TRIO DUMOULIN / ESKELIN / WEISS

Pianist/Fender Rhodes specialist Jozef Dumoulin composed for his heroes from the NY downtown scene: Ellery Eskelin on tenor sax and Dan Weiss on drums. Open compositional forms combining written material and improvisation.

One could describe Red Hill Orchestra as a dream trio. Belgian pianist Jozef Dumoulin, who attracted attention with a unique solo album on Fender Rhodes, asked his favorite musicians from New York for his new project: tenor sax player Ellery Eskelin, whose ‘gorgeously smoky tone’ (Downbeat) has been part of the innovative Downtown scene since the 1980s, and Dan Weiss, the drummer whose knowledge of Indian rhythms has proven useful to both Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa.

For this line-up, Dumoulin created new repertoire which expands on his work of the past few years: open compositional forms combining written material, established parameters and improvisation. Ellery Eskelin’s and Dan Weiss’ specific background has been integrated in the new work. These two players have collaborated before in the Michael Formanek Group.

Ellery Eskelin has made name as an improviser with both American and European players, from Joey Baron and Andrea Parkins to Sylvie Courvoisier and Han Bennink. Recently, he rediscovered standards in his trio with Hammond B-3 organist Gary Versace. ‘Eskelin is an intriguing blend of Evan Parker’s gruff animation and abstract audacity, and a more lyrical phrasing that suggests Liebman, the late Michael Brecker and Joe Lovano’ (Guardian).

Drummer/composer Dan Weiss is an ideal partner for innovative jazz musicians such as Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa, who combine contemporary influences with Indian rhythmic cycles. ‘Drawing deeply on his tabla studies, he works with space, minimal melodic development and dramatic tension’ (Downbeat).

‘Aside from the grand piano, Jozef Dumoulin is specialized in playing Fender Rhodes. Rather than the bare sound of the electric piano he employs all kinds of electronic effects, developing his own unique style. He varies the dynamics of the instrument, letting its tones melt beyond their original pitch, and uses distortions which give the melodies an uncanny, floating quality’ (de Volkskrant).

This concert was supported by the French American Cultural Exchange en de Mid Atlantics Arts Foundation.

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