Bartok and Messiaen can be heard in his musical concepts. Many of his compositions are specially written for his piano trio with Joost van Schaik on drums and Frans van der Hoeven on Bass. “Thinking of the trio I prefer to play and write more intimate, chamber like music. Of course there is always room for dynamic gestures”
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Sebastiaan van Bavel Trio – As the Journey Begins (EDISON AWARD WINNER JAZZ NATIONAL 2014)
€ 15,00Pianist, composer Sebastiaan van Bavel is at the beginning of his career, but he already shows an impressive CV. Next to a number of smaller awards he has won the prestigious Prinses Christina Competition in the category Jazz (2008). Three years later he wins the same Competition but now in the category of Classical music (2011). This because of his exceptional talent in both Classical and Jazz music. Van Bavel clearly shows his love for both genres. The fact that van Bavel is fully in command of the piano is reflected in his compositions. They have a structure more resembling a classical symphony than a jazz standard. With bassplayer Maciej Domaradzki and drummer Remi Troost van Bavel found the ideal musical partners to perform his compositions into perfection. In the spring of 2014 the Sebastiaan van Bavel Trio will present their debut-album: As The Journey Begins. It goes without saying that with this title the Trio refers to the fact that they show their own work for the first time. This album explains the musical and artistic journey that these three fantastic musicians are undertaking. The album contains eight of van Bavel's compositions. By intelligently linking the eight compositions the listener is compelled to also take this journey. The album marks the beginning of what undoubtedly will be a succesful career for both the trio and the individual musicians.
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Rugile – A Promise
€ 15,00Rugile is a versatile musician whose passion is to improvise. Rugile's vision is to develop a style of vocal jazz in a spiritual direction: healing body, mind and soul through the combination of intention, sound and deep-in-meaning words. Through music she wants to inspire people to choose Compassion, Love and Oneness as opposed to Ego ways and follow their dreams! Next to that she wants her music to be entertaining and exciting. Apart from singing she plays and performs with flute and the Lithuanian plucked string instrument kankles. Rugile has been playing with many jazz musicians and has been changing jazz bands till she met a wonderful piano player Robert Rook with whom she has been collaborating on each possible occasion since then. She loved the combination and after bassist Luciano Poli and Victor de Boo on drums joined, the Jazz Quartet has been settled. All arrangements by Rugile Daujotaite, except: Round Midnight, Jazz Crimes and Save Your Love For Me. Arrangement 1st song of Three Lithuanian Folk Songs by Vytautas Straizys.
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Orion Ensemble – Ballade
CD SOLD OUT On BALLAD, the latest CD from the Orion Ensemble, are three ballads without words. In a ballad, we tell each other our stories. About people fighting for their freedom, fighting over life and death, about men and women desiring to their ideal love. The ballads on this CD are all inspired by lyrics and melodies from the Jewish culture. Some of these texts were originally in Yiddish, Ladino, or other in Hebrew. The first ballad is about the desire for peace, the second about hope and the third about the tragedy of unrequited love. The music on the CD BALLAD is composed and arranged by Leonard Leutscher, the pianist of the Orion Ensemble. With one of his compositions, Ale Brider (track 3 on the CD), was the Orion Ensemble finalist in 2008 and winner of the First International Jewish Music Competition in Amsterdam. The Orion Ensemble is a chamber music ensemble with a solid core piano trio. It was founded in 2000. It gives many concerts on the Dutch stages with feature programming without borders, in style and time. One of the strengths of the ensemble is the original way link between classical, jazz, Jewish, Spanish and Argentine music. BALLAD is the ninth album of the Orion Ensemble. The CD Touched by Orion, also published by O.A.P. Records, was No. 1 for two weeks in the Classical Top 50 of TROS radio in The Netherlands.
