KLAAS HEKMAN / FRED LONBERG-HOLM / VERYAN WESTON WOLTER WIERBOS SOLO KAUFMANN / GRATKOWSKI / DE JOODE

Opening of the Bimhuis season 2006/2007 with the crème de la crème of the improvised European music scene. Two trios and one solo performance, all highly original and exciting. ‘…most ears likely were focused on the staggering work of Dutch bass saxophonist Klaas Hekman. How one man can produce so much thunderous, volcanic sound from so unwieldy an instrument almost defies comprehension. But Hekman’s solos proved so majestic in scope, searing in tone and coherent in structure as to represent self-contained artistic statements in their own right.’ (Chicago Tribune). ‘Wolter Wierbos compacts the horn’s history with no presumption and, overall, shows a magnetic sense of levity while demonstrating his own sheer brilliance.’ (Coda Magazine). ‘Amsterdam-based German pianist Achim Kaufmann, de Joode and Gratkowski act as a query-fired engine; the musical questions keep things humming. Some will say this trio sounds like Anton Webern, Jimmy Giuffre and Charlie Parker; others will say its like nothing youve ever heard before.’ (Down Beat Magazine).