In C

News and views for August

Dear friends

I hope you’re well and enjoying a beautiful summer wherever you are, whether you’re traveling somewhere or at home. It’s not quite the start of the season yet, so I’m still enjoying some very valuable time away from the dreaded rat race that seems to be an integral part of life. A step away from music to find some tranquility, reset the mind and calibrate the artistic compass; it’s something I very much need to do from time to time. This summer I was fortunate enough to be able to do that here:

Anglesey, Wales

Inevitably however, the new season is almost there and it promises to be a busy one with multiple CD releases, composition projects and of course concerts. I have a lot of stuff in the pipeline that I will reveal in due course, but for now - before I return to my deckchair and caipirinha - let me just share a few dates I’m sure you don’t want to miss.

Clarinet, clarinet

On August 29th my trio DASH! with the phenomenal Alex Oele and Eric Hoeke kicks off the season with an intimate concert in the Amsterdam Pianola Museum. We are continuing the tour we started last year after releasing Radio Rotor, the first album on which I used my beautiful Dietz G clarinet. This really is an amazing instrument, capable of so many colours and dynamics and I love playing it. Do come and listen for yourself! In September we will play two more concerts, the 14th in Westervoort, and the 26th in Midwoud. Also in September we will release a new live album called Radio Rotor on the Road, recorded in the Bimhuis last April. I will of course alert you when it is available. And then in October we’ll play at the Amsterdam Dance Event, on the 22nd in Splendor Amsterdam.

Cover of the new DASH! album, me on the C-melody playing a solo concert, and Mike, Johannette and myself

Muse

Mike Fentross and I will play with soprano Johannette Zomer at the Muze van Zuid Festival on september 11th . This will be the first performance of a new program called Memento, with music by Arvo Pärt, Bach, Reynaldo Hahn, and myself. Here is a short video to whet your appetites… I have composed a new song using Sappho of Athens’ beautiful Seizure as lyrics, and the piece will have its first performance at the festival. I’m also composing something else but you will have to come and listen, as it’s a surprise! We play in the Thomaskerk in Amsterdam, and tickets are here. Can’t make it? Don’t worry, we also play in Alkmaar on October 4th.

But also

I’m honoured to have been invited once again to play at the Alkmaar Hofjesconcerten, which is a yearly festival set in the the town’s courtyards. This year I play duos with the fantastic bassist Tony Overwater, before joining all the other musicians for a final and festive concert in the Kapelkerk. Organised by Mike Fentross and La Sfera Armoniosa, this festival is a wonderful experience so get some tickets when you can.

That’s all I have time for now; back to the deckchair. Bye!