Breakaway is an American group with deep roots in the improv scenes of Chicago, Boston and Amsterdam. Under the name The Whammies these musicians have been performing the repertory of Steve Lacy since 2012, with three albums on their independent label Driff Records and various tours in Europe and North America, featuring Han Bennink on percussion. With Breakaway they will perform original compositions exclusively.
Dijkstra, Karayorgis, Bishop and McBride are important members of the vibrant Boston jazz and improv scene, with regular concerts every month at the club The Lily Pad. Original compositions are alternated with “instant-arranging” techniques and free improvisations, inspired by American and European free jazz forms.
Saxophonist and composer Jorrit Dijkstra has been living the United States since 2002 because of his affinity with the experimental forces of American music. Since then he has created a lively exchange with the jazz and improvised music scene in Amsterdam, where he came from. He teaches at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he runs the label Driff together with Pandelis Karayorgis.
Jorrit Dijkstra alto saxophone/lyricon, Jeb Bishop trombone, Mary Oliver violin/viola, Pandelis Karayorgis piano, Nate McBride bass, Frank Rosaly drums