Jazz Articles

Michael Simon & Asian Connection: East West & Beyond

by Neil Duggan
October 8, 2024

If you find yourself in need of a lift, you may find it on Michael Simon and Asian Connection's uplifting album East, West & Beyond. Born in Venezuela, Simon, now resident in the Netherlands, has spent over two decades combining western jazz with music from the east and collaborating with some of Asia's best musicians. Joining Simon to deliver his vision are Taiwanese saxophonist Minyen Hsieh, Hong Kong drummer Huang Tzu Yu, Taipei-based Japanese bassist Ikeda Kinya, Indonesian ...

Fra Fra Sound: Dya So

by Mark F. Turner
May 5, 2008

Warning: Listening to Dya So may cause the humming of melodies, head bobbing, finger snapping and an uncontrollable urge to dance. The Dutch jazz septet, Fra Fra Sound, has performed together for over 25 years entertaining crowds around the globe with their international blend of members and music that has roots in Pan-African, Caribbean, Latin and urban music. A lot has happened since their 2003 release Kuliplex (Pramisi Records), constant touring and multiple projects ...

Fra Fra Sound: Kultiplex

by Dan McClenaghan
October 5, 2003

Afro-Cubism-Afro-Caribbeanism? Crossover, jazz-saturated world music? World music? Almost but not quite mainstream jazz, filtered through a Surinamese aquifer? We've got a small problem here finding a category for Fra Fra Sound's Kultiplex.The Fra Fra Sound's septet members hail from the Netherlands, Surinam, the Antilles and Venezuela, a Euro-Caribbean mix full of bright colors and churning rhythms influenced by Surinamese kaseko, kawena, and winti, as well as several African styles of sound. Throw in a dollop of American jazz, ...

Fra Fra Sound: Kultiplex

by Mark F. Turner
September 25, 2003

The world music community can be a smaller and more wonderful place.

“Fra Fra” means “hybrid” or “mysterious” when spoken in Suriname, the independent South American country formally known as Dutch Guyana. Both words accurately describe the entertaining and captivating band. With a global mindset and world class appeal, the seven piece group began when bassist Vincent Henar formed the group in 1980 in Amsterdam. The septet's members have origins in the Netherlands, Suriname, the Antilles, and Venezuela. Their influences ...