Stevko Busch

Biography Stevko Busch – pianist, composer, curator "Pianolab.Amsterdam" at Goethe Institut, Amsterdam

Stefan 'Stevko' Busch (1966) - raised in the Rhineland, is currently living in the Netherlands, where he completed his studies at the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam in 1995. Since then, he has played in Contraband under the direction of Willem van Manen, as part of a duet with Misha Mengelberg, in various projects run by the Herne-born bass clarinettist Eckard Koltermann, in Bigtet Tetzepi and a duet with Paul Hubweber. With his electronic trio Box of Toads, he received the JazzArt award in 2001. Busch has played in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and France, including the MoersFestival and the Berlin Jazzfest.

Since November 2006 he has been active as curator for the informal concert series of composed and improvised piano music Pianolab.Amsterdam at the Goethe-Institut (Amsterdam), where he regularly plays with renowned musicians. And in November 2006, he became father to a daughter, who continues to remind him of the important things in life.

Since 1995, Stevko Busch has formed a duet with the award-winning Dutch alt saxophonist Paul van Kemenade, with whom he released versions of Russian orthodox chants on the CD Contemplation in April 2010. He also plays in the Eckard Koltermann quartet, in addition to the German-Dutch project Borderhopping, which he initiated.

His music spans a wide range of freely improvised music, compositions - sometimes with echoes of chamber music - and instrumental tunes.

He composes music for contemporary ensembles, in addition to film soundtracks. His spatial sound composition Europealis was played at various locations, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Cologne Galleries. In his workshops and courses, which are also held at the Conservatorium in Arnhem, he introduces classical musicians to an infinite range of contemporary improvisational techniques. After working with Busch, the contemporary chamber trio KAIDA received special awards for improvisation during the Gaudeamus Concours 2003 and the Illzach Chamber Music Festival.

Groups

Duet w/ Paul van Kemenade, "On Songs, Russian Chants, Miniatures"

Quartett w/ Markus Stockhausen, Paul van Kemenade, Markku Ounaskari

Trio w/ Radek Stawarz and Alfred Zimmerlin

played with

Misha Mengelberg, Contraband by Willem van Manen, Eckard Koltermann, Tatsuya Nakatani, Wilbert de Joode, Michael Moore, Michael Vatcher, Wolter Wierbos, Joost Buis, Gunda Gottschalk, Peter Jaquemyn, Cor Fuhler, Rozalie Hirs, Tobias Klein, Tetzepi, John Dikeman, Arnold Dooyeweerd, Lothar Ohlmeier, Paul Hubweber, Box Of Toads with Norbert Scholly and Kai Wolff, a.o.

Gear

Heart: 1 Ears: 2 Fingers: 10

Tags

Stevko Busch piano

Tim Sprangers for Volkskrant (NL) 26 september 2011 on the concert in Bimhuis/Amsterdam

Van Kemenade Carte Blanche * * * * *

"Highest Jazzquality

In the strong duet with pianist Stevko Busch there is a thrilling tension due to the contrast between the silky and smooth piano and the bluesy lines and the smokey timbre of the saxophone - all that in brilliantly developping compositions and improvisations as well as beautiful interpretations of Russian chants."

Ralf Dombrowski for Süddeutsche Zeitung 11 November 2010, on the Berlin Jazz Festival

"... moments of creative intimacy enthralled audiences, as those for example created by alto saxophonist Paul van Kemenade in a duo with pianist Stevko Busch. In actual fact these were the European moments that Nils Landgren would have hoped for, moments that were unspectacular yet inspired, rooted in tradition yet humorously individual...."

Tim Sprangers for Volkskrant (NL) 26 september 2011 on the concert in Bimhuis/Amsterdam

Van Kemenade Carte Blanche * * * * *

"Highest Jazzquality

Ralf Dombrowski for Süddeutsche Zeitung 11 November 2010, on the Berlin Jazz Festival

Marc Hoogma by email

'The CD is wonderful.'

Paul van den Belt for JazzPodium.com 31 July 2010 (NL)

Rating: * * * * *

... on Contemplation Van Kemenade plays like a young god... from lyrical and melodic, to screaming and ecstatic ... they hit the mark, ... a 'heartfelt performance', ... delightful abundance, ... a great intensity that almost feels religious. ... enigmatic, but intensely fascinating five Contemplations. An album that grows on you the more you play it. (Or is it that you grow on the album?) In brief, it's richly varied, and it never becomes dull or tiresome.

Frank van Herk for Volkskrant (NL) 10/06/2010 Intimate and reflective * * * * Busch's accompaniment strongly influences the course and the atmosphere of the sixteen, mostly short pieces, ...his touch and phrasing are more under-cooled than swinging, which makes for a nice contrast with the often preaching, blues-drenched sax. ... a real duet album.

Belorussia: Leonid Auskern for nestor, Minsk Two pieces ... are based on the works of famous Russian composers Glazunov and Taneyev, ... they are composed with highest regard to the original and are unlikely to meet the objections of the strictest adherence to Orthodox canons. Busch and Van Kemenade convincingly demonstrate that the jazz language can speak any theme and any trend if dedicated and talented people are involved. .... get thoroughly absorbed if you need the meditative calm. .... an inspirational, highly skilful alto saxophone performance by Paul Van Kemenade. .... deep philosophical content.

Finland 3 JULY 2010, jazzrytmit.com Some of the pieces are very slow, soulful and minimalist, creating an ambience of spiritual tranquillity. At times the passionate roar of Kemenade’s alto and Busch’s fury on the keyboard has Taylor-like aspects.

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