Back from Lithuania with the quartet

Back from Lithuania with the quartet. We had a great time! Coming home is a bit strange because Ailed is till in Japan. I guess it gives me the chance to get my stuff together, ie cleaning up, administration etc.
We met the Bill Evans group in Vilnius. They were in the same hotel. That was very exciting. Rick, the bass player invited us to the concert and went to the hall in the Bill Evans Group buss! The concert was great and I am listening to the newest Cd right now: Soul Grass with one of my idols: Bela Fleck. Go check it out!

We recorded Faure's Pelleas et Melisande in Haarlem in Studio Gras...

We recorded Faure's Pelleas et Melisande in Haarlem in Studio Grasland yesterday. It was uncomfortable at first for me to play there because acoustics like that evoke, for my feeling, more technically well playing and not so much musical playing. In the beginnen I felt the tempi were the same and that we were playing 'nice'. I think in the end we have a very lively Pelleas on tape (although Melisande dies in the end of course, nothing we can do about it)!

Amsterdam - The Amstel Quartet and Ties Mellema/Wijnand Van Klaveren played a succesful half recital in the 'Young Dutchmen' series in the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on October 28th.
The whole concert will compete against the other 'Young Dutchmen' in the series for the Mees Pierson Award (€10.000,-). The others are: Tjeerd Top (violin), Lavinia Meijer (harp)and Thomas Oliemans (baritone), Matthijs van de Woerd (baritone). The winners will be announced on June 3rd 2007 in the Concertgebouw.

Yesterday we did a concert at the Royal Concertgebouw and it was good

Yesterday we did a concert at the Royal Concertgebouw and it was good. I feel ok about it. I live towards this concert for a year I think but we did good. Before the break I played with Wijnand and after with the quartet. It was the Young Dutchmen series, so it was very exciting. At the end of the season we might win a prize. There 4 other young dutchmen in the series and we compete 'against' them (ao Thomas Oliemans!)

I thought the tension was over now, but in Decmeber I have another important concert! with a completely different programma. Luckily a programma which I have done many times before!

My last post was September 14th

My last post was September 14th. I don't have so much time off it seems. Well, the last twee weeks were very very busy (can I write about seomthing else in this blog?). I've been doing a lot.
I've been doing some thinking. The last two months there were two occassions that a Dutch classical saxophone player who I admire very much has been spreading his opinion about me. Which is his right of course. But it turns out he is not enthusiastic about my playing at all anymore. I had lessons with him in the last ten years, I went out to eat and drink with him, he wrote very good letters of recommendation for me, and now his opinion turned around. In August after my performance in the Grachtenfestival I came up to him to ask him what he thought and he said he hated it, he hated the repertory and in fact he hated everything we (me and Wijnand, the quartet) we did. It was ok sax playing, but not musical, we didn;t listen to other instruments and we were focussed on our instrument only. We had no reference. Apparantly he has been telling other people this, and via via I heard he is now saying that I can't play a straight tone, and I am winning al these prizes and I am in the media. Granted, these are rumours, but there's smoke, and somewehere a fire. I will call this guy one of these days. I did send hium my new Cd, but never got an answer. I thought our professional relation was ok, but apparantly it's not. I don;t really know what's going on.
I guess I shouldn't mind too much. It might be what happens when you're (relatively!!!) succesful...

A review in Friesch Dagblad in September of Mellema and van Klaveren's concert in Museum Belvedere: "two very talented musicians', "passion and drive flowed from all sides. The technique was completely subordinate to the work that was played. There was no obstacle to bring the musical content to the audience and to let them enjoy the music as much as the musicans.", "beautiful classical saxophone tone", "great unity in ensemble playing and the colouring of the movements according to their content. Here played together two incredible musical talents that understand each other flawlessly"," The fierce emotion combined with lyricism were excellently demonstrated with all subtle dynamic nuances.". (25-9-06, Friesch Dagblad)

The first review (Dutch only) of Grab it! in de Leeuwarder Courant: "He is no talent anymore but a grandmaster, for whom the saxophone has no secrets anymore."