HCTF's best of 2018 (15-11)

• 20-16
• |
• 15-11
• |
• 10-6
• |
• 5-1

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HCTF's annual list of the 20 albums that will be in regular rotation for many years to come. As per usual many genres are represented. This blog covers a lot of ground and it shows in this eclectic, final tally.

Today: countdown from number 15 to 11.

Please shop at your local record store, buy directly from the artist, attend live shows. Don't block anyone's view with with your phone (better still, switch it off altogether). Shut the fuck up while the band is playing. Educate your friends. Word-of-mouth can't be beat as the prime source to discover new music.

Reinier Baas: Dido's Lament / When I am Laid in Earth

Watch Dutch guitarist Reinier Baas perform his arrangement of Dido's Lament / When I am Laid in Earth from Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas (1688). He turned it into a piece of contemporary rock jazz. It was recorded by Lucas van Eck at the Zeemanshuis, Amsterdam. Mixed by Bas Melis at Studio De Zwarte Molen, Amsterdam.

Reinier Baas & Ben van Gelder ft Metropole Orkest: Smash Hits

Dutch ensemble Metropole Orkest isn't known as a particularly adventurous lot, but let them play together with Reinier Baas and Sax player Ben van Gelder, two of Holland's fine young jazz musicians and lo and behold: they can swing an add something extra. The live album Smash Hits was recorded at the Westergastheater in Amsterdam on January 16th 2016 and the Transition Jazz Festival @ TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht on April 8th 2017. Thanks to smart sequencing it sounds like it was laid down at a single show.

Baas and Van Gelder have been playing together for years, solidifying in instantaneous musical interaction that the orchestra could latch onto. Arrangers Gerd Hermann Ortler, Rob Horsting, Daniel Jamieson and Christian Elsässer dug into the duo's discography, cherry picking highlights such as Guiding Principle, Do You Know Ben Van Gelder and Smooth Jazz Apocalypse. Conductor Christian Elsässer steered the orchestra through the proceedings in a firm but relaxed approach. The soloists found themselves surrounded by a bunch of musicians who were enjoying themselves and went out their way to be step out the faceless mode of sight-reading professionals. Fluidity interspersed with the ability to stop and start again within the blink of an eye can only be achieved when musicians are willing and able to really listen to each other.

Reinier Baas: "The Dance of Princess Discombobulatrix" on Dutch TV

Watch jazz guitarist Reinier Baas and his band perform The Dance of Princess Discombobulatrix on Dutch TV show De Wereld Draait Door - 2016/09/19.

It's a track from his new album Reinier Baas vs. Princess Discombobulatrix. The album, with artwork from Typex, is available for in various formats from his website.

Reinier Baas: new album "Reinier Baas vs. Princess Discombobulatrix" 09/16

Dutch jazz guitarist and composer Reinier Baas will release his "mostly instrumental, partly improvised surrealist jazzopera in three acts" Reinier Baas vs. Princess Discombobulatrix on September 16th. The album, with artwork from Typex, is available for pre-order in various formats from his website.

He will be on the road to promote the album, with special guest Nora Fischer as Princess Discombobulatrix.

Reinier Baas: on tour in The Netherlands and Japan

photo: Govert Driessen

Dutch jazz guitarist Reinier Baas has a busy Summer schedule, playing in various line-ups.

Dutch tour dates:

• 06/25 Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble - Den Bosch @ Jazzkapel
• 06/28 Joris Roelofs, Stefan Lievestro & Reinier Baas - Rotterdam @ The Kitchen
• 07/07 Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas - Rotterdam @ Noord Zie Jazz (20.00)
• 07/07 Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas - Rotterdam @ Noord Zie Jazz (21.25)
• 07/10 Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas - Rotterdam @ Live in your living room @ NSRT
• 07/11 Reinier Baas: Smooth Jazz Apocalypse - Rotterdam @ North Sea Jazz Festival
• 07/15 Windkracht 7 (Floris van der Vlugt) - Amsterdam @ Op Zeezand
• 07/17 Baas, Fraanje, Vink - Amsterdam @ The Grand
• 07/20 Windkracht 7 (Floris van der Vlugt) - Amsterdam @ Theater Bellevue
• 07/22 Han Bennink, Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas - Amsterdam @ Concertgebouw
• 07/22 Han Bennink, Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas - Amsterdam @ Concertgebouw

Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble will perform shows in Japan (August 25-28) in either Fukushima or Yokohama. More info to be annnounced.

» reinierbaas.com

HCTF review of Smooth Jazz Apocalypse.

Reinier Baas: Smooth Jazz Apocalypse

photo: Govert Driessen

Guitarist Reinier Baas is the hottest jazz player in The Netherlands right now. He released two critically acclaimed albums with The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble and now he has upped the ante with an expanded version of that band. This septet's first release, Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, is a continuation of his organic sound, with more bottom end thanks to the inclusion of Joris Roelofs' bass clarinet and more varied textures thanks to Harmen Fraanje's piano.

Baas is guitar player first but as a composer he puts the woodwinds in the spotlights. The alto sax is played by the guy in the spotlights and there are two of them in this band. Ben van Gelder brought a bit big city bravado to the recording studio - he resides in NYC most of the time, while Maarten Hoogerhuis sticks to a more European vibe.

Smooth Jazz Apocalypse is a laidback album with carefully placed touches and flourishes. Adventurous, inventive, smart and soothing rolled into one. The future looks bright for Baas and his cohorts.

