This year’s Doek Festival will feature over 20 musicians from Tri-Centric Foundation, Stichting Doek and the wider Amsterdam scene. As a countdown to the Festival, which runs from June 2 through to June 7, we will be highlighting 2 artists per week. Video, audio and short biographies of each artist will give you a glimpse into their artistic careers.…
Doek Festival countdown
Michael Vatcher drums
California native Michael Vatcher, now residing in Amsterdam, quickly progressed from hitting household furniture to taking vibraphone and snare drum lessons as a child. In California, he played with reedist Michael Moore, with whom Vatcher has had a long musical relationship, John Handy, and Terry Gibbs. After spending a year in New York City, Vatcher moved to Holland in 1981.
Since arriving in Holland, Vatcher has played with such groups as Trio Braam De Joode Vatcher, the Tristan Honsinger Sextet, the Martin Altena Ensemble, John Zorn, The Ex, Roof (with Phil Minton, Tom Cora, and Luc Ex), and Van Dyke Parks.…
Doek Festival countdown
Mary Halvorson guitar
One of improvised music’s most in-demand guitarists, Mary Halvorson has been active in New York since 2002, following jazz studies at Wesleyan University and the New School.
After three years of study with visionary composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton, Ms. Halvorson became an active member of several of his bands, including his trio, septet and 12+1tet. To date, she appears on six of Mr. Braxton’s recordings. Ms. Halvorson has worked with such diverse bandleaders as Marc Ribot, Trevor Dunn, Tim Berne, Taylor Ho Bynum, Tomas Fujiwara, Curtis Hasselbring, Myra Melford, Jason Moran, Joe Morris, Tom Rainey and Mike Reed.…
Doek Festival countdown
Michael Moore alto saxophone and clarinet
…“Multi-reedist Michael Moore is a main figure in the Dutch creative jazz scene, although he is originally from the U.S. Before moving overseas, Moore studied with pianist and composer Jaki Byard at the New England Conservatory of Music. After his studies, Moore lived briefly in N.Y.C., then went on to Amsterdam where he has remained. Since then, Moore has collaborated extensively with major Dutch improvisers including drummer Han Bennink and pianist/composer Misha Mengelberg, as well as American jazz musicians such as Fred Hersch and Gerry Hemingway.
Doek Festival countdown
Tomeka Reid cello
Chicago based cellist, composer and educator, Tomeka Reid has been described as “a remarkably versatile player,” (Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune). Equally adept in classical and jazz contexts, Reid predominantly finds herself in experimental and improvisatory settings and composes for a wide range of instrumentation, from big band to chamber ensemble. Tomeka’s music combines her love for groove along with freer concepts.
Tomeka Reid is an integral part of Dee Alexander’s Evolution Ensemble, Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble/Strings, Mike Reed’s Loose Assembly, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) Great Black Music Ensemble, and co-leads the internationally recognized string trio, Hear in.…