Robby Krieger (1946), guitarist of the illustrious American rock band the Doors (1965 – 1971), shifts his musical course on his latest album. The Soul Savages’ gospel and soul influences enrich his guitar and sitar playing and give wings to the still pickless Krieger. In 2021, the guitarist completed his memoir in which he soberingly […]
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Philip Glass: back to the essence
Some have immense admiration for Philip Glass’ ‘minimal music’, others talk about it with barely concealed contempt. The American composer’s oeuvre has been the subject of musical controversy for more than half a century. Next Wednesday, Glass hopes to celebrate his 87th birthday, today his new album Solo will be released. As a composer, Glass […]
Not a blue note but a blue movement
Researching the essence of the blues for his master’s degree, tenor saxophonist Efraïm Trujillo made some spectacular discoveries: ‘facts’ that had been assumed and passed on as truths by musicologists for decades turned out to be untenable. For example, the oft-mentioned ‘blue note’ is not an essential characteristic of the blues as has always been […]
The day that Fokko Kramer called
In May 1977, showbusiness journalist, presenter and organiser Fokko Kramer made me an attractive proposal that could have turned my life around. More than 46 years later, I am in Groningen again, wondering what would have happened if I had agreed on the day Fokko Kramer called. The indeterminate period between Christmas and New Year’s […]
Passionate ensemble playing
Todd Sickafoose usually plays a musical role in the background. The American bassist, producer and arranger has collaborated on many projects in various genres and styles from jazz, folk, rock to classical music. His talent did not go unnoticed, winning both a Tony and a Grammy Award. As a sideman, Sickafoose played with countless others. […]
Women in music
2023 was the year of women in music. Nowadays we see female conductors, composers, bandleaders and even a spectacular increase in the number of female violinists. The professional music scene, for many centuries the domain of men, is finally changing. If women played an instrument it used to be a harp, but the conductor’s box […]