Home » Jazz Musicians » Azure

Azure

AZURE A Musical Spark The story of Azure starts in 2006 when a pianist and a guitar player meet at a spontaneous jam session. Immediately sensing a musical spark, they decide to collaborate. They get together with 2 friends, start composing and gigging, and call the band Azure.

When She Smiles After their first big concert, at The Hague Jazz, they decide to work towards a recording. In june 2008 the quartet records their debut album 'When She Smiles', which holds nine original pieces inspired by love. The self-released album finds wide critical acclaim in both the US and the Netherlands. Azure's compositions, eclecticism, and unique sound get a lot of praise.

Touring and competition They play some major Dutch summer festivals, followed by the first tour abroad: for three weeks they play across South America, receiving a warm welcome. Two years later the band gets nominated as finalists for the 'Get Your Jazz On Stage' competition, culminating in a final concert at Amsterdam's pop-temple Paradiso, for which they team up with star trumpeter Rik Mol and rap-outfit L4.

Hiptronics Producer and synthesizer wizard Federico Solazzo replaces the original composer/pianist, who relocates to Paris, and trumpeter Mol continues to work with Azure. Yet again a musical spark is felt and Azure dedicate themselves to composing and rehearsing new material. A brand new, second album called 'Hiptronics' is scheduled for release in June 2014. It presents Azure's newfound groovy, eclectic and electric sound, and will feature Rik Mol and NYC-based songwriter/vocalist Benjamin Rhodes.

Awards

Yes please!

Gear

Rogier Schneemann is an endorser of Eastman Guitars.


Tags

16
Album Review

Azure: Hiptronics

Read "Hiptronics" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Such is the musical shift between Azure's When She Smiles (Azuremusic, 2009) and Hiptronics that they sound like different bands; effectively, they are. The main songwriter, classically influenced pianist Pierre-Francois Blanchard has been replaced by keyboardist Federico Solazzo and only co-founder, guitarist Rogier Schneemann remains from the original group, which has grown to a quintet with the addition of trumpeter Rik Mol. In interior design terms it would be akin to gutting a property and going for a futuristic styling ...

140
Album Review

Azure: When She Smiles

Read "When She Smiles" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Azure is a Netherlands-based quartet formed in 2006, and When She Smiles is its second release. Nine original compositions--seven penned by pianist Pierre-Francois Blanchard, and two by guitarist Rogier Schneemann--take the quartet through lyrical terrain. Although there are no overbearing influences on the music, there is a classical jazz overtone to much of the playing, and the ghosts of the Modern Jazz Quartet linger somewhere below the surface. There is also a distinct modernism at the core, and the appeal ...

410
Album Review

Azure: When She Smiles

Read "When She Smiles" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


When Pierre-Francois Blanchard (piano) and Rogier Schneemann (guitar) met at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in 2006, they forged an immediate musical bond. Shortly thereafter they pulled in David Barker (drums) and Eric Heijnsdijk (bass) to form Azure. The band released their debut recording There Were Stars (Azuremusic) in 2007. On their second release, When She Smiles, the band enlists Antonio Pisano on drums.

Azure's music is informed by different strains. The music here, all of which ...

Read more articles
1

Recording

'String Rise Azure Traces,' Is The New Album, Of Original Work, From Wales Based Composer And Pianist Simon Deeley

'String Rise Azure Traces,' Is The New Album, Of Original Work, From Wales Based Composer And Pianist Simon Deeley

Source: Simon Deeley

String Rise Azure Traces is, now, the fifth release to come from the Wales, UK based composer and pianist Simon Deeley. As with his earlier albums, all the music, on this current album, is original, all being penned by the composer. Rather than an over-arching theme the album has a hint of an immediately recognisable style. An infusion of Latin flavour threads through the album; with the Samba groove of “So, Fly Azure Acrobat," and the gentle, easy, slow Latin ...

1

Festival

Rob Mazurek's Desert Encrypts, a 3-Day creative music and visual art event scheduled for July 26-28th in Marfa, TX

Rob Mazurek's Desert Encrypts, a 3-Day creative music and visual art event scheduled for July 26-28th in Marfa, TX

Source: All About Jazz

Marfa Book Company presents Desert Encrypts, a three-day creative music and visual art event organized by multidisciplinary artist Rob Mazurek and Marfa Book Company’s Tim Johnson. In its second year, Desert Encrypts brings four internationally acclaimed artists together in Marfa, TX from July 26-28, 2019 for a series of performances and exhibitions. This year's quartet includes Berlin-based visual artist and filmmaker, Rosa Barba; percussionist, Chad Taylor; electronic music composer and sound artist, Jan St. Werner, and musician, composer, and visual ...

