‘I find improvisation the real future in music’, said the young German drummer Christian Lillinger in an interview with Downbeat. ‘Not only in music, but in life, in communication between humans’. He describes his all-star band Grund as ‘an organism that makes no compromises’. His colorful, jump cut compositions lay the groundwork for seven musicians including well-known pianist Achim Kaufmann. The Berlin-based band has an unusual line-up featuring no less than two double bassists.
Grund opens the New Year’s concert at the Bimhuis, followed by the duo of Turkish vocalist Sanem Kalfa and Rumanian violist/guitarist George Dumitiru, who are both living in The Netherlands. In 2010 Sanem Kalfa won the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition, where the jury was led by Quincy Jones. George Dumitriu, ‘sorcerer’ of the viola (Eddy Determeyer in Draaiomjeoren) is also a teacher of jazz guitar at the Amsterdam Conservatory and plays in a variety of ensembles in the fields of improv/jazz and contemporary classical.
The eight-piece Native Aliens Ensemble is devoted to compositions joining Brazilian music and contemporary European music. The group was founded by saxophonist, composer and double bassist Renato Ferreira, whose influences include Louis Andriessen and Alban Berg as well as Hermeto Pascoal and Egberto Gismonti. His ensemble features both Brazilian percussion and Western stringed instruments, combining classical influences with dance music such as frevo, baião and catira.
‘A marvelous whirlwind of remarkable sound’ (De Subjectivisten on Native Aliens Ensemble).
‘The focused, precision intensity he maintained throughout the set was impressive, while his technique and twirls were entertaining to observe’ (All About Jazz on Christian Lillinger).
CHRISTIAN LILLINGERS GRUND
Tobias Delius tenorsax, Pierre Borel altsax, Achim Kaufmann piano, Christopher Dell vibrafoon, Jonas Westergaard, Robert Landfermann bas, Christian Lillinger drums
SANEM KALFA & GEORGE DUMITRIU
Sanem Kalfa vocals, George Dumitriu guitar/viola
NATIVE ALIENS ENSEMBLE
Renato Ferreira composities/tenor-/baritonsax, Laura Polence stem, Yedo Gibson sopraansax, Jan Willem van der Ham fagot/altsax, George Dumitriu altviool/gitaar, Saartje van Camp cello, Miguel Petrucelli gitaar/bas, Onno Govaert drums/pandeiro