Frans van Geest

Biography
Articles

Frans van Geest (1968, USA), is one of Netherland’s busiest bass players and sought after accompanist of major American and European jazz musicians. As a member and pro-founder of the Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw he played with Monty Alexander, Johnny Griffin, Dick Oatts, Bud Shank, Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Toots Thielemans, Warren Vache, Jimmy Heath, Deborah Brown, Roy Hargrove, Pat Martino, James Blake, Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea and others. In small groups he accompanied Deborah Brown, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Bobby Durham, Roy Hargrove, Joe Cohn, Harry Allen, Scott Hamilton and others.

Frans is playing in a lot of Dutch Jazz Groups and made several recordings with: -Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw -Metropole orchestra -Peter Beets trio -Frits Landesbergen -Martijn van Iterson 4tet-Rob van Bavel trio -European jazz Quintet (Ferdinand Povel/John Marshall) -4beat6 (Tribute to Lionel Hampton/Benny Goodman)

Rob van Bavel: The Ghost, the King and I featuring Scott Hamilton & Strings

Read "The Ghost, the King and I featuring Scott Hamilton & Strings" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
August 2, 2026

As near as can be deduced, The Ghost, the King and I is a Netherlands-based trio comprised of pianist Rob van Bavel, guitarist Vincent Koning and bassist Frans van Geest. After performing in concert with acclaimed American tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton and Salon de Musique, a three-member string group from South Korea, van Bavel and his teammates decided that the outcome was so auspicious that it simply had to be recorded. And so it was, in October 2026, ...

Album Review

Louise Alexandra: Crazy World of Love

Read "Crazy World of Love" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
June 1, 2026

The release of Crazy World of Love marks a new chapter for Louise Alexandra, a jazz vocalist whose artistry is as deep as her background is unconventional. Splitting her time between the vanguard of medical science and the timeless traditions of jazz, Alexandra is a Dutch-American vocalist, songwriter, and active cancer research scientist. For over 15 years, she built a formidable reputation within Boston's highly competitive biotech and jazz circuits before returning to the Netherlands, where she continues to develop ...