recorded at WedgeView

For years, an album with a large string section was high on trumpet player Teus Nobel’s bucket list. A long collaboration with Roeland Jacobs formed the basis: Teus recorded Flow (2012), Legacy (2014) and Social Music (2016) here, and played on many other records made in the studio.

For Saudade the two spent two years on the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, with arrangements that recall Claus Ogerman and strings from the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alexandra Arrieche. Jef Neve, Anna Serierse, Jeroen Vierdag and Marcel Serierse also played on it.

Recorded in July 2021, just as the Covid period was ending. The septet had barely played together for months, which, according to bandleader Harald Walkate, may explain the intensity of the playing and the quality of the improvisations.

The album got jubilant reviews and passed 1.2 million streams on Spotify.

A two-day session in which producer Jesse Koolhaas recorded jazz pianist Joost Swart and drummer Bjorn Waling, at times joined by bass player Jeroen Vierdag.

About seven hours of improvisation became six tracks, finished with sounds from Koolhaas’ vintage synthesizer collection and guests like guitarist Reinier Baas and bass clarinettist Joris Roelofs.

The second album of guitarist Prashant Samlal’s quartet, with solo pieces and a composition for ensemble with vocals, trumpet and bass guitar. Released on ZenneZ Records.