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Robert Rook Trio – Momentum
€ 15,00Robert Rook is a jazz pianist who attracts the listener’s attention immediately through the intensity of his playing: an intriguing encounter between drama and poetry. Penetrating exploration tempered by softness and tenderness. Musical intelligence coupled with a bright imagination. On this new trio CD, Momentum, this all is present. A personal touch is combined with the thoughtful and sensitive yet swinging accompaniment of bass and drums, culminating in beautiful unity. All composition by Robert Rook, except Orbits by Wayne Shorter.
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Jaejin Ahn Trio – Lazy Step
€ 15,00The young Korean guitar player Jaejin Ahn proves himself an amazing newcomer with his album ‘Lazy Step’. Mature, sharp, playful and daring, he creates his own and incomparable jazz in an often minimalistic, single-note style. Like a modern painter in a sketchbook in which jotted lines and the space between them shape the gripping final image. Quite diverging pieces thus becoming a perfect unity. Versions of Monk (‘Work’) and John Lewis (‘Milestones’) connect wonderfully with Ahns own compositions. As goes for an ‘oldie’ like Fats Wallers ‘Jitterbug waltz’. They carry the stamp of Ahn and of today. Moreover his own compositions ‘Grey’and ‘Jiho’- the latter with Caspar van Wijk on tenorsax – are a pure joy, sounding like they’ve always been around. ‘Nightmare’ is the only piece in which Ahn uses guitareffects in its haunting theme. Simplicity, warmth and originality abound in a debut to be cherished. All compositions by Jaejin Ahn, except Work by Thelonius Monk, Milestones by John Lewis and Jitterbug Waltz by Fats Waller.
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Gerrie van der Klei – Lovers & Friends
€ 15,00Singer Gerrie van der Klei could have written her memoirs, but chose to make an album. What a joy. For ‘Lovers & Friends’ gives a better picture of life than hundred pages could. Love and love lost, happiness that becomes memory, life that seems to rhyme but just doesn’t. The actress-singer-musicalstar sings that lifestory in ballads, with ‘Scotch and soda' - playing herself the ukulele from her youth – as a musical smile in between. Topnotch songs from the international repertory, with a caressing delivery that touches the heart of them. Moving in the way she makes words and music completely her own: ‘In the wee small hours’, Lennonn & McCarthy’s ‘In my life’ – which marked her television debut in 1967 - ‘The best of times’, dedicated to her great love, big band leader and physician Boy Edgar (deceased 1980), a Sinatra-song like ‘Empty tables’, Strayhorns ‘Lush life’. Gerrie van der Klei is accompanied by topmusicians from the Dutch jazz scene with a superior feeling for the ‘whats’ and ‘wheres’ in a song, ideally contributing to this warm and poignant life in music.
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Jan Schröder Quartet – From Here To Her
€ 15,00With his second CD ‘From here to her’ jazz guitar player Jan Schröder confirms the promises he did in his internationally enthusiastically received debut (‘OneLineDrawing’). ‘Multilayered’, ‘a direct hit’, ‘top quartet’ wrote JazzThing (Germany) and JazzPodium then. Schröders latest strikes again by its unusual richness in melodically haunting material, in themes as well as in improvisations. With hypnotically beautiful lines that often show a deep, romantic sensitivity, without getting sentimental. With subtle lyrical moments and even when the quartet sounds more ‘down to earth’ always that unique feeling for melody and form. The title composition is pure musical beauty without frills, the heart of the matter for this whole CD. The tender subtility goes for all of the quartet with its constantly changing colouring of classical song elements and modern jazzy rhythms. Tasteful and exact (Bas Kisjes double bass and Tuur Moens drums), with keyboardist Paul Maassen’s apt and matching choices for piano, fender rhodes or hammond. And always there is that original sound of Schröder himself, with that admirable playing style, very much his own, like you seldom hear.
