Dutch Jazz Day

Friday May 16, 2008, I went to Amersfoort to attend the 'Dag van de Nederlandse Jazz', a day for jazz musicians, media, conservatory staff and students, and the music industry to network and to present themselves. This well organized event consisted of seminars, workshops and presentations, a jazz market, and showcases. The main reason for me to go to this 'Jazz Day' was to gather information on jazz education, but also to hear and see some showcases. The focus of this day was definitely on the 29 showcases: promising Dutch jazz bands selected out of a set of more than 150 subscribers. At one of the sites of the event I saw some showcases and I especially liked Lavalu and The Searing Quartet. Lavalu is an exciting young Dutch popjazz formation that presents songs with surprising rhythms and melodies played by excellent musicians (keys, chello, saxes, drums). The Searing Quartet (TSQ) played jazz in a more 'traditional' sense, but like Lavalu the musicians were rhythmically extraordinarily good (you can call it 'funky'). Also the melodies and harmonics of the TSQ compositions and the improvisations of the musicians were of high-quality and therefore great: like Lavalu this band deserves definitely more attention! I especially liked the first composition they played, that is 'Tastenheini'.

As I already mentioned, the Jazz Day was well organized and a great platform for the jazz community to present themselves and to strengthen the community. Hopefully there will be a sequel next year!

Amersfoort is cool!

On saturday the 12th of May I joined a group of groovy bachelor partygoers in Amersfoort (NL). Why Amersfoort? Well, the organizing bachelor party committee liked the idea of visiting the Amersfoort Jazz Festival, since Mr. Bachelor is a real jazz fanatic. A great idea, because the festival, the weather, and the atmosphere turned out to be very good. After a Bachelor Pizza Meal we entered the Amersfoort city center and saw interesting out-door performances of the Stefan Lievestro Sextet, Trijntje O., Gino Vanelli with the Houdini Horns, and Get the Funk Two. The Lievestro Sextet was in my opinion the best 'bachelor proof' jazz formation. Gino V. was OK and Get the Funk Too Loud, although it is always good to hear the ultimate ToP song There is only so much oil in the ground at high volume. The party and the festival were a success. Or as one may say: a perfect match.