BIK BENT BRAAM
in collaboration with Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ
Michiel Braam-piano, Wilbert de Joode-double bass, Michael Vatcher-drums, Frans Vermeerssen-tenor sax, baritone sax, Peter van Bergen-tenor sax, clarinets, Frank Gratkowski-alto sax, clarinets, Jan Willem van der Ham-alto sax, bassoon, Bart van der Putten-alto sax, clarinet, Peter Haex-tenor tuba, Carl Ludwig Hubsch-tuba, Eric Boeren-cornet, Angelo Verploegen-trumpet, Wolter Wierbos-trombone
As always, improvisation is the name of the game in Bik Brent Braam’s latest programme. There is no band leader, no set list, no prescribed style or tempo. But there are 13 new Braam pieces the band can launch into whenever they want. There is also an ingenious idiosyncratic system of musical notation they refer to push each other to extremes in volume, (the fullest blast, softest velvet, mezzoist piano), pitch (toweringist, profoundest deep), density (thinnest of all, most amorphous) temperament (camel laid back, hyperst nervous) and degree of playing difficulty (piecest of cake, bitchst of hard).