Peter Beets & Stochelo Rosenberg - Beets meets Rosenberg: Django Tribute (CHALLENGE RECORDS 2019)

Peter Beets meets Stochelo Rosenberg: true musical chemistry

There is true musical chemistry between these four artists, two leading figures from the world of gypsy jazz and two internationally recognized giants of mainstream jazz. The music on this album is the result of long-time friendships between all four of the players. It’s a fantastic encounter and amalgamation of two worlds, both characterized by improvisation, interaction, musical dedication, true feeling and pure joy!

Peter Beets
As one of the most sought-after jazz artists of our time, Peter Beets has attracted a devoted international audience, performing regularly at major jazz festivals and venues throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. He has shared the stage with jazz greats such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, “Toots” Thielemans, Elvin Jones, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Benny Golson and Kurt Rosenwinkel. One of his earliest recordings, "First Date" (1996), featured the great Jeff Hamilton on drums. In 2001 the Criss Cross label invited Peter for a series of CDs with his "New York Trio", inviting artists like Willie Jones III, Larry Grenadier and Greg Hutchinson, earning him international acclaim.

"Straight ahead excellence. A world class jazz act." - Down Beat

"Outstanding compositions. Fantastic timing. Brilliant." - Jazzreview

Stochelo Rosenberg
Stochelo started playing guitar at the age of ten: quite late for a boy from a family of gypsy musicians. Stochelo developed from a talented but shy boy to a guitarist and world-class composer. He has written several beautiful pieces of music. Stochelo Rosenberg is considered one of the best guitarists, with his impeccable technique, great elegance and very personal vibrato, a combination of virtuosity and emotion. Like many of his contemporaries, Stochelo loves improvising, and like many of his predecessors, he is looking for new challenges. He likes to try out new ways of playing, but always with the solid foundation of his first love: the music of Django Reinhardt. 

Stochelo Rosenberg – guitar 

Peter Beets – piano

Martin Limberger – guitar 

Frans van Geest – double bass

1 Douce Ambiance  07:17

2 Tears  08:16

3 Django's Tiger  05:31

4 Nuages  06:13

5 You Look Good To Me  06:46

6 In A Sentimental Mood  07:08

7 Djangology  05:06

8 Minor Swing  06:33

Tour:

9-2-2019 De Doelen Rotterdam 20:15

24-3-2019 TivoliVredenburg Utrecht 16:00

© 2019 - NewArts International / Challenge Records Int.

Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw (CHALLENGE RECORDS 2018)

Crossroads – a new international perspective on Dutch Jazz. Stretching the boundaries of contemporary big band music. The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw is extending its limits, in more ways than one. The band developed its identity in the late 1990s with the bi-weekly concerts at the Amsterdam Bimhuis. Since then it has literally conquered the world, not only touring all over Europe but also playing in Latin America, South Africa, Indonesia, Japan and China. Musically, too, the band is evolving all the time. The starting point was the classic 1950s idiom, but from the beginning, the orchestra was challenged by guest soloists and composers from a wide range in jazz styles.

With the album Crossroads the Jazz Orchestra takes another step forward. Conducted by Dennis Mackrel and Rob Horsting (who has been arranging for the group since the beginning), the orchestra presents nine compositions by various band members, Martijn van Iterson, Joris Roelofs, Ilja Reijngoud, Simon Rigter and Jorg Kaaij, and Rob Horsting. The arrangements were written by Dennis Mackrel, Rob Horsting, Henk Meutgeert, and three international guest arrangers: Michael Abene and Ed Partyka (U.S.A.), and Vellu Halkosalmi (Finland).

"Along with their future-oriented American colleagues of the Maria Schneider and Darcy James Argue orchestras, with this CD the JOC marks a new century in the development of the jazz big band."

