☰
festival
CITADELIC #14
AUGUST 16 . 19H30
rorschach
hedendaags instant composing for 2 pianos and 2 drums
Rorschach is an offshoot, or an expansion, of Antiduo, that was started a decade ago by the teacher/pupil duo Erik Vermeulen and Seppe Gebruers. Recordings they made from 2010 to 2012 resulted in Antiduo (El Negocito Records, 2013): 18 instant compositions for two pianos that explored the zone between improvisation and composition in an unpredictable playful manner.
For Rorschach, the duo was expanded with two drummers, Eric Thielemans and Marek Patrman. By doing this, the impressions you get are turned upside down, but the results are equally remarkable, created by four distinct personalities, all with the capacity to circumvent conventions.
Erik Vermeulen has been one of the most idiosyncratic pianist in Belgium for years. He continually moves between the jazz tradition and a personal take, between traditional ensembles and unusual side steps. His collaboration with Ben Sluijs is one of the central threads in his oeuvre, while he builds on that with an influential role as a piano teacher.
In no time, Seppe Gebruers has become one of the most original voices of his generation. He was one of the founders of the Ifa y Xango collective, created music for film and theater, experimented with quarter-tone pianos and co-founded the (non-profit) Troika organization. Recently, he has been active in several international improvisation units, among them a lauded trio with Hugo Antunes and Paul Lovens.
Marek Patrman moved from the Czech Republic to Belgium in the mid-nineties, and immediately became one of the key players in the experimental wing of the jazz scene. He appeared in progressive ensembles and built up a reputation while working with people like Erik Vermeulen, Manolo Cabras and Ben Sluijs. Recently, he has also become a member of Lynn Cassiers’ Imaginary Band.
Eric Thielemans initially focused on jazz ensembles, but turned to projects in a diffuse zone between experiment and improvisation later on. As a performer, Thielemans avoids conventions, true to the idea that improvisation is not a genre, but a learning process. In addition to collaborations with international musicians (Charlemagne Palestine, Oren Ambarchi, Trevor Dunn,...) and his beloved duo with Billy Hart, he has been very active in recent years with Tape Cuts Tape, The Mechanics, Cinema Paradiso and Chantal Acda.
erik vermeulen . piano
other concerts on 16.08
contemporary art on 16.08
continual
installations by bart van dijck, katinka de jonge, roeland tweelinckx, nathalie chambart
with the magnificent support of
website © MNDesign 2021