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European Union Quartet – The Dark Peak
€ 15,00Atmosphere and emotions are key words for the European Union Quartet and its CD 'The Dark Peak'. A quartet that is really European with its combination of a Dutch, a German, a Slovak and an English jazzmusician. The title piece (by bassist Gavin Barras) has a nearly picturesque quality: one hears a landscape growing in the sheer suggestive lines of sax and guitar. Adventurous music-making is what these nine, own compositions have in common. It can be in subtle musing, with a dreamlike feel, like in the beautiful soundscape of 'House by the lake'. Or in the way the quartet grows together towards a structure in 'Reddish Vale'. All four instruments are equally important in there improvisations and strikingly together in emotionality saxplayer Iman Spaargaren's composition 'Zieleroersel' is all about emotions and it is a joy to hear how suggestive and controlled the band explores form and sounds. The European Union Quartet plays a modern jazz that looks for the inside of things. With great emotional and melodic qualities.
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Marzio Scholten – World Of Thought
€ 15,00For his second CD Marzio Scholten has surrounded himself with a great band. 'World Of Thought' superbly confirms the promise of his classy first album 'Motherland'. Besides a piano intro by the always intriguing Randal Corsen all of the compositions are Scholten’s. Musical stories that never stick to just one mood, but journey from stillness to emotion as in the opening ‘Tricks’, into introspection (title song), a deep feeling of longing in the fine ‘A breath of love’ or the strong movement and groove of ‘The puzzle’. The togetherness of Scholten’s band sound is striking, with Stefan Lievestro (bass), Bob Roos (drums) and Corsen as the ideal base and with two guest soloists who are both great surprises: the Israelian sax man Yaniv Nachum and the American trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire (winner of the Thelonious Monk Award 2007). Both perfectly matching their very personal and driven improvisations to the atmosphere and subtility of Marzio Scholtens music. Without any cliché, moving and inviting to many more listenings. All compositions by Marzio Scholten, except 'Piano Intro To W.O.T.' by Randal Corsen.
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Thijs Cuppen Trio – Homeground
€ 15,00Pianist Thijs Cuppen makes music that doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed. He belongs to no genre, does not want to be trendy, but reveals himself in his debut CD ‘Homeground’ as a poet-storyteller with feeling for drama and a pianistic idiom very much his own. Cuppen is known for his work in saxophone player Susanne Alt’s quartet, with whom he recorded three albums, performed several times at the North Sea jazz festival, but builds here a surprising and personal musical home with a remarkably precise and subtle trio. His ten own compositions, which almost can be listened to as a joint ‘suite’, are beautifully contrasting, with haunting melody lines that resound in one’s ears. Sometimes with an impressionistic shade, always full of atmosphere. From the strong and tight opening movement of ‘Slumber mountain’ into the tenderness of ‘The Traveler’. From a melancholic ‘Homeground’- with bowed bass – via the frenetic dissonants of ‘Otherness’ into a poetry (‘Last blossom') that never gets sentimental. Helped strongly by the naturalness and the original accompaniment of drummer Philippe Lemm and the right choices of bassplayer Cord Heineking in this tightly knit jazztrio. All compositions written and arranged by Thijs Cuppen.
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Teddy Charles & Walter Wolff Trio – LIVE
€ 15,00Vibraphone legend Teddy Charles performed with the Walter Wolff Trio at the Bimhuis in The Netherlands on November 7th 2008. In his own words he experienced: ‘Some of the finest and most challenging moments in my lengthy career’. This is one of the great wonders of Jazz: three young musicians together with a vibraphonist who for over six decades has played his own role in the development of Jazz. It hits off immediately, is both daring and subtle. They sound as if they've shared the stage for years: Teddy Charles (1928) and the trio of Finnish piano player Walter Wolff (1981). Charles went through everything in Jazz from swing to bop, to ‘third stream’, to playing with Charles Mingus. His solo phrasing is original, compare to none and never clichéd, like a youngster, he's still discovering things. Pianist Wolff answers beautifully, always tasteful, and leaves little wonder that he is considered a rising talent on his instrument (winner Leidse Jazz Award). Italian bassist Francesco Angiuli and Danish drummer Andreas Fryland are the ideal partners in this inspiring adventure. The Wolff and Charles duet in Haggarts' ‘What’s new’ is a piece of pure beauty. All eight tracks were remarkably well recorded ‘LIVE’ in Amsterdam at the Bimhuis.
