Willem Breuker Revisited

Like our venue, the Willem Breuker Kollektief saw the light of day fifty years ago. The legendary orchestra, which was active until 2012, will now give its first performance in renewed form. Most of today’s members have played under the leadership of the orchestra’s namesake and composer, who died in 2010. Out of the ten musicians, three have been members from the start. The concert will be introduced by duos featuring musicians who have a special connection to Breukers’ music, alternated with a performance of “www.brandhout.nl” for a string octet consisting of members of the Dudok Kwartet and the Mondriaan Kwartet.

During his life, Willem Breuker continued to invigorate Dutch music life with new impulses. As a composer, saxophonist and clarinetist he united divergent styles in theatrical, cabaret-like performances for as wide an audience as possible. He traveled the globe for thirty-five years with his own ensemble, Willem Breuker Kollektief; he ran a record company, BV Haast; and for decades he organized the festival Klap op de Vuurpijl for jazz, improvised, and contemporary classical music.

The Willem Breuker Kollektief received global acclaim for its groundbreaking nature, uniting jazz and improvisation with European influences from theatre, film and classical music, among others. Alongside Willem Breuker’s original compositions, the Kollektief presented remarkable renditions of the music of Kurt Weill and George Gershwin. Many performances and albums were created with special guests, such as Vera Beths, Gisela May, Greetje Kauffeld, Loes Luca, and Freek de Jonge.

String octet: Jan Erik van Regteren Altena, Edwin Blankenstijn, Heleen Hulst, Eduard van Regteren Altena, Judith van Driel, Marleen Wester, Marie-Louise de Jong, David Faber
Duos:
Gerard Bouwhuis piano, Heleen Hulst violin
David Kweksilber saxophone, Arjen Gorter bass
Oscar Jan Hoogland piano, Yedo Gibson reeds

Het Nieuw Kollektief
Frans Vermeerssen saxophone, David Kweksilber saxophone, Alex Coke saxophone, Hermine Deurloo harmonica, George Pancras trumpet, Gijs Levelt trumpet, Andy Bruce trombones, Bernard Hunnekink trombones, Gerard Bouwhuis piano, Arjen Gorter bass, Rob Verdurmen drums