Jasper Somsen Invites Paul van der Feen and Bert van den Brink by Jasper Somsen | Paul van der Feen

Jasper Somsen | Paul van der Feen | Bert van den Brink

Jasper Somsen Invites Paul van der Feen and Bert van den Brink

Price: € 19.95
Format: CD
Label: Challenge Records
UPC: 0608917356724
Catnr: CR 73567
Release date: 06 October 2023
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Label
Challenge Records

UPC
0608917356724

Catalogue number
CR 73567

Release date
06 October 2023

"... an event that was enormous fun for performers and listeners alike. A clear point victory for the moment, ..."

Jazzthing, 24-10-2023

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

Press

About the album

In the fall of 2013, the cosy old bar of the grand café Loburg in my home town of Wageningen (The Netherlands) turned into a brand new, beautiful small venue, perfectly suited for an audience of a hundred people. In collaboration with LoburgLive, we started the concert series “Jasper Somsen Invites ...” as part of the international programme of Jazz in Wageningen, in January 2014.

The concept of “Jasper Somsen Invites ...” is typical in the world of Jazz music. I just called some of my colleagues and asked if they would like to perform with me in a duo, trio or quartet. Being my guests of honour, I’d let my invitees decide our repertoire. This could be any list of original compositions, jazz standards and/or free improvisations they wished to play. A couple of hours before the concert we had a quick run-through rehearsal and sound-check, before the audience came in. Without any expectations or preconceived ideas, each concert became a fresh and new musical challenge for both us as the musicians and the audience.

Back in the day, no one ever imagined that “Jasper Somsen Invites ...” was about to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024. In 10 years’ time we’ve had over 50 concerts, featuring more than 100 musicians, who have included the very best Dutch Jazz musicians.

On 30 March 2023, I invited the Metropole Orchestra’s alto saxophone player Paul van der Feen and master pianist Bert van den Brink. We had so much fun during the sound-check that we decided to record the concert. The recordings turned out to be a lucky shot in the dark. Paul, Bert and I instantly agreed and selected the best tracks for an album. Next, I contacted Challenge Records and before we knew it the release was scheduled for October 2023.

The music on this album perfectly reflects the same spontaneity as many other concerts at Loburg: live music, up-close and personal, for a wonderful audience. This time the concert was recorded in just one take, with no safety net.

I hope you’ll enjoy this album as much as us and everyone who attended that night in Wageningen

Im Herbst 2013 verwandelte sich die gemütliche alte Bar des Grand Café Loburg in meiner Heimatstadt Wageningen (Niederlande) in einen brandneuen, wunderschönen kleinen Veranstaltungsort, der perfekt für ein Publikum von hundert Personen geeignet ist. In Zusammenarbeit mit LoburgLive haben wir im Januar 2014 die Konzertreihe "Jasper Somsen lädt ein ..." als Teil des internationalen Programms von Jazz in Wageningen gestartet.
Das Konzept von "Jasper Somsen lädt ein ..." ist typisch für die Welt der Jazzmusik. Ich habe einfach einige meiner Kollegen angerufen und gefragt, ob sie mit mir in einem Duo, Trio oder Quartett auftreten wollen. Da sie meine Ehrengäste sind, überlasse ich ihnen die Wahl unseres Repertoires. Dies konnte eine beliebige Liste von Originalkompositionen, Jazzstandards und/oder freien Improvisationen sein, die sie spielen wollten. Ein paar Stunden vor dem Konzert hatten wir eine kurze Probe und einen Soundcheck, bevor das Publikum eintrat. Ohne Erwartungen oder vorgefasste Meinungen wurde jedes Konzert zu einer frischen und neuen musikalischen Herausforderung für uns Musiker und das Publikum.
Damals konnte niemand ahnen, dass "Jasper Somsen lädt ein ..." im Jahr 2024 sein 10-jähriges Bestehen feiern würde. In diesen 10 Jahren haben wir über 50 Konzerte mit mehr als 100 Musikern veranstaltet, darunter die besten niederländischen Jazzmusiker.
Am 30. März 2023 lud ich den Altsaxophonisten Paul van der Feen vom Metropole Orchestra und den Meisterpianisten Bert van den Brink ein. Beim Soundcheck hatten wir so viel Spaß, dass wir beschlossen, das Konzert aufzunehmen. Die Aufnahmen entpuppten sich als ein Glücksgriff. Paul, Bert und ich waren uns sofort einig und wählten die besten Stücke für ein Album aus. Als Nächstes nahm ich Kontakt zu Challenge Records auf, und ehe wir uns versahen, war die Veröffentlichung für Oktober 2023 geplant.
Die Musik auf diesem Album spiegelt perfekt die gleiche Spontaneität wider wie viele andere Konzerte in Loburg: Live-Musik, hautnah und persönlich, für ein wunderbares Publikum. Dieses Mal wurde das Konzert in nur einem Take aufgenommen, ohne Sicherheitsnetz.
Ich hoffe, Sie werden dieses Album genauso genießen wie wir und alle, die an diesem Abend in Wageningen dabei waren.

