The new year at the Bimhuis will open with ‘bouncing swing, crunchy neo-lyricism and sonic investigations’, according to Amsterdam pianist Michiel Scheen, who shares the stage with five excellent improvisers.

The Blue Lines Sextet is the ideal band to open the new year at the Bimhuis with: experienced musicians who truly understand each other when it comes to singular improvisations. The sextet is an expansion of the Blue Lines Trio, which plays many compositions by Michiel Scheen, whose work has been acclaimed in the international press as ‘post-Monk, post-Mengelberg’. Scheen himself uses many imaginative descriptions for his work, including ‘bouncing swing, crunchy neo-lyricism and sonic investigations’.

Since the 1980s pianist and composer Michiel Scheen has been a member of leading formations in improvised music, including Paul Termos Tentet, Maarten Altena Ensemble and Radu Malfatti’s Ohrkiste featuring Evan Parker. The Blue Lines Trio was formed by Raoul van der Weide (double bass, crackle box, sound objects) and has George Hadow (drums) as its third member. For this concert horn players Ada Rave, Bart Maris and Wolter Wierbos will complement the group.

‘Scheen can improvise at warp speed if he’s so inclined, but his chief joy is knitting together freely phrased pulses into a distinctive movement that melds earlier jazz harmonies and rhythms with a 21st Century conception’ (Jazz Weekly).

The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 till 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis Café is open (free entrance).

Follow LIVE STREAM BIMHUIS RADIO: Click the link below on
the evening of the concert, starting at 8PM:

Bart Maris trompet/cornet/bugel/pockettrompet, Ada Rave saxen, Wolter Wierbos trombone, Michiel Scheen piano, Raoul van der Weide bas, George Hadow drums