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Sintiromarus – Latcho Drom
CD SOLD OUT Passion and emotion are the keywords in this celebration of gipsy music. With their first CD the sparkling gipsy ensemble Sintiromarus presents music that inflames, that is melancholic and romantic. Music that urges to dance. Or makes one melt away into a soulful tear. Golden oldies from the Rumanian, Russian or Hungarian gipsy heritage brought to new life with a strikingly modern fervor. Sintiromarus proves with dashing virtuosity and bravura this is music for now and forever. Polished in beautiful arrangements, not a speck of dust here, always true to its great tradition. Sintiromarus comprises two violins, cymbalom and piano. Played by musicians of various origins, with Sinti, Roma, or Russian background (hence the ensemble’s name), backgrounds that are lovingly celebrated. Be it a Moldavian hora, Monti’s Csárdás, or the title composition ‘Latcho drom’ (pleasant journey). Sintiromarus brings gipsy music that from the very first measures of the opening composition ‘Basso’ wins its way into the heart.
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Marc Bischoff Trio – Later Is Too Late
CD SOLD OUT On his CD ‘Later is Too Late’ pianist Marc Bischoff surprises with a very personal interpretation of the piano trio format. Bischoff already made his name in latin jazz, here he opens new perspectives in eleven own compositions. Intriguing themes, varying from the pure melodious and lyrical (‘Waltz for a rainy day’, his pianosolo ‘Silent conversation’) to crispy grooves (‘U-turn’), all rhythmically rock-solid. With a subtle use of effects on the grand piano and a tinge of latin, sometimes just showing through, in one composition dominating (‘Black Jack’). The Antillian bass guitar player (both electric and fretless) Reno Steba and the Iranian percussion wizard Afra Mussawisade respond in a rather unique way on Bischoffs debut CD as a leader. This is not a case of just a gifted piano player and his two accompanists, here we have three equally virtuoso voices, supporting each other and together exploring the spaces of improvisation. Packed with expression, exciting, melodious and introspective. A musical journey with a very own heartbeat and an amazing wealth of variations in sound. All compositions written and arranged by Marc Bischoff. All percussion arrangements by Afra Mussawisade.
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Yvonne Smeets – Under a Cloud
€ 15,00Jazz-singer, composer ánd lyricist. All these qualifications are true for versatile and multi-talented Yvonne Smeets in her debut CD ‘Under a cloud’. This rich scope of talents results in four compositions of her own in quite varied musical colours: from the grooving title song to the philosophical ‘Circle’. That she aims high is clear from her choice of six compositions by jazzmasters Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler and Wayne Shorter – from the latter his ‘Black Nile’, ‘Adam’s apple’ and ‘Iris’- all sung with her own, striking lyrics. Moreover she presents two songs by Kate Bush and three Brazilian songs (a.o. Jobim). Yvonne Smeets’ music is always pure, warm en never obvious. It can be the wit and finesse of the musical story she tells, the spirited improvisations she scats along, or the relaxed grooves. The singer is supported by the subtly swinging and open sounding trio of guitarist Jens Larsen, bassplayer Maciej Domaradzki and drummer Emanuel Donadelli. For three songs she chose as sole accompaniment the piano of Tilmar Junius. With a beautiful outcome that is both delicate and intriguing. The remarkable debut of a singer who makes choices both attractive and daring and already deserves her very own place in jazz.
