Friday 15 June

20:30 @ Bimhuis

Amagi

• Eva Hoogland voice; Wolter Wierbos trombone; Oğuz Büyükberber bass clarinet; Giray Gürkal guitar, bass guitar; Gülşah Erol cello; Korhan Erel electronics

Some time ago I played as a guest in Istanbul with the group Islak Köpek (Korhan, Gülşah, Giray among others); last August I heard via friends that the cellist, Gülşah, was beaten up by the Turkish police, and I decided to invite them here to Amsterdam for the upcoming dOeK Festival, and also invite some other Turkish players I know…. Oguz I met in Amsterdam, and we played together in one of his projects, with Simon Nabatov and Tobias Klein among others…. improvisation was involved, but we also employed compositions. Then I thought it would be a great idea to include Eva Hoogland, Oscar Jan’s sister, who studies traditional Turkish vocal music. I am curious about this combination!

Wolter Wierbos

Stadhouders, Oliver, Vitols, ‘t Hart, Rosaly

• Mary Oliver viola and viola; Jasper Stadhouders guitar; Uldis Vitols double bass; Frank Rosaly drums; Harpo ‘t Hart analogue modular synthesizer

For this year’s Doek Festival I’ll present a new quintet, which has been on my mind for over a year, with a slightly unusual instrumentation. Three acoustic string instruments, acoustic drums and percussion, and a self-made analogue modular synthesizer. We’ll play new and re-arranged older compositions, for which improvisation is key. The compositions will mainly serve as suggestions of what could be played, not what should be played. The people in this group are all excellent improvisers, therefore the decision making process within the composed material will be inspired by what feels the most appropriate on the spur of the moment. The form of the music will be less linear/horizontal and more modular/vertical. There’ll be a strong focus on the contrast between the directness of the acoustic instruments and the process-managing “indirectness” of the electronic modular synthesizer. With these musicians and this instrumentation, sonic possibilities are limitless.

Jasper Stadhouders

Hoogland, Sylla, Rosaly

• Mola Sylla voice; Oscar Jan Hoogland piano; Frank Rosaly drums

Frank Rosaly has been involved in the improvised and experimental music community since 2001 when he became an integral part of Chicago’s musical fabric, navigating a fine line between the vibrant improvised music, experimental, rock and jazz communities. Listening to Rosaly is an active engagement: “I see my musical journey as process. My endeavors are meant to display, document and communicate that process. I play music to ask questions, and within this subjective art form, queries are not meant to be answered, but are meant to qualify new questions.” Like Rosaly, singer and percussionist Mola Sylla is in many ways a musical explorer. Born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, he grew up in the tradition of the griots. Griots play – by conveying stories, sometimes embellished with music, theater and dance – an important role in the culture in West Africa. Mola’s rhythm and melodic compositions differ from the western agreed schedules and provide surprising twists. Hoogland is a master on his electric clavichord and a key figure in the Amsterdam improv scene. A triangle of 3 cities – 3 musics – 3 people ‘taking position’. Dakar – Amsterdam – Chicago a triangle of in total 18534 km.