MO VAN DER DOES MOTET

Motet is de zevenkoppige formatie van altsaxofonist Mo van der Does. Met de kracht van een big
band, maar de flexibiliteit van een klein ensemble verkennen zij de wereld van compositie, orkestratie
en improvisatie. De jonge musici willen deze diepgaande zoektocht met het publiek delen en
verhalende en eigenzinnige muziek brengen. In het najaar van 2020 kreeg Mo vanuit het Bimhuis een
compositieopdracht voor deze band, wat resulteerde in vijf nieuwe composities. De opdracht was een
belangrijke drijfveer om de muziek en creativiteit levend te houden ten tijden van de pandemie.
Afgelopen december won het Motet Keep an Eye: The Records, wat hen in de gelegenheid stelt om
volledig gefinancierd een album op te nemen. Januari 2022 zal de plaat bestaande uit nieuw werk op
Dox Records worden uitgebracht.

“We waren erg onder de indruk van de sterke composities, de artistieke diepgang en gelaagdheid en
zowel het samenspel als de solistische kwaliteiten.”- Jury Keep an Eye: The Records 2020

Mo van der Does - altsaxofoon, klarinet & composities
Jessie Brevé - basklarinet
Alistair Payne - trompet
Matthias van den Brande - tenorsaxofoon
Floris Kappeyne - piano
Tijs Klaassen - contrabas
Wouter Kühne - drums

TIJS KLAASSEN QUINTET

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Photo by Teresa Costa
The Tijs Klaassen Quintet consists out of some of the most talented young jazz musicians on the Amsterdam scene. All of whom are not only known as great players, but also as gifted composers. This reflects on the way in which they interpret the compositions by the bandleader. A striking aspect of the band’s sound is the search for new orchestrations within the classic quintet line up. Vintage 80s synths, complex horn harmonies, west African drum rhythms and arco bass melodies create a unique blending of sounds. As a composer, Tijs gets his inspiration from the sounds of various 20th century European composers combined with the energy from the present day New York jazz scene.

Recently the band was among the winners of the Keep an Eye The Records 2018 edition. This prize, consisting out of 10.000 euro’s, enabled them to record their debut ‘Clavius’ album in April 2019. This record came out December 2019 and was met with considerable acclaim.

Mo van der Does: Alto saxophone
Matthias van den Brande: Tenor saxophone
Floris Kappeyne: Piano
Wouter Kühne: Drums
Tijs Klaassen: Double bass & Compositions

ALL ELLINGTON

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Photo by Cees van de Ven

Duke Ellington – his music is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for musicians of all styles and generations. That same goes for All Ellington, a tentet featuring musicians from the flourishing Amsterdam improv scene who are ‘excellent melodists and magnificent sound blenders’, according to founding member Eric Boeren. They tackle Ellington arrangements by various band members. In All Ellington, respect for the original compositions goes hand in hand with individuality and inventiveness, much in the spirit of Ellington’s orchestra back in the day. The expanding All Ellington repertory contains big hits as well as lesser-known gems. The eponymous first album of the group, which appeared earlier this year, received great reviews in the international media.

‘When Eric Boeren assembles a cast of musicians to play the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn you know it won’t be your father’s Ellington. Well, unless your father is very, very hip’ (All About Jazz).