Keep (it) Swinging: Rony Verbiest and friends

Rony Verbiest en vrienden ( Nederlands) Rony Verbiest and friends ( English)

Full house at the New Year Concert in Porgy en Bess - Terneuzen
RONY VERBIEST and FRIENDS
Hans Koert

The Artist in Residence of the Porgy and Bess jazz club in Terneuzen, in the southwest part of The Netherlands, is, during this concert season, Rony Verbiest, an Antwerp jazz musician. On the 17th of January, 2010 the second concert in a series of three, was scheduled.

Rony Verbiest ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

He brought his friends from the Antwerp Hopper café, Harry Happel, Mary Hehuat and Mimi Verderame to Terneuzen. This time he had left his accordion or baritone saxophone at home and brought his harmonica. An interesting choice in my opinion, as I hadn't heard him playing the harmonica before during a complete concert. I'd heard him in two previous concerts, both in Porgy en Bess, with Heyn Van de Geyn and with the Cauter family; both with an accordion in his hands. Harry Happel ( photo courtesy Hans Koert)

This time he had brought three excellent musicians. Harry Happel surprised playing the (electric) piano, but his laptop also contained a complete string orchestra, which gave his accompaniment an extra dimension, which pleased Rony visible. Harry Happel is known for the trio Intrioduction and his numerous appearances in the former TROS-radio program Sesjun.Mary Hehuat ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Mary Hehuat, was very pleased to play the "new" Porgy en Bass (!), which was officially inaugurated by Reginald Veal lately. What a great sound !! - His Van Zalinge bass remained untouched during the two sets. Mary played with Jack Van Poll and his Three-Oh and with Harry Happel in his Trio Intrioduction, featuring Frits Landesbergen on drums. He also recorded with his own trio and is the manager of the Hopper cafe in Antwerp.

Mimi Verderame ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Dominique Mimi Verderame is a versatile drummer, who is to be found at numerous recording session. He also could left his drum set in his car and played the Porgy and Bess set. I heard Mimi Verderame before at the International Jazz Festival in Middelburg some years ago in a trio with Philip Catherine and Philippe Aerts. He started his career with the known Belgian alto saxophone player Jacques Pelzer. Rony Verbiest ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
During the concert Rony and his friends played tunes, most from the American songbook, like You and the Night and the Music, the Nearness of You, Tenderly and Stardust. Especially the tune Nature Boy will be remembered, like Old Friend, dedicated to his father and an ode to the master on the harmonica himself, good old Toots.
Rony Verbiest ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
A great performance, but although some people in the audience had hoped that Rony would play the accordion too , even an old bandoneon on stage couldn't entice him. De mondharmonica is het ideale instrument voor accordeonisten die willen stoppen met roken ( = The harmonica is the most ideal instrument for accordion players who love to stop smoking): he explained his choice.
Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

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