Born: August 9, 1943 Primary Instrument: Arranger
Born 1943, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Classical piano education (4 years) starting at 10. When I was 14 I started to play (classic) jazz with my younger brother Fred (trumpet/cornet/reeds). We formed in 1965 our first real band (after schoolbands, etc.): The Court Town Rhythm Kings. The band played authentic old jazz in the way of Oliver, Morton, early Armstrong, Williams, Beiderbecke and Half Way House. The band broke up in 1972 due to moving members - ready with their studies - and my own resettling from The Hague to Amsterdam. There my brother and I founded in 1973 “Madam Zenja and her Jazz Horns”, together with singer Zenja Damm. That was a very succesfull combination for several years, that made two very well selling LP's (”Changes” and “Was it a dream”). That period (1974/1980) I also was President of the oldest and famous Jazzclub in Holland: the “Haarlemse Jazz Club”, where many of the great American musicians who came to Europe, performed. I married in 1972 and finally settled in a little village between Amsterdam and The Hague, Leiderdorp. When my career (in advertising and public relations) became less hectic I started a jazzclub as well as a new band in Leiderdorp: Jazzclub “De Wagenschuur” (1984-1994) and “Swingin' Crash” that started as a little swing ensemble but grew within a year into a small big band. So I had to learn myself the writing of scores. I had some theoretical background in classic music, but jazz was in that time still a form you had to master yourself by listening and trying. And may be, I succeded... See for Swingin' Crash our site, mentioned above. Nowadays I have written hundreds of arrangements and I like it very much. Writing to the abilities of your musicians is my goal. And then try to reach the flavor of a well known band, not by copying, but rearranging a song in my way. Besides that I write songtexts and I compose, and sometimes write a little booklett for special occasions like the 60th annyversary of the The Hague Jazz Club. Although retired my life is filled with music, writing and painting - and my grandchildren -, what else can you wish!
Awards:
Third place international big band contest Glauchau, Germany, 2010.Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact discography@allaboutjazz.com. Thank you.
