FABULOUS JAZZ

Jazz Connection (line-up: see below)

Posted about this band before, but went to see their New Year's concert in a cosy bar 't Ginneken in Breda yesterday: JAZZ CONNECTION

As always these talented performers know how to entertain the people in attendance with some great stuff. Old stuff, new stuff, Van Morisson, swing, ballads, up-tempo.... you name it,.. they've got it in their setlist.

Late March they're organizing BREDA BIG JAZZ NIGHT. Had a great time there last year, so will most probably go there again this edition. And I will take the camera with me of course!

Jazz Connection line-up:
Jurgen Feskens - trumpet/flugle horn, vocals
Peter van Steen - trombone
Rob Henneveld - tenor/altosaxophone, clarinet
Bart Wouters - bass, vocals
Frans Pietjouw - piano (organ)
Ad Hoendervangers - drums

Enjoy,

HK

FABULOUS JAZZ

Another great night out!
I was invited to shoot for Jazz Connection at the annual event they host at the Mezz in Breda: BIGJAZZNIGHT
Some 600 enthusiasts enjoyed an incredible evening out last night!!

More on this later.
Wanted to share a first shot of the Finale (with all musicians & singers on stage) with you all.

Performers:
Rhythm & Sound Industry
Sensual
Jazz Connection & Marjon van Iwaarden: A Morrison Feeling
BOSCO

FABULOUS BIG JAZZ NIGHT BREDA

The Meeús Big Jazz Night in Breda last Saturday night was a perfect evening of great jazz!
Four bands were featured, all showing their own talents and style.

The event opened to a perfromance of Happy Feet Brassband, a New-orleans style street ensemble, two trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 saxophones, 1 sousaphone & 2 drums. Cool stuff they played, well balanced & fairly entertaining. The interaction with the audience could have been a bit more though, especially for a band that is playing right within the crowd.

On stage the highlight of the evening (to my honest opinion) was the Louis, Louis, Louis! project of Jazz Connection with additional guest artists Frits Landesbergen on vibraphone and British clarinetist Andy Cooper. A tribute to musical virtuosis Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima and Louis Jordan. Speaking of virtuosis... the members of Jazz Connection have managed to steal my heart for the last number of years,.. but Landesbergen and Cooper are incredibly gifted musicians!

Especially enjoyed Cooper's solo featuring some interesting instrument control creating the craziest sounds with just air.

Loved the musical book! Hope this will be published on CD!

Hometown drummer/percussionist Chris Strik brought his New Orleans Xperience to the Breda Mezz stage, featuring Tineke Postma on saxophone and nico Schepers on trumpet.

Fast paced rhythms from the two-piece brass section highlighted the gig. I couldn't keep looking at the crazy faces Chris made while he was playing. As if drumming hurts at times. Oh well...

Excellent guitar work and cool solos throughout the performance. For the last piece trumpet player Daan Bogers (who brought his big band BOSCO Swing Collective to the Big Jazz Night stage last year) was invited on stage to play along with the band.

Grupo Cuba Libre is an absolute must if you like Salsa & Merengue! This 12-piece band knows how to get everyone's hips going alright! A brass-section consisting of 2 trumpets, 1 trombone and a female saxophone(s) player fit right in the tyopical South American style, though lacked that little bit of extra emotion the songs needed. Lead singer Carlos Joseph, perfectly dressed in white, kept entertaining everyone from start to finish.

DJ Ser-V filled Mezz with his well-varied collection of music from the turntables, which had uite a few people swingng on the dancefloor till closingtime. I especially enjoyed the Gypsy Beats & Balkan Bangers!

Enjoy,

HK

NEW ORLEANS.. WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT!

I just got back to my hotel room from one of the best days of this trip. WOW!
I love New Orleans. BIG TIME!
I am for sure coming back here alright. I think it would make a nice place for my bachelor party... haha... IF I'm ever going to have another one. I might just have had it with the "in sickness and in health,.. to death do us part" stuff. But then,.. you never know!

