Composition Assignment

Each year, North Sea Jazz and Muziek Centrum Nederland, by order of the ‘Nederlands Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten+’ (Dutch fund for the performing arts), grant a ‘free’ composition assignment to a young and promising jazz composer. The North Sea Jazz Composition assignment for 2008 is granted to pianist/composer Jeroen van Vliet.

The North Sea Jazz Composition assignment for 2008 is granted to pianist/composer Jeroen van Vliet. Van Vliet effortlessly combines visions and techniques of various jazz styles into a personal sound: he subtly mixes influences from classical music with bebop techniques and modern acoustic jazz. His compositions reveal an intelligent lyricism and are characterized by the craftily constructed musical tension and the subtle changes in the space allocated to the soloists. Gems of compositional ideas allow for exciting improvisations. He also achieves a perfect integration of composition and improvisation, solo as well as collectively: composition transforms imperceptibly into improvisation and vice versa.

For the performance of this composition assignment Jeroen van Vliet has selected the foloowing musicians for his ensemble: Jeroen van Vliet (piano, electronics); Erwin Vann (sax, electronics); Jörg Brinkmann (cello); Frans van der Hoeven (bass); Pascal Vermeer (drums); Afra Mussawisade (percussion, electronics). The performance will be held at the North Sea Jazz Festival in on Friday 11 July at 5.30 pm in the Madeira - Ahoy Rotterdam.

The North Sea Jazz Composition assignment is sponsored by Muziek Centrum Nederland. The MCN is the centre for knowledge and promotion of the Dutch music scene, both at national and international level.

Photo Jeroen van Vliet © Joep Lennarts