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INTERNATIONAL BOOGIE WOOGIE FESTIVAL HOLLAND 2009

Introduction Artists Entrance Tickets Arrangement Sponsors Contributors Venue Photo impression Masterclass Press Guestbook Free Newsletter	The International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland 2009 takes place on Saturday March 7th 2009 in Regardz Hotel Heerlickheijd van Ermelo.	Finale van het festival in 2008 (foto: Robert Joore)

Artists 2009


Lila Ammons (USA) - Special Guest van het festival Special Guest of the International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland 2009 is vocalist Lila Ammons. Lila Ammons' roots in jazz are legendary as the granddaughter of charismatic boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons and niece of tenor titan Gene (Jug) Ammons. Studying classical voice in New York, Ammons spent twelve years singing in opera, recitals and oratorios in the US and Europe, as well as doing commercial and film work. She has been moving steadily into jazz, as well as relocating to Minneapolis-St. Paul, where with a wide vocal and interpretive range, Lila Ammons has appeared at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, the Artists' Quarter, Bellanotte, Rossi's Blue Star Room, the Dakota County Jazz Cafe, the Minneapolis Hot Summer and Winter Jazz Festivals, along with the Chicago Blues Festival (2007). Ammons teaches private voice lessons and is in the midst of her first recording. A warm welcome to... Lila Ammons!		Lila Ammons (USA)

Big Jay McNeely (USA) “Rock ‘n’ roll saxophone pretty much begins with Big Jay Mc Neely. He’s the king of the honkin’, squealin’, bar walkin’, flat-on-his-back Blowin’ tenor men – the Number One “real gone guy” of the 50’s.” (Black & White Blues) Tenor saxophonist Cecil "Big Jay" McNeely has been "the king of the honkers" for over 50 years, and he's still going strong. Born in Watts, California, on April 29, 1927, he formed his own band with jazz legends Sonny Criss (alto sax) and Hampton Hawes (piano) while still in high school. But in late 1948, when he was asked to record for Savoy Records, he abandoned jazz for something more raucous and struck paydirt when his second release, a honked-up instrumental called "Deacon's Hop," went to ..1 on the national R&B charts in February 1949. For the next several years, Big Jay, according to The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, "was famed for his playing-on-his-back acrobatics and his raw, hard-swinging playing." During his act he'd leave the stage, walk across the top of the bar, and sometimes walk out the door of the club, often with a line of people following him. Once, in San Diego, during one such "walk," he was arrested on the street for disturbing the peace; inside the club, his band kept playing until someone could rush down to the police station, post Big Jay's bail, and bring him back to finish his song. In the early- to mid-fifties, Big Jay added vocal groups to his act, beginning with Four Dots & Dash, which included, at one time or another, 16-year-old Jesse Belvin, Marvin Phillips (later of Marvin & Johnny fame), Tony Allen and Mel Williams. In fact, Belvin made his first recordings with Big Jay, including "All That Wine Is Gone." Big Jay also worked extensively with The Hollywood Flames, The Penguins and The Medallions up and down the West Coast. In 1955-56 he shared the stage with the Clovers, the Harptones (at the Apollo Theater), Bill Haley and His Comets, the Moonglows, Little Richard, and others. In 1959 Big Jay enjoyed his biggest hit, a blues ballad called "There Is Something on Your Mind," featuring Haywood "Little Sonny" Warner on vocals. The record stayed on the R&B charts for six months and reached as high as ..44 pop. The song was later a hit for Bobby Marchan. Other artists who have recorded Big Jay's song include B.B. King, Etta James, Freddy Fender, The Hollywood Flames, Gene Vincent, Albert King and Professor Longhair. Big Jay retired from full-time music for 20 years, but in 1983 he returned to performing and hasn't looked back. In 1987 he played in a blues jam with B.B. King, Robert Cray, Etta James, Albert King, Junior Wells and others on the internationally-televised Grammy Awards.		Big Jay McNeely (USA)

