Dutch Jazz on CD, compiled by Jan Verwey.
Theme: Jazz from Flanders
I am one of those people who thinks Belgium is part of the Netherlands, especially when it comes to jazz music. This is the sixteenth year of this programme, and I’ve always mixed our neighbours from the south with my jazz friends in ‘Holland Jazz’. Still, tonight, I have an extraordinary ‘Flemish programme’, featuring pieces from four brilliant albums.
First is guitar player Peter Hertmans. I know him very well because he was part of my album ‘The Miles Davis Project’ from 1997. The CD I’m featuring tonight is from 1993, and he recorded it with known, even famous, people: John Ruocco, tenor saxophone and clarinet. Hein van der Geyn, double bass and Billy Hart on drums. I’ll play Peter’s composition and a fantastic piece by Jerome Kern: ‘The Song is You’. After that, I’ll play The Brussels Jazz Orchestra who performed Kenny Werner’s compositions. Kenny is an amazing pianist, composer and arranger. I’ll only play the title piece called ‘Naked in the Cosmos’, but that piece is more than twelve minutes long. I also found the double album ‘Afterglow’ by Enrico Pieranunzi & Bert Joris in my letterbox. It is worth listening to that album. Pianist Pieranunzi has worked a lot in the USA. He has worked with many important jazz heroes, and trumpet player Bert Joris is a subtle talent, he’s also the first trumpet player in The Brussels Jazz Orchestra. Guitar player Philip Catherine may be the most well-known in the Netherlands of all the players here. I’ll play a CD from 2011, called ‘Philip Catherine Plays Cole Porter’, the famous composer, many of his songs landed up in jazz. I chose three songs for you tonight: ‘So in Love’, ‘Dreamdancing’ and finally the pretty ‘Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye’, a perfect song to end this episode.
Peter Hertmans- CD ‘Waiting’ – 1993 – Challenge Records.
The Brussels Jazz Orchestra- CD ‘Naked in the Cosmos’ –
2002 – Jazz ‘N Puls.
Enrico Pieranunzi & Bert Joris- CD ‘Afterglow’ – 2020 – Challenge Records.
Philip Catherine- CD ‘Plays Cole Porter’ – 2011 – Challenge Records.
