This is Our Music – Artist portrait Oscar Jan Hoogland

Oscar Jan Hoogland
Featured Ensemble for Doek Festival 2018
Hoogland, Sylla, Rosaly
June 15 – Bimhuis

The enfant terrible of the new Dutch impro scene, Oscar Jan Hoogland sprung onto the Amsterdam landscape approximately a decade ago, at the forefront of the latest group of improvisers to arrive and simultaneously uphold the tradition of New Dutch Swing even while tearing it apart. Having studied both piano and composition at the conservatorium, Oscar is possibly most notable for his fearless ability to use any and every influence as stimuli for improvisation and experimentation. Piano may be his main instrument but he is often seen performing on a variety of old synths, a highly customized electric clavichord, guitar, turntable, voice, toys… His projects show the diversity of his interests including anarcho-free improv trio Eke, the psychedelic Turkish dance band 69 Ay, the Phonograph Orchestra, impro pop band The Job, the Bakfietsband which performs on the back of a bicycle, as well as ensembles that link him directly to the history of Dutch improvising, such as The Ambush Party or his duo with legendary drummer Han Bennink. In all these ensembles, one sees a Misha Mengelberg-like intellect which is just as focused on meta-music and discovering and challenging new ideas as it is on simply providing straight forward musical input. Oscar has also been crucial in helping this music reach new and different audiences, constantly finding unusual settings which draw together young artists, dancers, and just plain party folk. Doek’s evenings with Eddie the Eagle Museum have included collaborations with visual art, dance, performance art, theater – everything you could fit in a night club. The Second Stop is Jupiter, also the brainchild of Hoogland, featured various bands performing late night dance oriented gigs, which managed to remain improvisational and musically adventurous while packing De Ruimte with a large group of people who wanted to shake their bodies.

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 where he has become 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 conveying stories – sometimes decorated with music, theater and dance – an important role in the culture in West Africa. His 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]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKBciefgr5M