Rob Agerbeek (NL) Rob Agerbeek is one of the first Dutch boogie woogie pianists. In 1956, Rob won the AVRO TV Jazzcompetition with his own boogie woogie quartet. He developed into a versatile and prominent international jazz pianist. He toured with Art Blakey's Jazz Mesengers, recorded with tenor saxophone player Dexter Gordon and played with many other American jazz artists such as Ben Webster, Gene Ammons, Don Byas, Cecil Payne, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Clark Terry, Joe Newman, Buddy Tate and Al Grey. Also, Rob has been the pianist of the Dutch Swing College band formany years. Rob Agerbeek never stopped to love his first speciality, boogie woogie. He will show this during the International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland 2009. Also, Rob gave piano lessons to many national pianists.		Rob Agerbeek (NL)

Stefano Franco (I) Stefano Franco from Italy plays impressively fast, with a great swing and a good sense of humor. He sings in English and Italian. It is great to see him accompanying himself with his right foot. 'My right foot is my drummer', he says. In Italy he is know as 'the pianist with his hi-hat'... A very energetic and expressive piano player that will perform a swinging show of boogie, blues and rhythm 'n blues with great fun and passion. Enjoy Stefano Franco!		Stefano Franco (Italie)

Joerg Hegemann (D) Jörg Hegeman, born in 1966 in Witten-on-Ruhr/Germany, is one of the few masters with a perfect command of the Boogie Woogie Style, who keep alive the charm and power of this music in the new millenium. Jörg Hegemann takes his fellow travellers to Chicago of the 1930s, and shows them the musical world of the kings of boogie woogie, Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson. Concerts in eleven European countries, uncounted events from North to South and West to East, performances with Joe Muranyi (clarinetist with Louis Armstrong), Axel Zwingenberger, Vince Weber and Martin Pyrker. The German traditional jazz and boogie scene is unthinkable without Jörg Hegemann, the "black" among the white boogie pianists (that's how they announced him in 2004 at the Sarospatak Int. Dixie and Blues Festival in Hungary). He does not need tricks or actionism on the piano. He convinces with his respect to the music and the work of his hands.		Joerg Hegemann (Duitsland)

Jo Bohnsack (D) The German pianist and singer Jo Bohnsack is a great lover of boogie woogie and blues. He is the first music student in Germany who spezialized in the birth and history of this musical style. In 2008 he has been 30 years on stage. Jo's concerts together with his good friend Champion Jack Dupree, made him an international boogie woogie and piano blues star. Bohnsack admits to have beeing influenced by legendary boogie woogie masters like Jimmy Yancey and Meade Lux Lewis and by New Orleans exponents like Prof. Longhair James Rooker and Dr. John. The sales of his first CD "Boogie in a nice place" have been extremely satisfactory. His recently released CD "A Tribute to my Heroes" promised to be an even greater success. Greatest success until now: An invitation to Jazz & Heritage Festival New - Orleans and becoming Steinway - Artist in 2005. Enjoy the groovy playing and singing of Jo Bohnsack.		Jo Bohnsack (Duitsland)

MARTIJN SCHOK (NL) Martijn's piano style is characterized by a large dose of swing, a steady groove and a high degree of virtuosity. It is clear he has a great deal of respect and admiration for the music of the early American boogie woogie originators. Martijn is a respected interpreter of the boogie woogie style and appears at famous international festivals, such as the festival in New Orleans (Louisiana, USA), the Queen City Blues Festival in Cincinnati (Ohio, USA), the Motor City Boogie & Blues Festival in Detroit (Michigan, USA), and the international boogie woogie festivals in Switzerland, Belgium, France, England, Spain and the USA. Martijn is organizer of the festival, together with vocalist Greta Holtrop and Dick and Diana Doorn.		Martijn Schok (Nederland)

Renaud Crols (B) Renaud Crols is a young and very talented Belgian musician. He first played the piano at the age of 6. At 9 he began to play the violin. He received classical music lessons and did the Royal Conservatory of Liège between 17 and 20. Since this time he began to play jazz and to improvise, and he got very interested by discovering many styles of music. He is now 25 years old and is what we can call an off-road musician as he can play a lot of different kinds of music... He has participated to the two previous editions of the Brussels Boogie-Woogie Festival, and he will bring a special touch to the International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland 2009!		Renaud Crols (B)