Artist(s)

Bert van den Brink (keyboard)

From his childhood Bert van den Brink (1958) has already been improvising on piano and organ. In this field of music Bert is completely self taught. He got his first piano lesson when he was five years old. In 1976 he started his professional classical education at the conservatory of Utrecht, with Herman Uhlhorn, and graduated cum laude in 1982 with the immediate invitation to take the chair of jazz piano teacher. He gave several classical recitals, but gradually the balance changed more to jazz.He performed with musicians like Toots Thielemans, Chet Baker, Nat Adderly, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Jesse van Ruller, Clare Fischer, Enrico Pieranunzi, John Engels, Hein van de Geyn, and many others. In 1990 and 1991 he...

From his childhood Bert van den Brink (1958) has already been improvising on piano and organ. In this field of music Bert is completely self taught. He got his first piano lesson when he was five years old. In 1976 he started his professional classical education at the conservatory of Utrecht, with Herman Uhlhorn, and graduated cum laude in 1982 with the immediate invitation to take the chair of jazz piano teacher. He gave several classical recitals, but gradually the balance changed more to jazz.He performed with musicians like Toots Thielemans, Chet Baker, Nat Adderly, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Jesse van Ruller, Clare Fischer, Enrico Pieranunzi, John Engels, Hein van de Geyn, and many others. In 1990 and 1991 he was the pianist in the quartet of Dee Dee Bridgewater. For some years he was musical director in the band of Denise Jannah. Of his several solo albums, "Jazz at the Pine Hill" (PHCHR 75084) got an Edison Nomination. The first album of the Bert van den Brink Trio (with Hein van de Geyn,bass and Hans van Oosterhout, drums) "Between Us" was released in 2004. With vocalist Thomas Oliemans Bert recorded Franz Schubert’s “Winterreise” . As arranger/producer his works are played by the Metropole orchestra, the Dutch Wood winds Ensemble, Denise Jannah and others.In April 2007 Bert received the VPRO-Boy Edgar Award.

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Jasper Somsen (double bass)

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions. Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu. Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be...

Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.

Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be heard on more than 45 albums, video and film music scores. Outside a busy playing and studio producing schedule he is an educator at the ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem (NL) and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.

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Paul van der Feen (alto saxophone)

Composer(s)

Various

Press

... an event that was enormous fun for performers and listeners alike. A clear point victory for the moment, ...
Jazzthing, 24-10-2023

This Jasper Somsen Invites covers standards by Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Nat Adderley, Jerome Kern, Wayne Shorter. And it’s very beautiful.
Le Soir, 07-2-2024

The twinkling Rhodes from Den Brink adds a certain likeable atmosphere to the record and Van Der Feen provides a certain Paul Desmond-like poeticism in key moments.
Marlbank, 14-12-2023

You feel how Van der Feen stands on his toes to get the most graceful sounds from his saxophone. Harmony and melody characterize the chosen beautiful standards. Somsen steps into his double bass, serving and regularly playing an engaging solo. Van den Brink is in the flow of the concert and the realization that he wants to please his audience is recognizable.
Jazzradar, 07-12-2023

Not a single musician is shy of a fine improvisation, the trio glows with inspiration and the 7 tracks are just as many glittering musical conversations, balanced and with a lot of respect and space for each other. The Vintage Vibe gives these arrangements a very hip, modern sound, and the joy of playing vibrates straight from the speakers to your ears and heart. A beautiful and refreshing CD!
Jazz & Mo', 01-12-2023

A super realistic recording that booms lifelike from the speakers. Bizarre sound quality and, with regard to the music, phenomenal.
Music Emotion, 01-12-2023

...something really special happened in Wageningen between the three musicians. Van der Feen's flowing warm tone is as archaic as it is intoxicating. Somsen mostly plays serving, but often takes the trio to unexpected places. And Van den Brink's electric 'vintage vibe piano' swings so strongly in Work Song, for example, that the audience rightly has to applaud. Jasper Somsen Invites is not an innovative album, but it is one that you play much more often than you initially thought.
De Volkskrant, 30-11-2023

The alto saxophonist sounds classical, a bit like an early Lee Konitz and certainly not like Bird. Van den Brink – here behind the electric 'Vintage Vibe Piano' - is a dazzling virtuoso but plays serving and nourishing in the ensembles. Somsen has the skills in all registers that you expect from someone who regularly - such as in duos and trios with Enrico Pieranunzi – fils the Scott LaFaro role. However, he can also 'walk' briskly when desired.
Jazzflits, 20-11-2023

An album with a welcome freshness, the kind of session you want to hear more of.
Jazzhalo, 03-11-2023

It perfectly reflects the atmosphere and spontaneity of the concerts in Loburg, the concert was recorded in one take and the result is impressive.
Rootstime, 01-11-2023

An album of welcome freshness, the kind of session that we ask for more.
Jazzmania, 10-10-2023

... His superb interpretations of different tones reinforce this musical line, creating a delicate cohesion.
radio rec france, 02-10-2023