Info
Maarten van der Grinten (guitar, ukelele, cavaquinho)
Benjamin Herman (alto saxophone, c-melody saxophone)
Jos Machtel (acoustic bass, tuba, trombone, cornet)
Henk Zomer (drums, percussion)
THE VAN DER GRINTEN- HERMAN QUARTET
In
1992, the Quartet released their first cd
'Between a Dog and a Lamppost' and promoted this with a major tour in the
autumn that year.
Since then the sound of the Quartet of guitarist Maarten van der Grinten and
saxophonist Benjamin Herman has gone from strenght to strength. In that year,
the two leaders both received major Dutch jazz prizes for outstanding musicianship.
Benjamin Herman was selected for the Thelonious Monk saxophone competition in
Washington, D.C. (one of only three European nominees).
As the two leaders seperate popularity grew, the band's function as a creative
playground for the four musicians, began to cristalize.
Bassist Jos Machtel doubles on bass tuba and trombone, skills which he developed
during a seven-month gig in Kansas City in 1993. Henk Zomer is one of the finest
jazz percussionists in Holland contributing to the original style of the Quartet
with his polyrhythmic drumming.
A style which, with the band's unique instrumentation and innovative interpretation
of old sounds, is, as a fan once said, like a 'Salvation Army orchestra on acid'.
In
1994 the second cd was released, 'Psychodixie
for C Melody Saxophone', featuring Benjamin exclusively on C-melody saxophone.
Jazz Nu, the most important Dutch jazz magazine, called it the most interesting
Dutch cd of that year.
In 1998, they have put together their latest studio sessions for the cd
'Lost Languages
(in Sad Serenades and Jocular Jazz)'. This is a combination of material
from 1997 and 1998 and is another shameless mix of styles and tradition.
At this stage the Van der Grinten / Herman Quartet can play anything and remain
recognisable.
This is what nowadays is refered to as European Jazz.