Greta Holtrop (NL) With her versatile vocal talent and charismatic stage presence, the Dutch singer Greta Holtrop forms the perfect partner for Martijn Schoks swinging piano style. Her expressive voice, full of sincerity and emotion, seduces the ear with sultry interpretations of sensitive blues songs, turning just as easily to lively, swinging boogies. Boogie woogie great, Big Joe Duskin, has described her vocal tone as somewhere between Billie Holiday and Dina Washington. Together with Martijn Schok, Greta performed during Boogie Woogie and Blues Festivals in the USA, Switzerland, France, Belgium and England. Greta also sang with other top boogie woogie players such as Bob Seeley (USA), Charlie Booty (USA), Jean-Paul Amouroux (F), Ricky Nye (USA), Little Willie Littlefield (USA), Silvan Zingg (CH), Stefano Franco (It) and Mark Braun (USA). Greta is vocalist and presenter of the successful theatre show, The Grand Piano Boogie Train with pianists Martijn Schok, Jaap Dekker and Jeroen Sweers. Greta performed many times for national television in Holland as well as regional TV stations in the USA. For the year 2009, performances are scheduled during the Jazzfestival in Denmark.		Greta Holtrop

Rinus Groeneveld (NL) The Amsterdam based Rinus Groeneveld is without doubt one of Hollands best tenor saxophone players. With his recognizable sound he blows a unique mix of jazz, blues, boogie woogie and rhythm and blues. Rinus played all over the world with many jazz and blues musicians, such as Mose Mose Allison, Big Jay McNeeley, Rosa King and Hans Dulfer. Rinus has been part of the Martijn Schok Boogie & Blues Band since 1994 and was the recording engineer of the bands latest CD "Doing The Boogie Woogie", in his own recording studios in Amsterdam.		Rinus Groeneveld

Sergei Shapko (NL) English information published here soon.		Stephan Jankowski

Sergei Shapko (NL) Bass player Sergei Shapko from Amsterdam plays bass in the real traditional style. With his self built upright bass, he knows exactly how to give the right groove to the music. Sergei is a specialist in the slapping bass style. Together with drummer Maarten Kruijswijk, Sergei takes care of the swinging drive of the Internationale Boogie Woogie Festival Holland 2008.		Sergei Shapko

Maarten Kruijswijk (drums, Holland) In the life of the Amsterdam based drummer Maarten Kruijswijk (1964) the groove is the central thing. After completing his education at the Dutch Conservatory in 1989, he peformed for three years in the salsa band Fruta Bomba. After that he played, and still does, with tenorsaxophone player Rinus Groeneveld and played with Big Jay McNeely. Maarten's jazz preference is Swing & Boogie. Combining these very swinging styles with his experience with Latin rhythms results in a natural basis for playing groovy New Orleans beats. Because of his work as a drummer at the Dutch Acedemy for Dancing, he is always inspired to play music in a way that can be well danced on. "Rhythms exist to be danced on and to have fun!". Also, Maarten mastered the CD "Let The Four Winds Blow" by the Martijn Schok Boogie & Blues Band created the graphic design.		Maarten Kruijswijk

The members of the Martijn Schok Boogie & Blues Band will be accompanying the pianists. Greta Holtrop (vocals) Rinus Groeneveld (saxophone), Maarten Kruijswijk (drums), Sergei Shapko (upright bass), And with special guests: Swing Club Boogie World (boogie woogie dancing). Saturday evening March 7th 2009, starting at 19:30 PM: International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland 2009. Tickets for the festival are already for sale. Saturday night after the festival evening: Swinging afterparty in the bar of the hotel. Friday evening March 6th 2009, 21:00 PM: Swinging 'pre-show' with some of the festival artists performing in informal setting in the bar of the hotel. Only accessible for Sponsors, Contributors and hotel guests that reserved a Boogie Woogie Arrangement at the hotel.		Martijn Schok Boogie & Blues Band (foto: Toon Bugner) Swing Club Boogie World (boogie woogie dans) (foto: Robert Joore)

The International Boogie Woogie Festival
Holland is supported by
the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds