Program
2004:
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LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD (USA) An exclusive and one
time only performance at the first International Boogie Woogie
Festival Holland!!!
. AXEL ZWINGENBERGER (Germany)
· JEAN-PAUL AMOUROUX (France)
·
RICKY NYE (USA)
· SILVAN ZINGG (Zwitserland)
· MARTIJN SCHOK (The Netherlands)
With:
·
MISTER TAP-DANCE PHIL (Guadeloupe)
. JEROEN SWEERS (The Netherlands)
· Tenorsaxophone: Rinus Groeneveld (The Netherlands)
· Vocals: Greta Holtrop (The Netherlands)
· Rhythm section: Thijs Verwer and Jan Flubacher
(The Netherlands)
. Swingclub Boogie World Amsterdam
Times International Boogie Woogie Festival Holland May 1st
2004
. Welcome in Entrance Hall 19:00 PM (with live boogie woogie by
Jeroen Sweers)
. Doors open music hall: 19:45 PM
. Start Festival: 20:00 PM
. End Festival: approx. 00:30 AM
. After Festival: Boogie jamsession by festival pianists in Tuinzaal
('Garden Hall')
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Festivalposter
(Click in the poster for enlarged reproduction)
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LITTLE
WILLIE LITTLEFIELD (USA) |
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Little
Willie Littlefield began his career as a recording artist
at the age of 16 for Eddie's Records in Houston. His first
recording "Little Willie's Boogie" was a hit in
Texas. In Houston Willie recorded 8 tracks for Eddie's Records
and Freedom Records in 1948/1949.
While
in Houston, word reached the Bihari brothers (owners of
the Modern-label in Los Angeles) about a teenage wonderboy
pianist who was currently breaking up at the Eldorado Ballroom.
Before leaving Houston Jules Bihari had already inked a
contract, recorded Littlefield's first side "It's Midnight"
and arranged for Littlefield to come to the West Coast.
When Littlefield arrived in L.A.later that month "It's
Midnight" was a big hit (peaked at 3) in the chards
nationwide and he was booked in L.A.'s Melody Club and in
Johnny Otis' famous Barrelhouse in Watts. He was an overnight
sensation.
"It's
Midnight" not only established him in the Rhythm and
Blues field, but also left an impression on other upcoming
stars such as Fats Domino who developed his triplet piano
style from the Littlefield recording.
Littlefield
recorded about 30 tracks for Modern in 1949, 1950 and 1951
and scored some more hits such as "Farewell"and
"I've been lost". He recorded with L.A.'s leading
Rhythm and Blues session musicians including saxplayers
Maxwell Davis and Buddy Floyd, guitarists Chuck Norris and
Johnny Moore and drummers Al Wichard and Jessie Price.
In
1952 Littlefield switched to Federal Records where he cut
many successful sides including the original version of
"Kansas City" (original title was "K.C.Loving").
By 1957 he had moved to Northern California and recorded
for Rhythm Records where he produced his hit "Ruby
Ruby".
During
the sixties he was content to play various clubs around
the San Francisco area. In the seventies he was re-discovered
and returned to the public stage with appearances at the
first San Francisco Bluesfestival and the Sacramento Bluesfestival.
In the mid-seventies he recorded several sides for Blues
Connoisseur Records.
In
1978 he did his first, very successful, tour in Europe.
Since 1980 Willie has been continually on the road in Europe,
playing theatres, clubs and festivals.His first performance
at the Montreux Jazzfestival was broadcasted on television
by the BBC. He appeared at many radio- and televisionshows
all over Europe. But Willie also continued his performances
outside Europe. Willie toured in Canada and appeared at
the Chicago Bluesfestival in 1988. He performed in the Australian
film "Love in Limbo", presented at the Berlin
filmfestival 1993.
During
the period 1980-1997 he recorded 10 albums for several european
recordcompanies. These albums were spoken in much appreciation
by the music crititcs.
Being
on the road for more than 50 years, Willie stopped touring
in 2000. This, however, does not mean that he leads an idle
life; on the contrary, he still practices his music with
a never ending energy and his technique is superb as ever.
The only restriction is that he now only accepts concerts
which accords with his interest and are not to far away
from his home town.
