Peter Beets & the Henk Meutgeert New Jazz Orchestra
Rik van den Bergh, Mo van der Does, Jasper van Damme, Fernando Sanchez, Floriaan Wempe saxophones, Abriel Ferreira, Gidon Nunes Vaz, Libbe Oosterman, Coos Zwagerman, Suzan Veneman trumpet, Bart van Gorp, Jos van den Heuvel, Pablo Martinez, Alba Pujals trombone, Peter Beets piano, Tijs Klaassen bass, Wouter Kuhne drums
This new 18-piece band combines experiment and improvisation with a firm dose of swing. It is the aim of its founders – Peter Beets en Henk Meutgeert – to offer a platform to a new generation of young jazz musicians, top talents from various conservatories. The musical content comprises the essential elements of jazz: melodic strength, harmonic depth, surprising solo and ensemble playing, improvisation and experiment.
Henk Meutgeert is known as a dynamic band leader and an energetic arranger. Peter Beets is an acclaimed pianist who can move an entire orchestra with his refined swing. Their long-standing collaboration has proven very fertile. For example, in 2010 they received an Edison Award for Blues for the Date. This album, which was recorded at the BIMHUIS with the Jazz Orchestra of The Concertgebouw, contains compositions by Peter Beets exclusively and was compiled, conducted and arranged by Meutgeert. The album was voted one of the five best large ensemble albums of 2010 by All About Jazz.