Levantasy (East-West Intercultural Adventures in Music) by Kepera Trio & Yoram Lachish

Kepera Trio & Yoram Lachish

Levantasy (East-West Intercultural Adventures in Music)

Format: CD
Label: Kepera Records
UPC: 0608917406023
Catnr: KEPERA 104901
Release date: 25 November 2010

1 CD

Label
Kepera Records

UPC
0608917406023

Catalogue number
KEPERA 104901

Release date
25 November 2010

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

About the album

The Kepera trio was formed when its members discovered they shared an interest in the music from the Middle East, particularly the Arabic and Persian traditions. Rembrandt Frerichs lived and worked in Cairo for a number of years in his early twenties, soaking up the cultures and sounds of the orient. Tony Overwater has played with many musicians from the region and consequently visited the Levant on numerous occasions. More recently, Vinsent Planjer, through his studies of the Persian Tombak, discovered the warmth and improvisational expressiveness of Persian music. Rooted and educated in the rich history of jazz (all three hold a master’s degree in jazz, obtained from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Holland), they wondered how to materialize their shared passion. They quickly found a fourth collaborator in Yoram Lachish, who possesses the same mix of talent, training and ambition. Born and raised in Israel, he spontaneously absorbed the fusion between eastern and western cultures manifested in Israeli daily life and culture. Classically trained on the oboe, he later developed an improvisational style, making him one the few oboists in the world to successfully improvise on their instrument and making him a perfect fit for the Kepera trio. This became Levantasy. In the music the members of Levantasy attempt to incorporate the sounds and concepts of middle Eastern music into what’s essentially a jazz environment, never losing sight of the ultimate goal, which is to create things of beauty. Although it is tempting to interpret the seemingly effortless mixing of Arabic, Persian, Jewish and western styles as a metaphor for the search for harmony among the peoples of the Middle East, the project does not aim to carry a political message. However, if the music would inspire the listener, at least momentarily, to forget the politics and appreciate the boundary-breaking power of art, Levantasy would consider that to be a mission accomplished.

Het Kepera trio werd gevormd toen de drie leden ontdekten dat zee en gemeenschappelijke interesse in de muziek uit het Midden Oosten deelden. Rembrandt Frerichs woonde als jonge twintiger een aantal jaren in Cairo, waar de klanken van de Oriënt kon opzuigen. Tony Overwater speelde met vele musici uit het gebied en bezocht het daarom meerdere malen. Vinsent Planjer ontdekte door het bestuderen van de Perzische Tombak de diepe improvisationele warmte van de Perzische klassieke traditie. Yoram Lachisch groeide op in Tel Aviv, Israel en absorbeerde zo op een natuurlijke wijze de mix van Westerse en Oosterse invloeden die men vindt in alle aspecten van het leven daar. Hij volgde een klassieke opleiding als hoboist en ontwikkelde later een stijl improviseren. Toen Rembrandt en Yoram elkaar ontmoetten tijdens een tournee van het European Youth Jazz Orchestra was het snel duidelijk dat er qua samenwerking meer in het vat zat. Dit werd Levantasy. In de muziek streven de leden van Levantasy ernaar om klanken en concepten uit het Midden Oosten in een jazz-omgeving te plaatsen, altijd uitgaand van het uiteindelijke doel: het maken van mooie aansprekende muziek. Hoewel het verleidelijk is om de geslaagde mix van westerse en oosterse muziekstijlen te zien als een metafoor voor harmonie tussen de volken in het midden oosten, heeft het project geen politiek doel. Echter, als de muziek de luisteraar inspireert om het politieke gekrakeel te vergeten en de verbroederende kracht van kunst tot zich te laten komen, zal Levantasy dat zeker als een geslaagde missie beschouwen.

