Rob Madna Cds [DE]

Rob Madna - Dutch Jazz Orchestra CDs

Dutch Jazz Orchestra plays the music of Rob Madna. CD1

1. Midsummer ‘84

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Simon Rigter, Karel Boehlee

Midsummer ‘84 is part of a five-part suite commissioned in 1984 by NOS (Dutch Public Radio) Meervaart Jazz Festival from Rob Madna and Jerry van Rooyen. Madna’s other movement of the suite, All In, was recorded in 1994 for the CD Update. This work is closely connected to the origins of the Dutch Jazz Orchestra: the band performed it at its first official concert, at the aforementioned festival.

2. It Happened Yesterday

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solo: Ack van Rooyen

Madna composed It Happened Yesterday to feature the flugelhorn of Ack van Rooyen. The piece dates back to 1968, when producer Joop de Roo was working with The Rob Pronk Orchestra, an international line-up led by trumpeter-arranger Rob Pronk.

3. B.K. Blues

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Tom Beek, Sjoerd Dijkhuizen, Karel Boehlee, Martijn van Iterson, Tom Beek

The initials in the title stand for guitarist Barney Kessel. Madna’s idea behind the composition was to have a playable piece that allowed for ample soloist’s space. The Madna Big Band performed this piece at the famous weekly live public radio jazz-broadcasts called TROS-Sesjun. As with so much historic material from the period, both the original score and the 1974 radio-recordings are lost. Luckily, Wim Minnaar owned a private recording of the evening, and that allowed Jan Wessels to recreate the score.

4. So Sweet My Little Girl

Duke Pearson, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solo: Mike Booth

One of the gems on this CD is Madna’s arrangement of Duke Pearson’s So Sweet My Little Girl. He confided the piece to paper somewhere between 1964 and 1968, but no one has ever heard it, not even those who intimately know his work. Madna, always his own harshest critic, may not have been satisfied, but it is hard to see why.

5. Beat

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Ilja Reijngoud, Martijn van Iterson, Mike Booth, Marcel Serierse, Tom Beek, Karel Boehlee, Tom Beek

This piece was premiered in 1972 at Delft University. Madna obviously was inspired by the then actual jazz-funk, and to pull this composition off convincingly, the DJO fortified its ranks with members of Rob’s final band: Tom Beek, Karel Boehlee and Theo de Jongh.

6. One

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Ferdinand Povel, Hansjörg Fink, Ruud Breuls, Jan Voogd

This is the first piece Rob wrote for his Rob Madna Big Band, and like the earlier Beat, it was premiered in 1972.

7. Pannonica

Thelonious Monk, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solo: Jan Huydts

Monk’s tribute to Pannonica De Koenigswarter-Rotschild, the ‘bebop baroness’ who supported many jazz musicians, was arranged by Madna for the Metropole Big Band, featuring Tommy Flanagan. Madna’s own favorite pianists were Rob van Bavel, Karel Boehlee and Jan Huydts. Huydts, admired by Madna for his musical taste and time, pays tribute here to his long-time friend.

8. So What

Miles Davis, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solos: John Ruocco, Nils van Haften, Morris Kliphuis, Jos Machtel

Like B.K. Blues, this 1984 arrangement of Miles (and shall we say Bill Evans’s?) modal classic So What, was conceived as an ‘easy’ piece, to be opened up for extensive solos. Among the soloists here are French-horn player Morris Kliphuis, the 2006 winner of the prestigious Princes Christina Competition.

Dutch Jazz Orchestra Plays the Music of Rob Madna CD2

1-4. Jazz Suite for Big Band

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

I. Opener. Solos: Ferdinand Povel, Ruud Breuls, Rob van Bavel, Ferdinand Povel

II. Ballad. Solo: Ruud Breuls

III. Gospelwaltz. Solos: Rob van Bavel, John Ruocco

IV. Final. Solos: Ferdinand Povel, Martijn Sohier, Ruud Breuls, Rob van Bavel

The Jazz Suite for Big Band is a four-part work commissioned by the Johan Wagenaar Stichting, and it was premiered at the 1978 North Sea Jazz Festival, the third installment of this largest indoor jazz festival. The concert, by the Frans Elsen-Rob Madna Big Band, has not been recorded. Thanks to trumpeter Jan Faas--in the band at the time--who saved photocopies of the original score, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra was able to save this suite from oblivion.

5. Day Dream

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solo: Simon Rigter

Madna composed Day Dream for tenor saxophone player Ruud Brink, who performed the work for the TROS-Sesjun microphones in 1974. As so often, the tapes were later erased, but since the score still exists, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra could record the work. Simon Rigter has eloquently taken on the role of the featured soloist.

6. Some Blues

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Rob van Bavel, John Ruocco, Bert Boeren, Karel Boehlee

For the international Loosdrecht Jazz Festival of 1971, Joop de Roo produced “Explosive”, a star-loaded big band. Madna composed this Some Blues for the occasion.

7. Waltz 1

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solo: Mike Booth

This is the first work in waltz-time that Rob Madna composed for big band. Note the unusual line-up of the reed section: two flutes, two clarinets and one bass-clarinet. Madna’s waltz has never before been played with its original instrumentation

8. The End of a Love Affair

Edward C. Redding, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solo: Ferdinand Povel

Not only have many radio broadcast tapes been erased, jazz on Dutch television has not been preserved well either. A 1968 TROS television show with the big band of Cees Smal (member of the famous Diamond Five) is lost, but since the score survives, as does the original soloist!, The End of a Love Affair could be included in this CD.

