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Catalog

Christian Mendoza Group

Arbr'-En-Ciel

W.E.R.F.092
Line-up: 
Christian Mendoza
piano
Ben Sluijs
alto saxophone
flute
Joachim Badenhorst
clarinet
bass clarinet
tenor saxophone
Brice Soniano
double bass
Teun Verbruggen
drums
7,00 €

Description

Leader and pianist Christian Mendoza is the new kid on the block. This Gent resident of Peruvian stock first made a name for himself with the general public as the pianist to Lady Linn & Her Magnificent Seven. Like many jazz musicians of his generation, he has many strings to his bow and is active in many groups and ensembles. The Flemish newspaper De Standaard recently referred to him as the man to watch for the year 2011: “Mendoza’s music seeks to balance composition and improvisation. He draws inspiration from the jazz tradition, classical music, world music, rock, free improvisation, … He has a beautiful, supple touch with subtle threads and full chords, never to the detriment of the sound and music as a whole” – Karel Van Keymeulen.

Saxofonist Ben Sluijs has played with bands such as Octurn, Sax No End, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, and many more. Today he mainly performs with his own band, the Unplayables, in the company of Erik Vermeulen and Jeroen Van Herzeele. Drummer Teun Verbruggen’s music bursts with imagination and innovation. Experiment is his middle name. He is the rhythmic, motive force behind bands such as the Jef Neve Trio, Flat Earth Society (FES) and his own project, Othin Spake. Saxofonist and clarinettist Joachim Badenhorst could be heard this season in Badenhorst-Ploug-Pettersen. He plays with the emotional detachment and cool lightness of a young Lee Konitz and shares his melodious genius with his master Michael Moore. Together with Brice Soniano Badenhorst set up the experimental duo Rawfishboys. This French double bass player studied in The Hague and also performs with ‘Dutch’ jazz greats such as Michael Moore. Brice, however, performs just as often in Belgium, with the Erik Vermeulen trio, Lionel Beuven’s Grass Monkeys as well as this Christian Mendoza Group.

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