Paul van Kemenade ‘Last Call Concerts’

After fifty years, Paul van Kemenade will end his professional career in music. The alto saxophonist became renowned for his expressive, bluesy sound. For years he has united musicians from all over the world at his festival Stranger Than Paranoia. He played in many different bands, for which he wrote around 250 compositions across the board. His elaborate farewell will be spread out over two nights on our stage.

Friday night opens with Three Horns and a Bass. This lauded ensemble was featured on Close Enough, the album that received a five-star review in Downbeat: ‘The perfect tonal overlay, with bassist Wiro Mahieu as a fine counterweight’. Closing the night is Paul van Kemenade’s classic quintet, which he has led since 1989. The band will welcome two horn players from South Africa, Feya Faku en Sydney Mnisi, with whom the Dutchmen have been collaborating for thirty years.

‘Alto saxophonist Paul van Kemenade would not be out of place in one of the volcanic groups of Charles Mingus, considering his passion, the highly personal ‘cry’ in his playing, the relentless swing and the blues feel’ (de Volkskrant).‘His alto darts and dives luxuriously, a rainbow feathered bird of paradise riding to the stratosphere’ (Downbeat, *****-review of Van Kemenade’s album Close Enough).

Paul van Kemenade alto saxophone, Angelo Verploegen flúgelhorn, Louk Boudesteijn trombone, Wiro Mahieu double bass Paul Van Kemenade alto saxophone, Sydney Mnisi tenor saxophone, Feya Faku flugelhorn/trumpet, Louk Boudesteijn trombone, Jeroen van Vliet piano, Eric van der Westen double bass, Pieter Bast drums