Take Five With JooZz

Meet JooZz:

The music of JooZz is best described as "coming from nowhere, going places." Starting from scratch, JooZz takes you along to many exciting musical destinations, transferring breathtaking vistas into jewels of brilliant sound. Sometimes danceable, always rich, spiked with healthy doses of melancholy and lessons of life. Using the piano as a base point of reference, JooZz's compositions, independent of any music style, keep your mind in motion until the next time you hit the play button.

Instrument(s):

Piano (grand and Fender Rhodes).

Teachers and/or influences? An enormous list, just a small selection would include Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana and Steely Dan. All the people I have played with have been a wonderful, warm source of inspiration.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when... I found out I could touch other people playing music.

Your sound and approach to music: Music matters, obviously. A few great aspects: playing with other musicians and discover how they freely try to embellish how you sound together. Hearing others add, now that's really something. It also provides a private universe to calm down in and discover new melodies. I usually play bass and piano at the same time on split keyboard, using Yamaha samples. Only original tunes and when I'm drunk I play "When Sunny Gets Blue."

Your teaching approach: I don't teach, I can only inspire.

Your dream band:

Drums and percussion: Jan Wolfkamp; Guitar: Willy Sparrow; Guitar: Ninjam musician Gregdd; Violin: Xander Nichting; Rhodes: Ninjam musician ToneWheels; Saxophone: Wake Campbell; Bass and piano: who do you think?

Road story: Your best or worst experience: My friend Jan Wolfkamp invited me to join him on a trip to France, where he had to perform three times. It was a trip to remember for so many reasons, but one of the best was the return trip by car. It took way too long because of traffic jams, road works etc., but we played old Miles Davis tracks from a cd box I had bought in France until we were home. Never had considered Miles Davis' music as music for our own little road movie, but it was very inspiring to have him with us. It inspired me to write a song called Blois blues (song 13 on this site.

Favorite venue:

Online performer, recently played live in Amsterdam. YouTube Video Here

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Kind of Blue, Miles Davis.

The first Jazz album I bought was: Sonny Rollins, The Quartets.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? A base to shine on.

Did you know...

JooZz is pronounced the same way as juice and deuce.

Desert Island picks:

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (Columbia);

Devadip Carlos Santana, The Swing of Delight (Columbia);

Steely Dan, Aja (MCA);

Jeff Beck, Blow by Blow (Epic);

Bill Evans, 75th Birthday Celebration.

How would you describe the state of jazz today? Hot and vibrant! So many amazing musicians.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing? Airplay, Grammy for jazz, a smile (tear is okay too, but with a smile afterwards).

What is in the near future? Mixed reality shows.

By Day:

Marketing, photography, graphic design, virtual world development and events

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a: Motivator.

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