Born: September 18, 1977 Primary Instrument: Vocal
About Aafje van Summeren Fresh to the jazz scene, Aafje van Summeren has already begun to bring audiences a taste of her true inimitable vocal style. Sprung from her cultural upbringing in the Netherlands, van Summeren has taken her talents to New York City to help bring an innovative and heartfelt sound to the musical masses. Van Summeren leads as vocalist in a trio (The Aafje van Summeren Trio), made up of accomplished jazz pianist, Steve Blanco, and renowned bassist, Adam Roberts. Steeped in acoustic style and tradition, each member brings a host of multi-layered rhythmic, harmonic and percussive elements to their music. The Trio’s formation could best be described as coincidence. Van Summeren met Blanco while training at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Their keen admiration for one another’s unique style and talent led them to start writing originals together. Roberts, who has performed for over a decade with Blanco soon joined the trio • and they have since been gaining momentum with critics and jazz fans across the board. The success of their collaboration has been described as “opening the doors to a sharp sound with a vocal execution only Ms. Summeren could unveil.” Their debut album titled “Space Unknown” has been hailed by critics for its “unique rhythms that separate it from the inundation of debut spins.” The Trio has performed at many renowned jazz venues in and out of New York City, including Detour Jazz Club, WVBR FM, and the prestigious World Yacht. They continue to work together to redefine and bring new life to modern jazz music. Through original composition of songs including “Autumn,” “Three Windows,” and “In the Middle of the Night”, van Summeren’s rare vocal abilities and inherent musical talent are seamlessly showcased. Holding a Masters degree in Jazz Vocal performance, van Summeren has studied under many great singers including Ineke van Doorn and Rosanna Vitro. She has taken in the experience of working with these influential artists and molded it into her own matchless style. www.aafjevansummeren.com
