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Michiel Braam

As a pianist Michiel Braam combines exceptional virtuosity with a playful unpredictability. Braam’s infectious dynamic and percussive style is strictly his own. In his role as composer and bandleader Michiel Braam attempts to apply his open playing style to bigger ensembles. He is constantly looking for greater musical freedom. His Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher has little in common with the traditional piano trio. The musicians are totally equal: bass player and drummer have just as much influence on the direction of the improvisations as the pianist. The 13 piece Bik Bent Braam--for whom Braam is always writing new material--can scarcely be compared with a conventional big band. Braam’s material can be introduced by the band members at will, combined or adjusted. Each concert is improvised yet totally

Awards

1988 - Podiumprize for young talented musicians (NL) 1997 - Boy Edgar Prize (NL)


Tags

9
Album Review

Bo Van de Graaf: Off the Record: Eccentric Music for Audio Hunters

Read "Off the Record: Eccentric Music for Audio Hunters" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


ToonDist is a Netherlands-based consortium of small independent labels distributing the creative and improvised music of their country. Founded in 2002, ToonDist is often the point of departure for unknown labels such as No Can Do Music and Pingo, and emerging ones like TryTone and Evil Rabbit. The closest ToonDist comes to “convention" may be the AVA Trio, The Core Trio live featuring Matthew Shipp (Evil Rabbit, 2016), or a book of Misha Mengelberg scores. At the outer edge we ...

3
Album Review

Flex Bent Braam: Lucebert

Read "Lucebert" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


Lucebert fu pittore e poeta olandese, particolarmente influenzato dal movimento d'avanguardia denominato Cobra, oltre che grande appassionato di jazz. Da un suo telegramma, il cui contenuto consisteva in una semplice lista di standard, prende spunto l'idea di questo album nel quale agli otto brani noti il leader Michiel Braam affianca altrettante composizioni originali. Ad eseguirli un settetto denominato Flex Bent Braam, la nuova creatura musicale del pianista olandese formata da una costola di Bik Bent Braam, orchestra ...

4
Extended Analysis

Flex Bent Braam: Lucebert

Read "Flex Bent Braam: Lucebert" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni


The new group of Dutch pianist Michiel Braam, the 8-piece Flex Bent Braam, is a scaled-down continuation of Braam's 13-piece Bik Bent Braam, one of Braam's main projects in the last twenty five years, a group that evolved from traditional big band to a flexible improvising unit, but it is also an attempt to challenge his skills as a composer, bandleader and musical thinker. The line-up of the new band is supposed to change on every new project, combining such ...

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Multiple Reviews

Michiel Braam: Change This Song and Hosting Changes

Read "Michiel Braam: Change This Song and Hosting Changes" reviewed by AAJ Staff


By Fred Bouchard Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher Change This Song BBB 2006 Michiel Braam's Wurli Trio Hosting Changes BBB 2006

Two threesomes led by Dutch pianist Michiel Braam show this eclectic adventurer in appealing settings: glib and fleet in an electric studio setting, more intellectually probing on baby grand. Braam ...

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Pianist Michiel Braam is yet another superb performer who perfectly encapsulates everything that's made New Dutch Swing one of the most consistently lively and enjoyable scenes in contemporary jazz.

Partnered by powerhouse bassist Wilbert de Joode and drummer extraordinaire Michael Vatcher. With these two behind him all the way it's no wonder Braam delivers some of the most confident and enjoyable piano work I've heard in recent years.

--Dan Warborton, Paris Transatlantic

If anyone needs proof of the vitality of Dutch jazz, he (or she) needs look no further than Bik Bent Braam. The 13-piece band features a splendid collection of players, so the level of improvisation is unquestionably superb. So are the compositions and arrangements by Braam, which take this to a rare level of performance. For those attracted to adventurous, eclectic arrangements that span the spectrum from swing to free jazz, performed by extraordinary musicians, this one is a winner.

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