Keep (it) Swinging: Eric Ineke JazzXpress in concert with David Schnitter and Rodolfo Neves

Eric Ineke's JazzXpress ( met David Schnitter en Rodolfo Neves) (Nederlands) Eric Ineke JazzXpress in concert with David Schnitter and Rodolfo Neves (English)

Scheldejazz 09 - Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen - 6th of June 2009
ERIC INEKE JAZZXPRESS in concert with DAVID SCHNITTER and RODOLFO NEVES
Hans Koert

On the 6th of June, 2009 the Eric Ineke JazzXpress performed at the Porgy en Bess Jazz club as part of the Schelde Jazz Festival in Terneuzen, the jazz city in the south west part of The Netherlands. He had invited some guests: Rodolfo Neves replaced Rik Mol and David Schnitter, who happened “to be in town”, played during the second set.

Eric Ineke: fourty years behind his drum kit ..... ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

This, relatively young band of Eric Ineke, the JazzXpress, was founded a few years ago as a hard bop formation with Eric Ineke as the leader and experienced drummer for years. Marius Beets, bass player, who plays together with Eric Ineke in Rein De Graaff’s Trio; Sjoerd Dijkhuizen, tenor sax player and Rob van Bavel, piano player. All three have their own groups and made dozens of recordings.

Sjoerd Dijkhuizen ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Trumpet player, Rik Mol, raised in this part of the country, booming star on trumpet and fluegelhorn, was added to the front line. In Terneuzen Rik Mol was replaced by Rodolfo Neves, a Brazilian trumpet player, now living in Holland. I heard him for the very first time on the 2CD added to the recently released book De Leidse Jazz Geschiedenis ( 1899-2008) where he performed the fluegelhorn in a duet with jazz piano player Walter Wolff: Archipelago. The audience learned that he was a great replacement for Rik, who had to play with his trio at the Ijazz Afterparty Jamsession at the BIM-huis in Amsterdam.

Rob van Bavel ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

The tour by Eric Ineke’s JazzXpress was organized to promote their third album, titled Xpressions in Time. His two previous albums were titled: Flame ‘n Fire and, together with vocalist Deborah Brown, For The Love of Ivie, a titled referring to the Ellington vocalist Irvie Anderson; two great albums. Rodolfo Neves ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

The band started the concert with the tune Boppa, a Marius Beets composition, which happens to be the first track of the new album too. A great starter, which set the tone for the concert: pure hard bop as played by bands like the Jazz Messengers . This opener was followed by the Thelonious Monk standard ‘Round Midnight. The tune Portrait of Jenny, with Sjoerd Dijkhuizen in duet with Rob Van Bavel impressed, but is no part of the album, like Jotosco, another Marius Beets composition; both part of Ineke’s first album: Flame ‘n Fire. This rather weird title, Jotosco, refers to Marius' idols: John Coltrane, Tony Williams and John Scofield. David Schnitter ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
After the break David Schnitter joined the band. David had performed on Friday the 5th with Edgar Van Asselt on this same stage of Porgy en Bess.
David Schnitter was born in Newark NJ (USA) ( …….. but he had New York oozing out of his pores, Bobby Watson must have said) March 1948 and founded his own group early 1970s. In 1974, when he played at the Boomer’s club in New Jersey, Art Blakey came in and joined the band for a set. When the set had finished, Art told David: You’re gonna be in my band and that’s the way he became a member of Art Blakey Jazz Messengers for almost five years. David Schnitter is to be heard at the Timeless release In My Prime I with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers ( December 1978) ( CD SJP 310). Rodolfo Neves, Sjoerd Dijkhuizen and David Schnitter (photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Around 1980 he worked for some years with Freddie Hubbard and Frank Foster. The band started the second set with the Monk standard Straight no Chaser and I’ve Never Been In Love Before, a tune I remember in the version by Chet Baker. During this set several standards were played, like You Don’t Know What Love Is and an untitled David Schnitter composition, based on Rhythm-A-Ning. “It doesn’t have a name” David explained Eric. Rodolfo Neves - Sjoerd Dijkhuizen and David Schnitter - Porgy en Bess (June 2009) (photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

If you like pure hard bop played by some of the best jazz musicians of The Netherlands ( and its surroundings) try to find yourself a copy of this Xpressions in Time, which has some great compositions by Rob Van Bavel ( Enigma Interactive and In April) and Marius Beets ( like the previous mentioned Boppa, Aotearoa and a funky final number Reboppa.)

The Eric Ineke JazzXpress: Xpressions in Time ( DayBreak DBCHR75924 )

Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl

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TRACKLIST
1 - Boppa
2 - 'Round Midnight
3 - Litha
4 - Miss Incognita
5 - Toys
6 - Aotearoa
7 - Enigma Interactive
8 - In April
9 - Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum
10 - Yes or No
11 - Reboppa

Eric Ineke drums - Rik Mol trumpet and fluegelhorn, Sjoerd Dijkhuizen tenor sax, Rob van Bavel piano and Marius Beets bass and bass guitar