Zefir Records

Delta Suite

Clazz Ensemble

'I feel no borders between jazz and classical music'. These wise words of jazz legend Duke Ellington inspired Clazz Ensemble to adventurous concerts in which these two genres come together. For the project 'Clazz in Zeeland" the composers Dies le Duc, Dick de Graaf and Douwe Eisenga wrote new work for an brand-new Delta Suite. 

Delta Suite
The areas of mainland and islands that make up the Province of Zeeland are situated in the South West of the Netherlands. In this Delta area the sea is always at close proximity. Dick de Graaf whose ancestors came from this area, forms together with Gerard Kleijn the artistic management of the Clazz Ensemble. The bandleader was inspired to compose Delta Suite by a picture of his great-grandfather’s orchestra dating back to 1886.

Over a century ago this Delta served as a large source of inspiration for painters such as Mondriaan and Toorop, attracted by the famous “Zeeuws Lucht” (the exceptional quality of the light in Zeeland), the ridges of dunes and the woods of Zeeland. Today, about a century later, three musicians have composed a Delta Suite. What does the Zeeland Air sound like? Without light there are no colours, without air there is no sound. The light in Zeeland is unique and so is the sound of these Zeeland musicians and composers. These composers with a special tie to Zeeland, have written compositions outlining the individual relationship of each one of them has with the Delta.

with:

Arno Bornkamp, Dick de Graaf, Nils van Haften, Paul van der Feen, Martijn de Laat, Frank Anepool, Gerard Kleijn, Ilja Reijngoud, Koen Kaptijn, Kris Goessens, Guus Bakker & Joost Kesselaars

external links
Visit the website of Clazz Ensemble

press quotes:

PAROOL The orchestra alternates between nostalgic warm, detailed written pieces and small improvisations. One can hear very well that the musicians are trained in both classical and jazz. The three composers wrote beautiful, compact and exciting pieces. Maartje den Breejen

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IN HEAVEN For this new project, composerS Dick de Graaf, Dies le Duc and Douwe Eisenga were called upon to deliver music inspired by the county, merged by the Ensemble into the extremely fascinating Delta Suite. Music of international stature. Eric van Domburg Scipio

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JAZZENZO Impressive and beautiful as the sunset over the delta. Rinus van der Heijden

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NTB The classical crossover is clearly present in the pieces of Dies le Duc, Dick de Graaf moving more to a jazz idiom. Performed with great skill and empathy. Razor sharp and very tight are the keywords. The concluding piece starts minimalistic and leads to a swirling klezmer-orgy, leaving the listener behind in astonishment.

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TROUW Well balanced sound, with sufficiently prickly moments

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JAZZISME Although work by three different composers can be heard, the music sounds quite homogenous. The timbre is often very inventive and enjoyable. Sometimes refined arranged music is very welcome. Coen de Jonge

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FRET It’s easy to get ‘high of the Zeeland fog’ in the pieces by Dies le Duc on this Delta Suite. You should give this cd a listen! Arjan van Sorge

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