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Gerard Kleijn

Since 1995, Dutch jazz trumpeter and composer Gerard Kleijn has led a very wide variety of his own groups and has made 12 CD’s as a (co)bandleader, all very well received by the international press and audiences. He played at festivals and venues throughout Europe, Syria, Mexico, Russia and the United States.

He co-leads his latest band Wild Man Conspiracy with the Argentine guitarist Guillermo Celano and Dutch drummer Joost Kesselaar (Knots 2014 and Short Stories 2016). The CD’s where released on the New York label Red Piano Records. In 2016 and 2018 tenorsaxophoneplayer Chris Cheek (New York)joined Wild Man Conspiracy for concerts in Europe. In 2019 the live cd Live at the Bimhuis was released at Red Piano Records. featuring Chris Cheek. In addition Gerard can regularly be seen as side man in a wide variety of ensembles and big bands, including a regular gig at the Bimhuis every two months with the the Konrad Koselleck Big Band.

Gerard studied jazz trumpet at Conservatories in Hilversum and Rotterdam. In 2004 he studied in New York. In addition to his work as trumpeter, he is a dedicated trumpet teacher, workshop leader and big band conductor . He was working as a guest teacher and/or big band conductor at e.g. the conservatories of Rotterdam, Enschede, Bremen, Damascus and Mexico City.

Gerard has made four CD’s with the Gerard Kleijn Group (Big Moves (1998), Love Quotes (2001), New World (2003) and (Le Flirt de Satie (2007). He made pure chamber-jazz with J.S. Bach as his source of inspiration with Bach Reflections (To B or not to B 2014). From 2007 till 2017 he was the co-leader of the 12-piece Clazz Ensemble with which he played new compositions especially written for the ensemble. The Clazz Ensemble recorded three cd’s.(Adventures Live at the Bimhuis, Delta Suite and Federico on Broadway).

Rodrigo Faina and Change Ensemble: Different Roots

Read "Different Roots" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
April 25, 2021

This is not the usual large ensemble jazz recording. Instead of having instrumental groups play against each other, this music moves largely as a massed force with only sparing solo statements. It carries the gravity and weight of classical music and mixes in the harmonies and colors of jazz composers like Gil Evans and Kenny Wheeler with occasional blasts of other musical forms like rock and tango. It is the work of Rodrigo Faina, a composer born and raised in ...

Album Review

Rodrigo Faina and Change Ensemble: Different Roots

Read "Different Roots" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
March 24, 2021

The cohesive and captivating Different Roots is Rotterdam- based guitarist and composer Rodrigo Faina's cinematic debut for the Red Piano label. For this six-part suite, Faina draws inspiration from three literary works from his native Argentina, two by Julio Cortazar and one by Jorge Luis Borges. On this genre-defying release, Faina also conducts the Change Ensemble which consists of several accomplished European, primarily Dutch, musicians. In fact, Faina utilizes the orchestra as a single unit at times and ...

European jazz has had its on voice for years and Gerard Kleijn’s Group is a fine example! He is one of the Netherlands finest trumpet performers and composers. Jazzreview (USA)