Undercurrent Orchestra consist of six top players from Amsterdam. Their interactions produce a broad spectrum, from dreamy soundscapes to solid grooves and burning improvisations. The foundation is formed by the compositions of band leader, saxophonist and clarinetist Iman Spaargaren. The album Everything Seems Different is a reaction to the pandemic and all the feelings it evoked: fear, hope, boredom, inspiration, sadness and joy.

Prior to the ensemble, viola player George Dumitriu will give a solo performance. His program Monk on Viola aims for a meticulous and complex adaption of Thelonious Monk’s themes, rendered in a spontaneous and emergent improvisational manner. George Dumitriu is acclaimed for his exploratory playing and his use of extended techniques. After guitar and violin he focused on the viola by studying the works of Ligeti, Bach, Enescu, Shostakovich and Khachaturian.

About the Undercurrent Orchestra:”As beautifully as the cover has been designed, the music sounds as elegant. As befits a Dutch band, humor in perspective is never far away” (Ken Vos, Jazzism)

About Monk on Viola: It should be clear that Dumitriu has made an essential contribution to the rich catalog of Monk interpretations with ‘Monk On Viola’. (Herman te Loo, Jazz Flits)

George Dumitriu viola

Iman Spaargaren clarinet/bass clarinet/tenor sax, Annie Tångberg cello, Gerard Kleijn trumpet, Joost Buis trombone, Guillermo Celano guitar, Marcos Baggiani drums