Eric Boeren – cornet

Michael Moore - alto saxophone / clarinets

Wilbert de Joode – bass

Han Bennink - percussion

The Eric Boeren 4tet began by concentrating on the early quartet music of Ornette Coleman. That repertoire was ‘pulled off the record’ and was interspersed with Boeren’s own compositions. Over the years more and more original compositions have been added to the band’s repertoire.

The line-up of the Eric Boeren 4tet is comparable to that of the Ornette Coleman Quartet of the early sixties. The big difference between the two quartets is the way in which the material is handled. Whereas soloists alternated in the Coleman Quartet, in the Boeren 4tet all four musicians share the improvisational space on an equal basis. A collective vision, where musicians have the improvisational room to further develop the musical forms. The existing material suggests the personality and direction of those improvisations.

The compositions of Eric Boeren and Ornette Coleman are deeply rooted in the jazz and blues tradition. They are characterized by strong, often jumpy melodies and unusual keys, which keeps the improvisers on their toes.

The quartet toured the UK in 2001, appearing at the CCA in Glasgow and recording for the BBC (catch it on the BBC website). They will be touring Canada in 2003.

Discography

Cross Breeding (BIMhuis 005, 1997)
Joy of a Toy (BV Haast 9907, 1999)
Soft Nose (BV Haast CD1501, 2001)

Quotes

"...an exciting way of improvising, razor-blade sharp”
Frank van Herk: de Volkskrant, 1999

"...this disc offers all you could wish for .....a great disc as easy to describe as it is to catch the wind....."
E. Fuente: Cuaderno de Jazz, 1999 (review Joy of a Toy)

“While the instrumentation suggests the Coleman quartet, Boeren's tone is rounder and his technique more proficient than Don Cherry's. Michael Moore's alto sax is a joy, a purring kitten that rubs itself against your ears and integratiates its way into your pleasure centers. Bennink, master of cymbals that he is, gives a bravura performance throughout. He seems to understand the weight and textural variations of his bandmates' respective sounds, the way white sheets retain the imprint of a body that has rested on them. De Joode is a monster of a bassist...”
Larry Nai: Cadence, 2000

‘There is near-perfect synchronicity, tuneful joyousness, and a relaxed sense of swing that permiates nearly every measure.’
Steven Loewy: All Music Guide, 2002 (review Soft Nose) <<