We
are proud to be able to present to you at our International
Boogie Woogie Festival Holland: the one and only
Little
Willie Littlefield!!! |
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AXEL
ZWINGENBERGER (Germany) |
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Born
in Hamburg, in 1955, Axel Zwingenberger enjoyed eleven years
of conventional piano training. In 1973 he listened to authentic
boogie woogie piano for the first time engraved on vintage
shellacs by Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson
respectively. "I didn´t kow you could play the
piano like t h i s ", Axel explains today, "and
from that very hour I didn´t want anything else but
learning to do so". Soon he met piano playing partners
like Hans-Georg Möller, Vince Weber and Martin Pyrker,
and word about the abilities of the four friends began to
spread. The 1974 "First International Blues- and Boogie
Woogie Festival" of the West German Radio Station in
Cologne turned out to be their first presentation to a greater
audience, soon to be followed by more, such as Hans Maitner´s
annual festival "Stars of Boogie Woogie" in Vienna.
In
1975, Axel got his recording contract with Frank Dostal
and their co-operation continues successfully today. Solo
albums like "Boogie Woogie Breakdown", "Power
House Boogie" or "Boogie Woogie-live" (the
latter also available as sheet music) had a considerable
impact on the junior set of boogie pianists. Axel recorded
with American music stars like Big Joe Turner, Lionel Hampton,
Mama Yancey, Sippie Wallace, Champion Jack Dupree, Jay McShann
and many others. These recordings were essential in shaping
his personal style and helpful in building his International
reputation. They also testified the encounter of black and
white, young and old, experence and enthusiasm and are part
of the history of boogie woogie.
When
Axel Zwingenberger hits the stage today, he scoops from
skills gained in thousands of performances all over the
world, from Hamburg to New York, from Vienna to Ouagadougou.
When his most recent compositions such as "Thundertrain",
"Steel Dragon" or "Snow Flake Dance"
start to sound you can notice the same fire in his playing
as twenty years ago when he first started out. |
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JEAN-PAUL
AMOUROUX (France) |
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Jean-Paul
AMOUROUX, born in Aurillac (France) has been playing the
piano professionally since 1973 after an earlier career
in advertising. He possesses a sound musical background
having won first prize in a major national piano competition
at the age of ten. He is both an original performer of boogie
woogie as well as being a serious student of its styles
and history. He has a large record collection and his opinions
on the genre have been sought on television, radio and in
print. Inevitably this deep interest is reflected in the
approach to his own playing which draws inspiration from
the greatest black practitioners without forsaking individuality
for eclecticism.
Jean-Paul's
piano style is immediately recognizable: short, punchy treble
statements interspersed with brooding choruses and a cascading
melange of brightly toned chords, trills and runs; all underpinned
by an uncompromising rock steady bass. On occasions his
walking bass gives way to deep tenths as if to give the
listener time to draw breath before the next improvisation.
It is not always easy for lesser pianists to sustain the
listener's interest in a complete record given over to boogie
but Jean-Paul's variations, keyboard technique and honesty
of purpose ensure that interest does not waver.
In
addition to residencies at clubs and concert appearances
J-P Amouroux has appeared on many records, often in the
company of illustrious piano players. Amongst those he has
teamed with Memphis Slim, Sammy Price, Jay McShann, Willie
Mabon and Milt Buckner. |
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RICKY
NYE (USA) |
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RICKY
NYE (Rick Neiheisel) was born in Cincinnati in 1956, and
was bitten by the music bug at the age of five. Upon his
return to the area in 1979, his musical journeys on piano,
organ & accordion have taken him through jazz, funk,
rock & roll (years 1979-1985 with legendary cult faves
The Raisins), country, zydeco, New Orleans styles, boogie
woogie & blues (three years with the late Big Ed Thompson)-
knowledge which has landed him on countless recording sessions
and recently as accompaniest to blues artists such as Francine
Reed and Darrell Nulisch.
Ricky
now leads his two groups, RICKY NYE & THE RED HOTS (winners
of BEST BLUES BAND in the Cincinnati Enquirer's 2001 CAMMY
awards) and his trio THE SWINGIN' MUDBUGS (the band behind
Ricky's 1998 release "Piano Is Fun!"), and plays
in solo settings (winning BEST SOLO ACT in the 2001 &
2002 CAMMY Awards, along with BEST BLUES/R&B INSTRUMENTALIST
in 2002 CAMMYS and BEST BLUES/R&B ARTIST in the 2000
&2001 CEA Awards held by CityBeat Magazine).
