Last Thursday, Willem van Manen, passed away at the age of 84. He was a trombonist, composer, orchestra leader and advocate for jazz and improvised music. As an advocate for jazz, he was an indispensable link in the emergence of the Dutch jazz scene. Van Manen won the Boy Edgar Prize in 1992, impressed as a composer with his Springband and Contraband and was invaluable to jazz musicians in the Netherlands.
From the late 1960s he was on the barricade for innovation of the Dutch musical landscape with, among others, the rebellious group the Notenkrakers, together with Louis Andriessen and Reinbert de Leeuw. He co-founded our venue and Orkest de Volharding and played in bands of Willem Breuker, Theo Loevendie and Hans Dulfer. He also composed for the Willem Breuker Kollektief and wrote reviews for the NRC.
His breakthrough as an orchestra leader came in the early 1980s with the Springband (1979-1983) followed by the Contraband (1984-2005). With the Contraband he would make a fine series of albums, while the Springband met a tragic end. The band ceased to exist when the car carrying five band members crashed and three of the five musicians died.
In 1997, Willem van Manen was appointed as a Knight of the Orde van Oranje-Nassau for his many achievements for the music.
We are grateful for all he has meant to our hall and jazz and improvised music.
Watch the video from JazzHelden for a broader portrait of Willem van Manen.