Bop Shop presents Willem Breuker Kollektief at Lutheran Church of the Reformation

The Late Dutch saxophonist/composer/bandleader Willem Breuker had a special relationship with Rochester having played here over a dozen times, most of those concerts presented by the Bop Shop. When he passed away on 7/23/2010, those of us at the Bop Shop felt the loss deeply.

Like Duke Ellington, Willem Breuker's voice was expressed through his band, the Willem Breuker Kollektief, originally founded in 1974. While the personnel fluctuated throughout its 36 years of existence, he always had strong players. Several of them were there from the beginning to the end: bassist Arjen Gorter, drummer Rob Verdurmen, trombonist Bernard Hunnekink. Despite the various versions of the band, perhaps the strongest edition was the final group, one that remained with a stable personnel for the last ten years. It was composed of strong players that were committed to realizing Breuker's music yet able to express themselves with individual voices. These included players like pianist Henk DeJonge (a member for over 25 years), tenor saxophonist Maarten van Norden, trumpeter Andy Altenfelder (two members who logged in over 20 years) alto sax and harmonica player Hermine Derloo and trombonist Andy Bruce. Whether it was interpreting Breukers scores, playing jazz standards of Mingus and Ellington, or playing Breuker's arrangements of 1930s bandleader Reginald Foresythe, the band delivered the music with top-flight musicianship, energy and humor. (Incidentally each of these members all have their own recordings that are well worth investigating.) ...

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The Late Dutch saxophonist/composer/bandleader Willem Breuker had a special relationship with Rochester having played here over a dozen times, most of those concerts presented by the Bop Shop. When he passed away on 7/23/2010, those of us at the Bop Shop felt the loss deeply.

Like Duke Ellington, Willem Breuker's voice was expressed through his band, the Willem Breuker Kollektief, originally founded in 1974. While the personnel fluctuated throughout its 36 years of existence, he always had strong players. Several of them were there from the beginning to the end: bassist Arjen Gorter, drummer Rob Verdurmen, trombonist Bernard Hunnekink. Despite the various versions of the band, perhaps the strongest edition was the final group, one that remained with a stable personnel for the last ten years. It was composed of strong players that were committed to realizing Breuker's music yet able to express themselves with individual voices. These included players like pianist Henk DeJonge (a member for over 25 years), tenor saxophonist Maarten van Norden, trumpeter Andy Altenfelder (two members who logged in over 20 years) alto sax and harmonica player Hermine Derloo and trombonist Andy Bruce. Whether it was interpreting Breukers scores, playing jazz standards of Mingus and Ellington, or playing Breuker's arrangements of 1930s bandleader Reginald Foresythe, the band delivered the music with top-flight musicianship, energy and humor. (Incidentally each of these members all have their own recordings that are well worth investigating.)

The members of the Kollektief have decided to do one last tour presenting the music and arrangements of Breuker. We jumped at the chance to book it. This will be a wonderful evening of music. And rather than mourning the loss of one of jazz most individual voices, it will be a celebration of the strength and timelessness of Breuker's music. You won't want to miss it.

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