Ricky
can be heard in duet settings with upright bassist Nick
Lloyd and with vocalist extrordinaire Bekah Williams. Since
1996, Ricky has been a regular performer on the Arches Boogie
Stage at the Queen City Blues Fest, which put him in association
and friendships with some of the finest blues and boogie
woogie pianists from around the world. |
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MARTIJN
SCHOK (Netherlands) |
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For
years the name Martijn Schok has been synonymous with boogie
woogie. Martijn has played virtually all the great Dutch
jazz and blues festivals both solo and with his trio and
released eight successful boogie woogie CDs. Outside the
Netherlands, too, Martijn is a respected interpreter of
the boogie woogie style and has appeared many times at international
festivals, such as the festival in New Orleans (Louisiana,
USA), the Queen City Blues Festival in Cincinnati (Ohio,
USA) and the international boogie woogie festivals in Switzerland,
Belgium and France.
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 also seen as one of the best interpreters of the authentic
style. In addition to existing boogie woogie and blues standards,
Martijn has also built up an extensive repertoire of his
own compositions, with plenty of swing, flair and groove.
Next
to his solo performances and performances with his trio,
Martijn founded the Martijn Schok Boogie & Blues Band
in 2003. With his own rhythm section, Thijs Verwer on drums
and Jan Flubacher playing the upright bass, his singer Greta
and Dutch top tenor saxophone player Rinus Groeneveld.
Martijn
Schok (born in 1974 in Arnhem) was first introduced to boogie
woogie at the age of fifteen and was immediately grabbed
by the unmistakable sound and swing of this piano style.
Boogie woogie is lively dance music with a swing and a high
degree of improvisation. These were the main reasons for
Martijn to stop his classical piano studies, which he had
been following for eight years, and focus entirely on boogie
woogie. Rather than taking lessons, he decided to teach
himself this individual style of jazz piano.
Martijn
has played with many other international boogie woogie pianists,
including Big Joe Duskin (USA), Bob Seeley (USA), Axel Zwingenberger
(D), Mark Braun (USA), Ann Rabson (USA), Caroline Dahl (USA),
Carl Sonny Leyland (USA), Charlie Booty (USA), Liz Pennock
& Dr. Blues (USA), Kenny Wayne (USA), Stefano Franco
(It), Al Copley (USA), Chrisoph Rois (At), Michael Pewny
(A), Errol Dixon (JAM), Christian Rannenberg (D), Jörg
Hegeman (D), Christian Bleiming (D) en Michael Kaeshammer
(CAN). He has also performed with the Dutch boogie woogie
pioneers Jaap Dekker, Hein van der Gaag, Rob Hoeke and Rob
Agerbeek.
To
quote Martijn: 'I consider it a great privilege to be able
to share my favorite music with my audience. It does me
good to see that, more than a hundred years after its birth,
boogie woogie still appeals to people and that a widening
public is coming to appreciate this fantastic style of music'.
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SILVAN
ZINGG (Switzerland) |
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During
his schooltime, influenced by records of the three Boogie
Woogie masters Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons and Meade Lux
Lewis, the young pianist from Ticino Switzerland began to
play by himself on the 88 keys at the age of six. When Silvan
Zingg was seventeen he was already in the official programm
from the Blues Festival in Lugano as the youngest musician
to have ever performed at this event. Entertaining the enthusiastic
public, he seemed to be able to easely convince his listeners
about his feeling for this music and about his sensational
interpretation of the Blues. Similary, he showed his ability
to play Boogie Woogie and his personal touch with the piano.
His favourite styles are mostly classic Boogie Woogie, Blues
and Jazz with variations from all kind of different musical
waves.
Silvan
Zingg and organiser of this Festival Martijn Schok recorded
two CDs together: the first "Double Up Boogie"
is released in 1999, recorded in the Netherlands for Oldie
Blues (Martin van Olderen's Record Label). The second "Boogie-Woogie
Live In Concert" recorded in 2000.It's Silvan's first
live CD again in duet with Martijn Schok. Most recent records
of Silvan Zingg are a DVD, Boogie Woogie Xmas and Boogie
Woogie Triology with his Trio (release January 2004).
The
live performances of Silvan Zingg are full of energy and
lots of fun
!!! Don't miss it!!! |
Met
medewerking van:
Philou
(Guadeloupe)
One of the best tapdancers in the world...!
Greta Holtrop (Nederland)
Greta maakte als zangeres in korte tijd flinke
naam in het internationale Boogie Woogie en Pianoblues circuit.