We took the ferry to Algiers and back to enjoy the view of the skyline (nothing compared to the big city skylines though..), then a walk along the riverfront, checked out some souvenir shops and took a very touristy carriage ride through the French Quarters. I am so glad we did that! With my aunt's foot injury walking too much through the quarter wouldn't really be an option, so this came in handy.
As I said.. it's pretty touristy, but the "driver" treated us to an extended history overview of the quarter and its buildings. Quite a lot of explanation. Beside all the "famous" buildings and balconies, we also got to see the house Brad Pitt bought (as if that interested us,.. but it got my aunt carried away!)

The walk through Royal Street and Bourbon street was an experience itself. Some great brass bands were showing off their talents on various corners of the streets. Amazing musicians!

We went for dinner at Sammy's. The food was pretty good, but nothing exceptional: Rib Eye Steaks.




The rest of the family went back to the hotel before I did. I ended up in the Preservation Hall... THE place to be for original, and traditional old style jazz.
I caught two sets by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and had a great evening! Can these guys play! And improvise. The Preservation Hall is only a small venue, but the atmosphere is fabulous!


I strolled up and down Bourbon Street some more to experience some of the partying going on. This place is definitely boozed up at night. I couldn't believe the number of beautiful women there, most of them with the N.O. famous "Hurricane" cocktail in one hand. And then of course their reactions to the beaded necklaces that were thrown from the balconies. The tradition is they show their boobs first in order to get one of those necklaces. And do they did! NICE! (Well... not all of them of course!)


To conclude the evening I enjoyed a $6.75 draft beer at the "Maison Bourbon", where trumpeter Jamil Sharif and his band were playing. Again,... great music all around! he asked every table where they were from too. Apparently he liked Europe because he talked a lot about the visitors from overseas.

Enjoy,

HK

BACK IN THE COUNTRY,... BACK TO NORMAL LIFE

Some summer this has been alright...

Have only been home 3 days this 7-week long school vacation... I should be ashamed,... I know..

Got back home Friday night, and rolled right into a very busy weekend. The corps (Jubal) had its summer campweekend, so I had rehearsals all day both oin Saturday and Sunday.

Then Lisa, a very good friend of mine from the States (whom I have known since 1984 and marched with in the Reading Buccaneers back in 1987!) is visiting here for four days, and is staying at my place through Wednesday morning.

Jubal had a barbecue Saturday night that we went to. Some interesting announcements were made. Couple of changes in staff for next season. Another possible tour to Italy also in 2008!

Afterwards we went to the World Jazz Days downtown Dordrecht after stopping at Talamini for some excellent ice-cream. We didn't really enjoy the music all that much, so ended up on the corps president's yacht in the nearby harbour.

After Sunday's rehearsal we briefly stopped at the Jazz Festival again to see Eric Vloeimans perform. He is our country's leading trumpet player.

That same evening I threw a little welcoming-party for our friend Lisa, with drinks and snacks. Quite a few mutual friends showed up. Great fun!
Great wine too!

Monday morning duty called... Had to go back to work. First day was an easy one though. Handed out the schedules to the kids. Had some photos taken, short meeting with the school staff and a drink to conclude the afternoon. First lessons are tomorrow.

Tonight had dinner with 8 here. Prepared chicken/bean sprouts in curry sauce and sweet & sour pork with fried rice. Had invited my fols and brothers and my little niece to join Lisa and myself for dinner. Had a great evening together.Lisa had brought gifts for all of us. Cool!

She got me a CD of the Brian Pastor Big Band. Fabulous music! Great arrangements!

Enjoy,

HK

GREAT THEATRE PRODUCTION

Went to the GROOT NIET TE VERMIJDEN show in our home town theatre yesterday evening.

What a great evening! What a fabulous show! Great music, excellent gimmicks, incredible creativity and a bunch of good laughs!!!

Always enjoy running into people I know through work, or school, or whatever at this theatre. Unfortunately there's also I'd rather not see!

Jazz concert in Breda tomorrow!

Enjoy,

HK