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Compasión – Salmuera
€ 15,00Compasión brings a combination of flamenco and improvised music. The musicians are inspired by traditional forms as well as newly composed material. Elements of jazz and flamenco make a unity, or a contrast. The versatility of Antal Steixners percussion links flamenco vocalist Carlos Denia Moreno, guitarist John Fillmore and reed players Steven Kamperman and Paul Weiling together. Stirred-up rhythms (compás) and passion (pasión) for improvisation lead to a spectacular meeting of cultures.
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TRÆBEN – Nordic Project
CD SOLD OUT The Nordic Project by the quartet Træben adds a surprising and sensitive sound to the jazz idiom. Træben consists of young jazzmusicians (some of them originating from Scandinavia) who met at the the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. For their debut CD they combined ‘traditionals’ from Scandinavia (so-called ‘viser’) with a remarkable choice of four songs by the late Cornelis Vreeswijk, the Dutch troubadour, who had a few hits in his land of birth and is famous in Sweden and Denmark as a poet. The Traeben quartet does not use his texts, but takes advantage of his melodies for beautiful, softly melancholic excursions into the jazz area. The fine balance of their jazz-drive and the tunefullness of the folk ‘viser’ sets this debut CD apart. Crisp when in its swinging gear (as in Vreeswijks ‘Horoskopvisa’), making one’s heart melt in its ballads. Traeben brings a warm, new sound, strong in its vulnerability. A quartet with equal room for the individual voices without the subtle, stilistic unity getting lost. With a graceful harmony, tersely supported by the rhythm, of bass and guitar or saxophone, that makes a difference. All arrangements by Jens Larsen except Grimasch om Morgonen by Olaf Meijer.
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Anka Koziel Quartet – Tales of the Forest
€ 15,00What is possible in jazz can be heard in the debut CD of Anka Koziel. The young Polish singer (who studied at the Royal Conservatory, the Hague) goes back to the songs she grew up with. Her jazz versions of two songs of compatriot Chopin with texts by the poet S.Witwicki, three Polish folksongs, her own ‘Spring Night’ inspired by Fauré’s ‘Clair de lune’ and her ‘Forest tale’, with its instrumental suggestion of mysterious sounds of woods, fit together wonderfully. Romantic with pep; as well wild and high-spirited as dreamily enjoying the poetry: The force of spring, a very earthy ‘Red berry blues’ (Czerwone jagody) up to the funnily jumpy ‘Goldfish’ (Zlota rybka). ‘The face I love’, the only standard (M.Valle and R.Gilbert) fits like a glove with its first line ‘Just think of things like daffodils and peaceful sheep on clovered hills’. Koziels well-wrought arrangements guarantee the harmonious marriage of all these elements. Her international trio (Brice Soniano, bass, Oriol Roca, drums, Michal Vanoucek, piano) gets ample room for perfect counteraction with a beautiful role for the Slovak pianist.
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Marzio Scholten – Motherland
€ 15,00It is not often that a young jazzmusician, on his debut CD, presents himself with as much musical ripeness as guitarplayer Marzio Scholten does on his ‘Motherland’. In the first place there are the eight own compositions, each of them well wrought and elaborated with a different atmosphere and colouring. The broad emotional canvas is the most remarkable thing in Marzio Scholten’s debut. As a soloist he is a strikingly strong storyteller, with a subtle feel for melody, who can handle pure poetry (‘On the first day of spring’), melancholy (‘The end of an era’) as well as a delicious today-groove (‘300 Miles’). No surprise that starguitarplayer Jesse van Ruller, in his liner notes for ‘Motherland’, notes influences from Pat Metheny as well as John Scofield and Jimmy Raney. This is serious young jazz of today, sensitive, beautiful and intense. By an excellent quartet in which Scholten offers equal chances for all of the musicians and beautifully phrases lines together with reedman Floris van der Vlugt. All compositions written and arranged by Marzio Scholten.
