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This is Our Music – Artist portrait Wilbert de Joode

ByJohn Dikeman

Wilbert de Joode
Featured Ensemble for Doek Festival 2018
Ab Baars Trio
Saturday June 16 – Bimhuis

Wilbert de Joode is widely regarded as one of the foremost bassists in improvised music. He plucks, prods, bows and scrapes his bass with impeccable intuition and a vast vocabulary drawing from all corners of improvised music. Completely self taught, his approach to the instrument and improvisation in general is wholly unique. Wilbert is also one of the most attentive listeners around, which ensures phenomenal tone regardless of setting. Whether playing fiery free jazz with the likes of Charles Gayle and the late Sunny Murray, sensitively negotiating abstract sonic landscapes with Christine Abdelnour and Le Quan Ninh or mischievously coaxing singing timbres out of a wine glass at a fine Italian eatery, quality of sound is always of utmost importance.
His importance for the Dutch improvised music scene of the past couple of decades, as a performer and as a coach and mentor for young players, cannot be overstated. Wilbert has worked in various settings with just about every major improviser around, but has also played crucial roles in regular ensembles including The Ab Baars Trio and the Eric Boeren 4tet, both performing during this festival, as well as Bik Bent Braam, All Ellington, Corkestra, 1000, Ig Henneman Sextet, Ada Rave Trio, Kaufmann/Gratkowski/de Joode and Ex Orkest to name just a few. Last year Wilbert was awarded the most prestigious prize for Dutch jazz musicians, the Boy Edgar Prijs.

Ab Baars Trio

• Ab Baars tenor sax; Wilbert de Joode double bass; Martin van Duynhoven drums

Another pinnacle of Dutch improvised music, the Ab Baars Trio has been around for nearly 30 years. Far more than just another sax, bass and drums trio, the group creates some of the most strikingly original music of any “jazz” trio you’ll find. While it is led by Ab Baars, there is an incredible freedom given all three members, which brings out the best in everyone. It makes perfect sense that Wilbert de Joode would choose this group for “This is Our Music”.