Contest

Enter the "Gary Peacock and Marilyn Crispell - Azure" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the "Gary Peacock and Marilyn Crispell - Azure" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the ECM Records “Gary Peacock and Marilyn Crispell - Azure“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on July 29th. Click here to enter the contest

(Becoming a fan of Gary Peacock at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at ECM Records About Azure

Azure features beautiful duets by two great improvisers whose compatibility was proven long ago. ...

106

Recording

Starlicker Trio (Mazurek, Adasiewicz, Herndon) Turns up the Heat on "Double Demon"

Starlicker Trio (Mazurek, Adasiewicz, Herndon) Turns up the Heat on "Double Demon"

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

The trio Starlicker (as heard on their release Double Demon, Delmark DE2011) is not your usual line-up playing the usual sorts of things. First off the instrumentation is not at all the norm. There's Rob Mazurek on cornet, Jason Adasiewicz, vibes, and John Herndon on drums. What this means in terms of sound has much to do with how the band approaches what could be a somewhat quieter ambiance, especially compared with Mazurek's large ensemble Exploding Star Orchestra (see this ...

155

Recording

Delmark New Jazz Release on CD and LP: May Tour for Rob Mazurek's Starlicker

Delmark New Jazz Release on CD and LP: May Tour for Rob Mazurek's Starlicker

Source: Kevin Johnson

ROB MAZUREK'S STARLICKER Starlicker Double Demon (Delmark) release date May 17, 2011 The prolific Chicago/Brazil cornetist/sound manipulator Rob Mazurek of Exploding Star Orchestra and Chicago Underground collective has a new project called Starlicker with vibraphone king Jason Adasiewicz and Tortoise drummer John Herndon and they'll be touring throughout May Rob Mazurek (cornet), John Herndon (percussion), and Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone) are deeply rooted in the Chicago and international avant garde, jazz and post rock scenes. Starlicker expel sound with pervading energy ...

104

Recording

Rob Mazurek - Special

Rob Mazurek - Special

Source: Michael Ricci


125

Performance / Tour

Mandarin Movie with Rob Mazurek at The Five Spot in Philadelphia

Mandarin Movie with Rob Mazurek at The Five Spot in Philadelphia

Source: All About Jazz

Ars Nova Workshop presents: Sunday, November 13 | 8pm MANDARIN MOVIE + SAO PAOLO UNDERGROUND Mandarin Movie with Rob Mazurek, computer/Moog/cornet; Alan Licht, guitar; Jason Ajemian, double-bass/electronics; Frank Rosaly, drums Sao Paolo Underground with Mauricio Takara, drums/laptop; Guilherme Granado, samplers/percusion/voice; Rob Mazurek, cornet/electronics The Five Spot | 5 S.Bank Street, Philadelphia Please join us for an evening with Chicago native Rob Mazurek, best known for his collaborations with Gastr del Sol, Isotope 217, Stereolab, ...

143

Recording

Kat Epple Releases "Azure Pieces of Life" on Emerald Web Records

Kat Epple Releases "Azure Pieces of Life" on Emerald Web Records

Source: All About Jazz

Grammy nominated Flautist, Kat Epple's new music CD, Azure Pieces of Life was recently released on Emerald Web Records. The melodies, chords, and textures are unique and complex, and are performed by two incredibly accomplished, innovative instrumentalists. The album consists of all original compositions performed by Kat Epple (formerly from the group Emerald Web) on flute, and Chuck Grinnell on keyboard, and includes elements of New Age, Impressionistic, celtic, jazz, world and ambient music. It is Spellbinding and flowing, with ...

“You guys have a sound!” – Dave Liebman

“The band really impressed me… great tunes, great interplay…” - Hein van de Geyn

Jazzism, nr. 3 2009 “Azure has guts and a very individual, mature sound. ...from all the attention for quality of timbre and detailed interplay, the group easily switches into overdrive” (Mark Stroeks)

Jazz Magazine, nr. 2 2009 “a headstrong lot... it’s primarily the combination of melody and harmony that makes the group’s work interesting. Azure’s music is accessible, a bit dreamy and covers you like a warm blanket” (Angelique van Os)

Den Haag Centraal, may 2009 “Azure is a group keep your eyes on... From contemporary, romantic and melodious to full out rocking. It’s difficult to compare them to others and that’s a quality” (Bert Jansma)

Read more

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Hip tronics

Azuremusic
2014

buy

Hiptronics

Azuremusic
2014

buy

When She Smiles

Azuremusic
2009

buy

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.