Reinier Baas: guitar, compositions (except #3 & #5 by Harmen Fraanje)
Ben van Gelder: alto
Maarten Hogenhuis: alto
Joris Roelofs: bass clarinet
Harmen Fraanje: piano
Sean Fasciani: bass
Mark Schilders: drums
Helena Basilova: piano (#6)

Smooth Jazz Apocalypse is released on Mainland Records. Buy it from his website.

Tracks:

1. Squalor
2. Orthodox
3. Ballad
4. Gregarious
5. A World Within #16
6. Epilogue (For Helena Basilova)
7. Orthodox (reprise)
8. Smooth Jazz Apocalypse

Live dates:

• 04/02 Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, Paradox, Tilburg, The Netherlands
• 04/03 Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, Dizzy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• 04/04 The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble, Toonzaal, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
• 04/05 Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, Bimhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 04/12 The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble, 12 Points Festival, Umeå, Sweden

» reinierbaas.com

Reinier Baas: new abum "Smooth Jazz Apocalypse" 03/25

photo: Govert Driessen

Dutch jazz guitarist Reinier Baas hits the road to promote his new album Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, with an expanded version of his band The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble. Two tracks be streamed on Soundcloud.

Live dates:

• 03/27 Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas, Splendor, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 03/28 Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas, Kulturraum 3, Bokken, Germany
• 03/29 The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble, Windkracht 13, Den Helder
• 03/31 Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas, Folkwan University (Masterclass), Essen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 04/02 Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, Paradox, Tilburg, The Netherlands
• 04/03 Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, Dizzy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• 04/04 The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble, Toonzaal, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
• 04/05 Smooth Jazz Apocalypse, Bimhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 04/12 The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble, 12 Points Festival, Umeå, Sweden

» reinierbaas.com

Reinier Baas: "The Giant Everywhere" & "Orthodox" on Dutch TV

Watch jazz guitarist Reinier Baas perform The Giant Everywhere and Orthodox live on Dutch music program VPRO Vrije Geluiden.

Filmed @ Bimhuis, Amsterdam - 2013/11/10. With Joris Roelofs on bass clarinet and Harmen Fraanje on piano.

» reinierbaas.com

Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble: vinyl release of "Mostly Improvised Instrumental Indie Music"

Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble have released their sophomore album Mostly Improvised Instrumental Indie Music on vinyl, thanks to Positive and Focused Records.

It's available through the band's web shop on 180 gr black and limited Coke bottle green vinyl. Or go über-geek with the ultra-limited (two copies) testpressing package.

Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble are on tour with Kapok, sharing the bill on the 2013 edition of Young VIPS.

Live dates:

• 04/05 Rotterdam @ LantarenVenster (Young VIPS)#
• 04/09 Arnhem @ Musis Sacrum (Young VIPS)#
• 04/26 Enschede @ De Tor *
• 04/27 Leiden @ Hothouse (Young VIPS)#
• 04/28 Amersfoort @ Café Miles *
• 05/04 Brussels @ Jazz Station *
• 05/08 Maastricht @ Ainsi *
• 05/10 Tilburg @ Paradox *
• 05/11 Amsterdam @ North Sea Jazz Club *
• 05/12 Zaandam @ Serah Artisan (Young VIPS)#
• 05/12 Utrecht @ RASA (Young VIPS)#
• 05/15 Nijmegen @ LUX (Young VIPS)#
• 05/18 Amersfoort @ Artishock (Young VIPS)#
• 05/20 Den Bosch @ Jazz in Duketown (Young VIPS)#
• 05/23 Groningen @ Platformtheater (Young VIPS)#
• 05/24 Terneuzen @ Porgy & Bess (Young VIPS)#
• 05/25 Almere @ Corrosia (Young VIPS)*
• 05/27 Eindhoven @ Café Wilhelmina (Young VIPS)*
• 06/01 Den Haag @ ProJazz in Theater Dakota (Young VIPS)*

# Kapok + Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble
^ Kapok
* Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble

» reinierbaas.com

Young Vips 2013: Kapok + Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble

Dutch jazz bands Kapok and Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble are sharing the bill on the 2013 edition of the Young VIPS tour.

Live dates:

• 02/21 Edam @ Mahogany Hall (Young VIPS) #
• 02/28 Amsterdam @ Concertgebouw ^
• 03/02 Tilburg @ Paradox Tilburg ^
• 04/05 Rotterdam @ LantarenVenster (Young VIPS)#
• 04/09 Arnhem @ Musis Sacrum (Young VIPS)#
• 04/26 Enschede @ De Tor *
• 04/27 Leiden @ Hothouse (Young VIPS)#
• 04/28 Amersfoort @ Café Miles *
• 05/04 Brussels @ Jazz Station *
• 05/08 Maastricht @ Ainsi *
• 05/10 Tilburg @ Paradox *
• 05/11 Amsterdam @ North Sea Jazz Club *
• 05/12 Zaandam @ Serah Artisan (Young VIPS)#
• 05/12 Utrecht @ RASA (Young VIPS)#
• 05/15 Nijmegen @ LUX (Young VIPS)#
• 05/18 Amersfoort @ Artishock (Young VIPS)#
• 05/20 Den Bosch @ Jazz in Duketown (Young VIPS)#
• 05/23 Groningen @ Platformtheater (Young VIPS)#
• 05/24 Terneuzen @ Porgy & Bess (Young VIPS)#
• 05/25 Almere @ Corrosia (Young VIPS)*
• 05/27 Eindhoven @ Café Wilhelmina (Young VIPS)*
• 06/01 Den Haag @ ProJazz in Theater Dakota (Young VIPS)*

# Kapok + Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble
^ Kapok
* Reinier Baas & The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble

» Young Vips on Facebook