North Sea Jazzfestival 2004

GERARD KLEIJN GROUP
GERARD KLEIJN GROUP- Dutch trumpeter Gerard Kleijn's band is a mixed batch. Apart from the leader himself and drummer Joost Kesselaar the other members are from the United States Sweden and France. That results in an energetic, innovating melting-pot of sound and colourful phrases.The group has released three Cd's so far: Big Moves(with Fay Claassen), Love Quotes and New World(both with the Israelian guitarplayer David Golek), which were all well received in various music publications. The last two CD's 'Love Quotes' and 'New World' got over 70 positive international reviews! The swinging, dreamlike interpretations of Kleijn himself are praised in particular. The group plays all over Europe at Jazz clubs and festivals. The group has played at the North Sea Jazzfestival (Netherlands), The Villa Cellimonata Jazzfestival (Italy), The Brianza Open Festival (Italy), The Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Bimhuis (Amsterdam),The Birds Eye (Switzerland),The Music Village (Brussels), Amici della Music (Italy),and Jazzstudio (Nurnberg) among many other venues.

Tour Netherlands 2006

The Dutch trumpet player Gerard Kleijn and his group are flirting-flirting in earnest, and quite remarkably, with the music of Erik Satie(1866-1925). For their new program the Gerard Kleijn Group has made an intense study of the life and works of this French composer, which has inspired them to create a unique and captivating jazz interpretation of his music. Erik Satie had his own sound, which he created largely outside the rules of his musical contemporaries. And he was at the top of his fame at the time when jazz was being born. This program unites the music of Satie with jazz, providing a fascinating look at the miraculous and peculiar music of Erik Satie. For example, did you know that Satie is the composer of the first European ragtime piece, or that for years he earned his living as a bar pianist? In March 2006 Kleijn's band recorded a live CD of this project at The Bird's Eye in Basel (Switzerland). The album will be released in the fall of 2006.

Gerard Kleijn(NL) - trumpet
Paul Berner (USA) - double bass
Joost Kesselaar(NL) - drums
Örjan Graafmans(NL/Sweden) or Franck Amsallem(FRANCE) - piano

All info Satieproject and mp3 click here

Milano Jazz Festival 2004(Italy)

Amsterdam/Roma Jazz Quartet
The Amsterdam/Roma Jazz Quartet is about rhythm and melody, North and South, 'pasta' and 'patate frite', lines and spaces. Two Dutch horn players and an Italian rhythm section. A piano-less quartet. The music breathes in and out. Counterpoint and groove melt together the same way that Europe slowly but surely does. Distances become shorter, borders break down. Tradition and identity remain. There is improvisation, space, sound. It is about discovering differences and common ground; it is today's music.

Amsterdam Roma Jazz Quartet

Barend Middelhoff (Netherlands)-Tenorsaxophone
Gerard Kleijn (Netherlands)-Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Alessandro Minetto (Italy) - Drums
Pietro Ciancaglini (Italy) - Bass

Website: www.boomerangmusicgroup.com/arjq