BERT VUIJSJE, Jazz journalist

Crossroads

Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw

Crossroads (double vinyl) 

Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw

Line-Up:

Juan Martinez artistiek leider, Dennis Mackrel chef-dirigent, Rob Horsting dirigent/chef arrangeur

Saxen: Joris Roelofs (lead), Jorg Kaaij, Simon Rigter, Sjoerd Dijkhuizen, Juan Martinez

Trompetten: Jelle Schouten (lead), Wim Both, Jan van Duikeren, Ruud Breuls

Trombones: Jan Oosting (lead), Ilja Reijngoud, Bert Boeren, Martin van den Berg

Piano: Peter Beets, gitaar: Martijn van Iterson, bas: Frans van Geest, drums: Marcel Serierse, Martijn Vink

Live tour: 

16 november Bimhuis (premiere)

18 november Harmonie Leeuwarden (Hot House Redbad)

29 december: Paradox Tilburg (Stranger than Paranoia)

30 december: LantarenVenster Rotterdam

© 2018 - NewArts International / Challenge Records Int

Marius Beets - This Is Your Captain Speaking (MAXANTER RECORDS 2018)

Hypes come and go and boundaries are being crossed every time a Chinese tourist says cheese. It is easy to overlook that around the world real jazz albums also keep appearing with the regularity of the clock. Also in The Netherlands, which has a solid mainstream jazz scene, a great history of welcoming American musicians and, in the guise of Marius Beets, one of its most prominent bass players. Beets released This Is Your Captain Speaking on his Maxanter label. The album includes tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist (and brother of Marius) Peter Beets, guitarist Joe Cohn and drummer Willie Jones III. They perform ten original compositions by bandleader Marius Beets.

So there’s the cream of the crop delivering high-level improvisation, swing and a healthy dose of blues, inspired by the catchy and challenging tunes of Marius Beets. Eric Alexander is a master of execution who loves to explore the sonic extremes of his instrument. His seemingly effortless integration of these idiosyncracies in his stories, in themselves an ongoing evaluation of the work of Alexander’s heroes like George Coleman and John Coltrane, is striking. He enlivens the boppish The End Of The Affair and the Latin-type line of Dextro Energy with hip twists and lurid fragments of scales. The ending of his remarkably crafty solo during This Is Your Captain Speaking, a clever, blues-based Horace Silver-ish tune, is a bossy bark that must’ve cracked up people in the studio.

62-year old Joe Cohn, the son of saxophonist Al Cohn, who uses a prickly yet full sound, is never short on ideas, which he strings together with staccato notes and supple single lines. He sets fire to Tafkamp Is Still On The Scene, a funky vamp that segues into a driving 4/4 section. The interaction of Marius and his brother Peter, internationally acclaimed pianist, is special, perhaps not surprising considering their life-long association. Emandem especially reveals their subtle interplay of bass lines.

The abundance of hard bop/post bop makes This Is Your Captain Speaking highly enjoyable. The funky ode to Cannonball Adderley, Brother Julian, boogaloo-based Moody’s Groove and The One And Only, an album highlight in the tradition of mid-sixties avant-leaning Blue Note point out the group’s versatile use of the mainstream jazz language. Besides, the group also plays sweet and light – El Capitano, Carpe Diem. The overall sound is, in fact, pleasantly light without becoming lightweight. The crisp and clear sound of the crackerjack drummer Willie Jones III’s ride cymbal underlines that particular canvas. It is a contemporary sound, but also has a foot in the past, the early 70s Muse/Strata-East ‘feel’ in particular. The album is recorded at the studio of Beets, who partakes in myriad musical activities beside bass playing.

You can count on Marius Beets, the bass player. He’s a tasteful, highly skilled accompanist with a tremendous bottom groove. Beets also delivers a number of melodic solos with sustained momentum. Not only did he write an album of superb tunes, he also picked a world-class crew. Not a trace of hesitation by these gentlemen. Dig those solo entrances, time and again! Those are a joy to listen to, as much as the excellent development of their stories.

Marius Beets (bass)

Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone)

Joe Cohn (guitar)

Peter Beets (piano)

Willie Jones III (drums)

Dextro Energy

Brother Julian

El Capitano

The One And Only

Emandem

Tafkamp Is Still On The Scene

Carpe Diem

This Is Your Captain Speaking

The End Of The Affair

Moody’s Groove

Check out album info and the website of Marius Beets here.

Marius Beets

MAXANTER RECORDS