Artist(s)

Rembrandt Frerichs (piano)

REMBRANDT FRERICHS is a Dutch pianist and composer. As a student, he received a scholarship from the Excelling Young Musicians Fund, to study at the New York Conservatory. He graduated with honors from the jazz department of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. | INFLUENCES He debuted at the North Sea Jazz Festival aged 22, and worked with saxophonist Michael Brecker, who said about him, “This guy sounds great!” Rembrandt plays in various of his own ensembles, such as the Rembrandt Frerichs Trio and Levantasy. His sound is characterized by influences of Arabic music and baroque music, which stand next to the American jazz tradition. His special style and use of instruments has not remained unnoticed: in 2016 the Foundation of the Performing Arts had a fortepiano made specially for Frerichs, which he currently uses for various projects. MUSICIAN, TEACHER & ARTISTIC LEADER Frerichs teaches jazz piano as a main subject at the Tilburg Conservatory, and works as a guest lecturer at the conservatories of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. He is also artistic leader of several cultural fora, such as the Rabo Jazz Festival (Oud-Beijerland), the Waterfront Jazz Club (Almere) and the Regentenkamer (The Hague). | RECOMMENDATIONS His debut CD Self Portrait (2007) was nominated for an Edison Award and was ‘Album of the Week’ on London Jazz Radio. In 2010, Rembrandt Frerichs played in the legendary jazz club Birdland in New York, together with, amongst others, trumpet player Michael Varekamp. That same year, the NRC Handelsblad wrote about him: “Rembrandt makes the story of jazz a richer one”.

less

Tony Overwater (double bass)

TONY OVERWATER is one of the most notable Dutch bass players. He is a versatile musician, composer, soloist, band leader and supervisor in the Netherlands and far beyond. He graduated with honors from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He won the VPRO / Boy Edgar Prize, the Podium Prize, and an Edison. He worked with extraordinary musicians, including Karin Hammar, Yuri Honing, Pat Metheny, David Murray, Paolo Fresu, Eric Vloeimans and many others. Overwater is also known as an expert organizer. During his time at the conservatory, he founded the Jazz in Motion Foundation and the accompanying record label. | DIFFERENT FORMATIONS Overwater shares his passion for jazz, Arabic music and baroque music with the other members of the Rembrandt Frerichs Trio. With this trio, he began playing the violone; a 6-string bass instrument from the Baroque era, predecessor of the double bass. Overwater has been playing with the trio Jungle Boldie for over twenty years, with Maarten Ornstein on reeds and drummer Wim Kegel. This close formation formed the basis for a number of original projects, such as Far East Revisited with the Calefax Reed Quintet and the CD ‘OP’ with Ack van Rooyen and Ernst Reijseger, which received an Edison. Inspired by working with Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich, Tony Overwater developed a new style of playing on the double bass, incorporating the techniques and scales of Arabic music into a unique style. Working with various other bands and musicians, they form a much sought after attraction at festivals in the Middle East and Europe. Music for children has always had a special place in the heart of Overwater. He sees it as his mission to bring jazz and acoustic music of quality to the attention of kids. After the project Kikker Swingt! (Frog Swings!) with Max Velthuijs, he developed various other music shows together with singer-songwriter Lotte van Dijck. | PROJECT ORGANIZATION AND DOCUMENTARY MUSIC Being an architect’s son, Tony Overwater has a fascination for the visual aspects of music. In addition to writing music for various films, documentaries and dance shows, he and Joshua Samson initiated the ‘Guarder of the Key’ Project. A location-based concert, taking place on a set day of the month. Each time the performance is held at a different, secret, location and always with a different guest. The interaction between architecture, environment, music, musicians and the audience makes this special small-scale project a unique experience. Overwater recorded the music for the documentary Om de Oude Wereldzee about Abraham Kuyper, combining his expertise and affinity with Arabic music and classical European music.

less

Vinsent Planjer (drums)

Jazz drummer VINSENT PLANJER graduated from the Royal Conservatory in 2001. His final exam stood out because it only consisted of his own compositions. Since then, he has turned into a highly sought after accompanist of jazz soloists at the Dutch music venues and festivals. He is also increasingly involved in producing, developing and organizing artistic endeavours. He plays an important role in the concert series of The Hague Ethospheric Orchestra, which has been performing with the absolute top of the national jazz for the last couple of seasons. | BROADENING HIS PLAYING FIELD As a member of the Rembrandt Frerichs Trio, Planjer has developed into a leading exponent on his instrument, to be seen at many music venues in the Netherlands and far beyond. His sound is appreciated for its sophistication and at times melodic approach. As a co-project owner of The Contemporary Fortepiano, in which members of the Rembrandt Frerichs Trio use historical instruments, he paves the way for broadening his playing field. Planjer plays the self-designed and built whisperkit. With this line-up, Planjer is increasingly seen at classical music venues and festivals.

less