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Orion Ensemble – Touched by Orion, A wonderful world
CD SOLD OUT A CD with music from a mysterious world, varied in style, unlimited as for time and country. Timeless music people will always feel attracted to, in all sorts of forms. The Orion Ensemble derives its name from the mythological figure Orion, the seeker for beauty and ultimate love, who, according to tradition, was eventually immortalized in a particular constellation in the sky. The music ‘touched’ by the Orion Ensemble on this cd has a particular form as well. Would it ever have occurred to jazztrumpeter Louis Armstrong that his song What a wonderful world would be performed in an elaborate form for piano-trio? Or to Glenn Miller that his Moonlight Serenade for big band would also sound as jazzy and smooth in a strength without the wind section? The Orion Ensemble arranged all kinds of highlights for the strength of the classical piano-trio: violin, cello and piano, resulting in this cd. A melancholy world full of music in which Glenn Miller, Sergej Rachmaninoff, Astor Piazzolla and John Williams excel side by side. The common factor in these compositions is melancholy, a positive sadness which may arise from the wonder and awe one feels for nature, for a human life, for beautiful music, for art in general.
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Nina Ebbenhout – When we kiss
€ 15,00Singer Nina Ebbenhout presents herself on her debut album ‘When we kiss’ in a surprising and confident way. The album title (taken from one of the two own compositions she includes) speaks of a feeling of romance in her vision of life and music. A look at the other songs she chose confirms that: ‘Cry me a river’, ‘Close to you’, ‘Devil may care’, ‘Here’s that rainy day’. There are even more classics from the American songbook here, sung by many, always different, and Nina Ebbenhout adds with poise and confidence her very own, emotional vocal approach. With a striking feeling for delivery, stressing and prolonging different notes and especially with a well-chosen and essential ‘time’: keeping the songs open, leaving space, so that vocals and accompaniment together are getting more ‘voice’. Nina Ebbenhout knows how to sing ‘jazzy’, but she can be the classic ‘songstress’as well ( ‘Both sides now’), who takes place behind the piano for her own, very personally frased love song ‘Confused’ (she studied piano at the conservatory). The jazz-element is stressed in the tasteful arrangements by piano- and keyboardplayer Menno de Boer, who makes some striking choices. As for the attractive and sensitive ‘fills’ by young jazzmusicians like Susanne Alt (soprano and altsax), David Lukács (tenorsax, clarinet) and René ten Cate (vibes). Or as in his ‘latin feel’ for an unusually fast and swinging version of ‘The days of wine and roses’, in which singer Nina does her own backing vocals. ‘Love me like a man’ sings Nina...musically speaking the request is almost superfluous.
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Thinktank – Pek Dek
€ 15,00It's always a surprise when musicians each of whom you’ve heard before in various bands or during widely divergent jamsessions, suddenly happen to form a band together. And when I say band, I really mean band. As is the case with Thinktank and their first CD effort Pek Dek. They sound very close, like they’ve been working a lot together before, like they know each other musically inside out. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why you loose the feeling the music on their debut CD Pek Dek was recorded in a studio and, instead, get and enjoy the sensation of a live performance.
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Ruben Samama – Hotaru
€ 15,00What a surprisingly versatile and strong band bass player Ruben Samama brought together here for his debut CD! There is really a lot to be discovered and enjoyed in this dynamic album: the inescapable structures of the arrangements, the exciting and frenetic movement of ‘Ji’, the touching way a classic like Gordon Jenkins’ ‘Goodbye’ is handled, the inspired and to-the-point soloing, this is a band with a sound of its own. What young cats? This is jazz from and for grown ups.
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Maurits Roes Trio – Essential Elements
CD SOLD OUT The first word that came to mind when hearing the debut CD of the Maurits Roes trio was: poetry. Music and notes like the words of a poet searching for what is unnameable and sometimes touching it. From the haunting melancholy of a Hungarian folksong to the pointillistic beginnings of ‘Puppets’, eventually getting into a jazzdrive. A dreamy romantic feel as one of the Essential Elements in their musical journey.
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