Steven Kamperman

Composer, clarinet player, and drummer Steven Kamperman has a taste for musical adventure that has brought him into many different musical surroundings. Although extremely versatile, Kamperman’s work always displays a distinct personality, guaranteeing a subtle balance between surprise and heartfelt inspiration. Famous Dutch composer Theo Loevendie stated: “Steven Kamperman has the rare ability to make every style of music sound like his own.”

Improvised music

After an initial start as a jazz improviser, a special love for modal folk music led him in 2002 to a decade- lasting and successful collaboration with Turkish vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Behsat Üvez, in their mutual project Baraná (Baraná & Co, Baraná Trio, Elektro Shaman, Şarap / Wine, Xenopolis with Ceylan Ertem). Subsequently, from 2013 to 2018, he performed with his Horizon Trio, with Turkish vocalist Sanem Kalfa and Rumanian violinist/guitarist George Dumitriu.

With a definite more European flavor, Steven Kamperman got together in a spectacular drone duo with the French hurdy-gurdy wizard Valentin Clastrier. From 2013 on, Kamperman has co-led HOT Het Orgel Trio with bass player Dion Nijland and organist Berry van Berkum, playing contemporary jazz in churches.

In 2021, Kamperman launched City Maps, a musical trip through an imaginary city (with Bart Maris, Jorrit Westerhof, Dion Nijland, and live visuals by Henrietta Müller).

Composition

Since 2013, Steven Kamperman has been composing vocal and instrumental classical works, such as the prizewinning Roodhapje (YAMA 2016 Best Opera), his much-acclaimed Hildegard Opera (Wynanda Zeevaarder, Marc Pantus and Wishful Singing), and a new score for Fritz Lang’s 1921 silent movie Der müde Tod (Wishful Singing, online via their site).

Tags