Doek Festival 2018 – This Is Our Music

‘This is Our Music’, the theme of Doek Festival 2018, signals the return of the Amsterdamse improv collective Doek to its roots: personal projects by its individual core members. The result is a richly varied program including two nights at the BIMHUIS.

The last few editions of the Doek Festival have been some of the most ambitious events in the history of the collective. The edition dedicated to Anthony Braxon and Tri-Centric Foundation, for example, or exchange projects with Chicago and Berlin and a large scale collaboration with Amsterdam venues named The Present Is Present. Doek will go back to its roots with ‘This is Our Music’, named after the Ornette Coleman album, a milestone for free improvisation.

Program Friday June 15 at the BIMHUIS:

8:30 PM – Amagi

Eva Hoogland voice, Oguz Büyükberber bass clarinet, Wolter Wierbos trombone, Giray Gürkal guitar/bass guitar, Gülsah Erol cello, Korhan Erel electronics

Wolter Wierbos is an improviser in the true sense of the word. Unafraid to jump into unknown territory, over the years he’s performed all kinds of music, in many different ensembles, ranging from jazz, new music and Caribbean to dance and even circus music. This year he is presenting an ensemble featuring Turkish musicians who are steeped in traditional music as well as improvisation.

9:45 PM – Stadhouders / Oliver / Vitols / ’t Hart / Rosaly

Jasper Stadhouders guitar, Mary Oliver viola, Uldis Vitols double bass, Harpo ’t Hart analogue synthesizer, Frank Rosaly drums

Jasper Stadhouders: ‘For this year’s DOEK Festival I’ll present a new quintet with a slightly unusual instrumentation. Three acoustic string instruments, acoustic drums and percussion, and a self-made analogue modular synthesizer. We’ll play new compositions, for which improvisation is key. The compositions will mainly serve as suggestions for what could be played, not what should be played. The people in this group are all excellent improvisers, therefore the decision making process within the composed material will be inspired by what feels the most appropriate in the spur of the moment. With these musicians and this instrumentation, sonic possibilities are limitless.’

11 PM – Hoogland / Sylla / Rosaly

Mola Sylla voice, Oscar Jan Hoogland piano, Frank Rosaly drums

A triangle of 3 cities, 3 musics and 3 people ‘taking position’: singer Mola Sylla from Dakar, pianist Oscar Jan Hoogland from Amsterdam and drummer Frank Rosaly from Chicago. Mola Sylla grew up in the tradition of the griots (storytellers). His rhythm and melodic compositions differ from the western agreed schedules and provide surprising twists. He plays with Ernst Reijseger, among others. Hoogland is a key figure in the Amsterdam improv scene, known for his experimental approach to the piano. He founded bands such as EKE and The Ambush party. Frank Rosaly navigates a fine line between the vibrant improvised and experimental music, rock and jazz. He played in countless bands in the Chicago scene.