Next week this new trio of RODRIGO AMADO (sax), ANDREW LISLE (drums) and DIRK SERRIES (guitar) will hit the road for 4 consecutive concerts in The Netherlands and Belgium, ending in a studio session at our beloved SUNNY SIDE INC. Studio in Anderlecht (Belgium). Links to each venue here below.
18/11/21 – De Ruimte (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
19/11/21 – De Singer (Rijkevorsel, Belgium)
20/11/21 – Jazzblazzt (Neeritter, The Netherlands)
21/11/21 – Het Bruggenhuis (Geraardsbergen, Belgium)
Squidco’s The Squid’s Ear review section just published this fine review of ARVIND GANGA & RICCARDO MAROGNA’s BALLADS FROM THE WRECKED SHIP. Read it here. The album is still available from our store or through our bandcamp.
“A captivating collection of duo improvisations for electric guitar and objects, reeds and electronics. As with much great free music, it’s often hard to tell exactly what’s going on here, as these gentlemen are adept at creating their own little sonic world. There is much adherence to drones, which stand like detailed walls with occasional framing showing through.
The opener, “Oed’ und leer das Meer”, begins with small quick scrabbling before slipping into a chordal drone, out of which grow short melodic lines. Another drone then manifests out of this and grows slowly more insistent until it starts to fracture, leaving a hollow sheen. More electronics are in evidence during “Chozodia”, with its stop and start, loud/soft modus. Tickletickle BAM. “The Limp Leaves Waited For Rain…” sounds for all the world like a warped jazz record with near-inaudible cracklings underneath, before morphing into a low drone with changing overtones. For brief moments a tonal center is suggested, pretty chords passing like mile-markers with the whole enterprise gathering momentum until it aches. “Phantoon” has gorgeous tumbling bristles with rushing air and slight metallic overburden, hissing static and oh-so-slight flinty string ringing. Repeated banging intrudes with much pithy comment from outside.
Though these pieces do occasionally remind me of other improv records I’ve known and loved, I can’t think of anything I can readily compare them to as a whole. A quote in the liner notes here alludes to how lazily the term “abstract” is lobbed at art or music, when in fact this work is nothing of the sort. This music is the result of very concrete practices, brought lovingly into focus.”
On October 22nd 2021 we held our first label event at the intimate PlusEtage venue in Baarle-Nassau (NL), premiering a two-monthly event with the ad-hoc trio of MARTINA VERHOEVEN on piano, GEORGE HADOW on drums and PATRICK DE GROOTE on trumpet and flugelhorn. In-house photographer Marcel Thomassen captured this riveting free impro concert beautifully. Meanwhile mark your agenda for number 2 on December 29th this year with the ad-hoc quartet of JOHN DIKEMAN (sax), TOM MALMENDIER (drums), DIRK SERRIES (guitar) and EMILIE SKRIJELJ (accordion), tickets here.
Listen to the new episode of our PORTAMENTO radioshow for the CONCERTZENDER :
Really proud to announce that this Friday, October 22nd, we officially start with our label-curated concert series ! With the gracious support of PlusEtage (est.1972) we’ll organise a two-monthly evening of free improvisation and minimalism, following the standards of our label. PlusEtage is a cosy little jazz venue on the border of Baarle Nassau (The Netherlands) and Baarle-Hertog (Belgium) and shares the philosophy we care about so much.
This Friday we proudly present in trio : MARTINA VERHOEVEN (piano), GEORGE HADOW (drums) and PATRICK DE GROOTE (trumpet). Doors : 8pm. Tickets : PlusEtage. Join us.
Important COVID directional : covidsafe pass is required.
Double bass veteran PETER JACQUEMYN and guitarist DIRK SERRIES met for the first time by initiative of the Lokerse Jazzclub (Belgium) in September 2020, between two lockdowns. This concert became a beautiful example of a perfect match in improvisation, both fascinated by the abstract and pushing their instrument to the edge of tonality, from the first notes till the very end fully in sync. RAW TONK RECORDS is releasing this concert in a limited run of 100 copies. Now in pre-order and officially out on October 25th, 2021. Grab here your copy here.
From here on it’s all about our first curated event at jazzclub PlusEtage on October 22nd, 2021.
For a few years we’ve been scouting Belgium for a venue to unleash our vision, to share our passion for the musicians we representing on A New Wave Of Jazz. Our label isn’t just a label but a modus operandi to support the free improvisation and avantgarde, pure from the heart, beyond hype and commercialization, and bring our label’s affiliated musicians home to a venue that already breathes adventure. PlusEtage is a genuine jazz club, since 1972, based in this pittoresque border town Baarle-Nassau/Baarle-Hertog in The Netherlands and Belgium, and it’s here we’ll start our two-monthly curated series on October 22nd.
The opening concert will be a trio consisting of MARTINA VERHOEVEN on piano, GEORGE HADOW on drums and PATRICK DE GROOTE on trumpet. Martina already played with both of them but this line-up is exclusive to this premiere of our series. It will be beautiful. Tickets you can book through PlusEtage by mail (info@plusetage.nl). See you there.
Just two days later, on October 24th, 2021, MARTINA VERHOEVEN en PATRICK DE GROOTE are teaming up with KRIS VANDERSTRAETEN (percussion), JEAN DEMEY (double bass) and DIRK SERRIES (guitar) for a matinee concert at Leuven’s Oratoriënhof. Starts at 2.30pm. Not to be missed either.
Check out saxophonist MARTIN CLARKE’s INCLUDING MUSIC radioshow. This episode features two pieces from ALAN WILKINSON & DIRK SERRIES’ ‘One In The Eye‘ release.
TOM JACKSON (clarinet), TOM MALMENDIER (snare drum) and DIRK SERRIES (guitar) are playing an intimate and acoustic trio set at Boom Café in Brussels. Entrance is free, kick off at 8pm.
ALAN WILKINSON & DIRK SERRIES’ One In The Eye (2cd) is reviewer’s choice in Belgium’s JAZZ & MO magazine. The album is still available from our store or on bandcamp.
“De keuze van onze recensenten. Wilkinson is een vaste waarde in de Britse avantgarde scene, Serries is een Belgische artiest met een indrukwekkende staat van dienst in de wereld van de industrial en ambient muziek. De laatste jaren concentreert hij zich meer op jazz en geïmproviseerde muziek. Deze dubbele cd met vooral Wilkinson in een hoofdrol, brengt een combinatie van studio- en liveopnames waarbij de twee totaal vrij improviseren, soms met elkaar, soms naast elkaar, zonder concreet doel of thema, maar wel met de inspiratie van het moment. Deze muziek klinkt als een abstract schilderij en illustreert de relatie tussen vrije improvisatie en abstracte kunst. Boeiend om je te laten meevoeren in de flow, mits de juiste mindset.” Jazz & Mo – Belgium
