MARTIN FONDSE & STARVINSKY ORKESTAR: HOMELANDS
Martin Fondse piano, melodica, compositions, Eric Vloeimans trumpet, Claudio Puntin clarinet, Irma Kort hobo, Soren Eriksen tenor saxophone, Vera van der Bie, Herman van Haaren violin, Benni von Gutzeit viola, Joerg Brinkmann cello, Eric van der Westen bass, Dirk Peter Koelsch drums. Special guest: Roberto Sion altsaxophone, fluit
With Homelands, pianist/composer Martin Fondse reveals the heart and soul of his Starvinsky Orkestar. He has asked his band members, fantastic musicians from all over Europe, for their first musical memories. Inspired by these ancient folk melodies and children’s songs he has written new music. The Starvinsky Orkestar is both big band and classical ensemble at the same time. Aside from the usual wind and bowed instruments this ‘pan-European flex orchestra’ frequently uses exotic objects like stamps, spin-tops and melodicas. ‘Fondse is a master of light and airy ensemble textures, harmonic economy, contrary motion and the sensible integration of improvised and composed material’ (Downbeat).