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 guitar player David Golek), which were all well received in various music publications. The last two CD's Love Quotes and New World got over 100 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.
The Dutch trumpet player Gerard Kleijn and his group are 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 november 2006. Gerard Kleijn(NL) - trumpet Paul Berner (USA) - double bass Joost Kesselaar (NL) - drums Franck Amsallem (FRANCE) - piano.
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