Met pianist Martijn Schok zong zij op diverse grote festivals
over de gehele wereld waaronder de Boogie Woogie en Pianoblues
festivals in Cincinnati (Ohio, USA), Detroit (Michigan,
USA), Lugano (Zwitserland) en Laroquebrou (Frankrijk). In
2003 trad Greta met Martijn op tijdens de populaire ochtendnieuwshow
op de Amerikaanse televisiezender FOX2. Op al deze podia
en nog vele andere veroverde zij met haar mooie bluesy stemgeluid
en stijlvolle podiumverschijning de harten van vele boogie
woogie en blues liefhebbers. Samen met Martijn Schok nam
zij recent haar debuut CD op met de veelzeggende titel "Let's
Do the Boogie Woogie!". Tevens is Greta zangeres en
presentatrice van de succesvolle Nederlandse theatershow
The Grand Piano Boogie Train.
Rinus Groeneveld (Nederland)
De uit Amsterdam afkomstige Rinus Groeneveld
is al jaren een van Nederlands meest vooraanstaande tenorsaxofonisten.
Met zijn herkenbare speelstijl zorgt Rinus voor een unieke
mix tussen jazz, blues, boogie woogie en rhythm and blues.
Rinus heeft opgetreden met vrijwel alle Nederlandse Boogie
Woogie pianisten alsmede vele jazz- en bluesmusici in binnen
en buitenland waaronder Mose Allison, Big Jay McNeeley,
Rosa King en Hans Dulfer. Rinus maakt tevens deel uit van
de Martijn Schok Boogie & Blues Band, en verzorgde zelf
de CD opnamen van deze band in zijn eigen opnamestudio Studio
Greenfields Forever te Amsterdam.
Jeroen Sweers (Nederland)
Jeroen Sweers was born (1-4-78) in Deventer
in the Netherlands. Allready at a young age he discovered
the piano. Very soon he took his first lessons and he began
to study all sorts of musicstyles. Jazz, blues and above
all Boogie-woogie took his close attention. After he got
his high-schooldiploma in 1997, he decided to go to the
Constantyn Huygens conservatorium in Zwolle to study jazzmusic.
Last year he graduated cum laude for the first phase. At
this moment he is doing the second phase. This phase contains
a lot of different musicstyles, for instance: fusion, blues,
jazz, latin and Boogie-woogie. Jeroen plays in many bands
and that gives him the opportunity to play all these different
styles. But Boogie-woogie remains his first and biggest
love.
Not
only at the conservatorium, but also outside his study its
an interesting period for Jeroen. Not long ago he made his
debut in theatreshow The Grand Piano Boogie Train. In this
show he is playing the grandpiano with two other pianists,
Jaap Dekker and Martijn Schok, two top of the bill
boogie-woogie players. Other pianists who played in this
show are Rob Agerbeek and Rob Hoeke. Jeroen toured for three
months with this show and made the cd Groovinthe
boogie. A highlight of this tour was a live performance
on television for over two million viewers. This year he
also started his own Boogie-woogie band. Here he plays and
sings the Boogie and Blues, like his life is depending on
it.
Thijs Verwer en Jan Flubacher (Nederland)
De Arnhemmers Thijs Verwer (drums) en Jan
Flubacher (contrabas) zijn beiden zeer veelzijdige muzikanten.
Zij maken deel uit van het instrumentale Martijn Schok Boogie
Woogie Trio alsmede de medio 2003 opgerichte Boogie &
Blues Band. Thijs en Jan weten daarom als geen ander hoe
zij de boogies van de pianisten kunnen voorzien van een
flinke dosis extra swing. Beiden met conservatoriumopleiding
en volledig op elkaar ingespeeld vormen Thijs en Jan de
strakke ritmesectie voor dit swingende Internationale Boogie
Woogie Festival Holland.
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Swingclub
Boogie World Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Boogie Woogie is besides a musical art,
also a swinging dancing style. Swing Club Boogie World in
Amsterdam is one of the worlds best dancing schools specialized
in Boogie Woogie. The International Boogie Woogie Festival
Holland is proud to have a cooperation with Boogie World.
You will be able to see in action the dancers of Boogie
World's fantastic Show team during the festival on Saturday
May 1st 2004 and also during the sponsor/contributor evening
at Friday April 30th. The high level of the dancers of Boogie
World show from the fact that they have won the Dutch Championships
a lot of times over the last years. For instance, Dave Nieuwenburg
(dance school teacher) became National Champion seven times
and made it to the 3rd place at the World Championship of
Boogie Woogie Dance in France. For further information you
can visit the website of Boogie World at: http://welcome.to/boogieworld.
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