Musicians: Gerald Kleijn (trumpet, flugelhorn), Örjan Graafmans (piano, Fender Rhodes), David Golek (guitar), Paul Berner (bass), Joost Kesselaar (drums)
Review: The notion that jazz is a purely African-American music is not so much false as simplistic. There can be no doubt that the foundations for the music were laid down by African-Americans, by blending African influences with European traditions. As it grew and developed, however, jazz drew in many new influences from all over the world to be "assembled in the USA." Now the process has gone one step further so that some of the construction is going on in Europe, Brazil and elsewhere. Talk about outsourcing!
One of the Netherlands' leading jazz musicians, Gerard Kleijn is deeply involved with building his section of the overall edifice. Assisting him on this new CD is the group heard on his previous recording Love Quotes, which consists of one other Dutchman (Kesselaar), a Swede (Graafmans), an American (Berner), and an Israeli (Golek). Apart from his time at conservatories in Hilversum and Rotterdam, Kleijn has studied with Bobby Shew, Allen Vizutti and the Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi. And for a European brass player it is almost impossible to avoid the influence of Kenny Wheeler, directly or indirectly. Like Wheeler, Kleijn exhibits a big brassy tone, lots of technique and a great fluency of ideas, with a nice balance between cutting-edge abstraction and the more lyrical touch generated by the warmth of his trumpet sound, a balance that extends to the overall sound of the group. His cohorts are all equally fluent improvisors, and, after being together for some time, have developed a highly coherent group sound, centered on guitarist Golek, an interesting player who has listened to Derek Bailey as well as the current crop of American jazz players, and who moves between roles of soloist and accompanist, with pianist Graafmans laying out altogether on some tracks, such as Samsara and playing a greater role elsewhere, such as The World Like It Was and his own composition Rhapsody.
Apart from Graafman's contribution and two tunes by Berner, the rest of the compositions are from Kleijn's pen and he reveals himself to be a composer of some originality, focusing on the primary role of jazz composition--providing a variety of stimulating frameworks for the soloists. The selections flow smoothly from one to the next in the manner of a suite, with Exploring The Blues resurfacing after its first iteration at the very beginning of the program.
European jazz has had its own voice for years and Gerard Kleijn's group is a fine example. If they can stay together for another couple of albums the music can only get better.
Tracks: Exploring The Blues (Introduction), Shirts And Skins, 03, Samsara, Exploring The Blues, New Amsterdam, The World Like It Was, Rhapsody, Amor A Prima Vista
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