9. Toys

Herbie Hancock, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solos: Jan Voogd, Karel Boehlee

Another Madna experiment with flutes and clarinets. Although he still entertained other ideas for the arrangement, Madna decided to premiere this version at a 1980s TROS-Sesjun broadcast. Tapes and original score are lost, but trumpeter Jan Faas--now theory teacher at the Conservatory of Amsterdam--was intrigued by the arrangements voicings and copied it by hand, for study purposes.

10. The Mentor

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: John Ruocco, Nils van Haften, Ack van Rooyen

This work owes debt to 1927 Gene Austin/Nathaniel Shilkret composition Lonesome Road. Nils van Haften and Ack van Rooyen state the theme and together with John Ruocco take the solos.

Dutch Jazz Orchestra Plays the Music of Rob Madna CD3

1. Manteca

Dizzy Gillespie and Gil Fuller, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solos: John Ruocco, Ilja Reijngoud, Martijn van Iterson

Rob Madna arranged Dizzy’s famous composition Manteca for the Dutch Jazz Orchestra’s May 1986 television special. Because of the arrangement’s Latin flavor, the orchestra was fortified with members of one of Madna’s later combos: Theo de Jongh, bass guitar, and Karel Boehlee, piano.

2. A Song for B.E.

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solo: Rob van Bavel

This composition is dedicated to pianist-composer Bill Evans who passed away in 1980. Madna wrote it for his own Rob Madna Big Band, and premiered the piece the same year for TROS-Sesjun. The original recordings are lost.

3. Blues Ballad

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Tom Beek, Ruud Breuls

A complex composition, written in 1974, and again premiered at TROS-Sesjun. At the time, Madna played the ballad-section on trumpet (now stated by Ruud Breuls). Since this work again is steeped in a jazz-funk idiom, Madna’s funk-musicians Theo de Jongh, Karel Boehlee and Tom Beek are featured as well.

4. A Sleepin’ Bee

Harold Arlen and Truman Capote, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solo: Jan Wessels

The arrangement for A Sleepin’ Bee was written for a European Broadcasting Union program in 1996. As before, the recordings are lost, but a tape from Wim Minnaar’s private collection provided Jan Wessels with the necessary auditory sources to transcribe this fantastic score.

5. Let’s Face the Music and Dance

Irving Berlin, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solo: Ferdinand Povel

Ferdinand Povel’s quartet had developed a particular framework for Berlin’s 1936 hit song Let’s Face the Music and Dance. Madna used that format and arranged the work for the Dutch Jazz Orchestra’s 1986 television special.

6. Tale of the Trees

Rob Agerbeek, comp., Rob Madna, arr.

Solo: Ruud Breuls

Rob Agerbeek was the soloist at the 1972 premiere of his own composition, in an arrangement by Madna. At the time, Agerbeek was the piano player of the Rob Madna Big Band

7. T.J.

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Rob van Bavel, Jan Wessels, John Ruocco

Not to be confused with another Madna composition (Song for T.J.), this Thad Jones dedication served as a study piece in which Madna sought to uncover Jones’s sound. Madna succeeded, as we know, since Thad Jones later tried to hire him as both his pianist and arranger.

8. Lady Astrid

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Ack van Rooyen, Rob van Bavel

This 1965 composition is dedicated to Astrid Madna. According to Ack van Rooyen, who Madna envisioned as the soloist, this work was recorded in 1965 in Berlin. The full big band score that Madna claimed exists could not be found, but the present authentic arrangement for horns serves as a terrific replacement.

9. Workshop II

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Solos: Rob van Bavel, Morris Kliphuis, Nils van Haften, Jos Machtel

Madna wrote this piece in 1974 for a workshop at the Laren Jazz Festival. The French horn part went to Morris Kliphuis, the 2006 winner of the prestigious Princes Christina Competition.

In 1961 Boy Edgar formed an orchestra that recorded a monthly program for Dutch public radio station VARA. The broadcasts were produced by legendary jazz radio man Michiel de Ruyter while the announcer was the equally legendary Aad Bos. His voice, like that of De Ruyter, spells jazz to generations of Dutch radio listeners. Two historic recordings by Boy’s Big Band with Rob Madna, from 1963, are included here. They are of historical significance because these are the first documented Madna arrangements (although he always maintained that he started arranging about two years later). The line-up of the orchestra at these particular sessions, has not been documented.

10. Announcement Aad Bos

11. Lucky Man

Rob Madna, comp., arr.

Boy’s Big Band. Solo: Rob Madna

12. Announcement Aad Bos

13. Spring Is Here

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Rob Madna, arr.

Boy’s Big Band. Solo: Rob Madna

Recorded August 8-10 and November 28-29, 2007, at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, the Netherlands

Production: Albert Beltman

Executive producers: Albert Beltman and Jan Oosthof

Musical directors: John Ruocco and Jan Wessels

Artistic director: Albert Beltman

Recording and mixing engineer: Tijmen Zinkhaan

Sound engineers: Dick Kuijs and Jan Wessels

Editing and mastering: Darius van Helfteren

Research: Albert Beltman and Jan Wessels

Performance editions: Jan Oosthof

The Dutch Jazz Orchestra wishes to thank Astrid en Arthur Madna, Wim Minnaar, Harm Mobach, Jan Faas, Joop de Roo, Gijs Went, Marcel Serierse, Hans Bel, Ferdinand Povel, Jan Huydts, Wim Ouwerkerk, Aad Bos, Ruud van Dijk, Henk Steenhoek, Rob Bruynen, Tijmen Zinkhaan, Dick Kuijs, Cyriel Pluimakers, Embert-Jan Emberlink, Walter van de Leur, Nederlands Jazz Archief, Thuiskopie Fonds, and Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.