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The Ballad Album

The Ballad Album

Angelo Verploegen

Label: Challenge Records
Format: CD
Barcode: 0608917331820
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Catalog number: CR 73318
Releasedate: 11-10-11
Verploegen once said that for him the core of jazz music is : communication. Whether or not a recording or a  concert works out, all depends on the mutual respect and trust between musicians and how they act and react. Jazz is to surprise to associate, to touch, to exalt, to confuse. All these ingredients verploegen talks about are here on this great new album with himself as bandleader. One of the most superb trumpet-album's around!
  • Angelo Verploegen played with Frank Grasso Big Band, Maiden Voyage Big Band, Groove Troopers, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Metropole Orchestra, Denise Jannah, Ronald Douglas, Zut Alors!, Transatlantic Jazz Orchestra o.l.v. Gunter Schuller, Bob Brookmeyer’s New Art Orchestra a.o.
  • With The Houdini's he became one of the icons of Dutch jazz
  • Angelo also does a lot of work as producer for instance for Denise Jannah, Ronald Douglas, Leny Andrade, Lisa Michel (with among others Brian Blade), Larry Goldings a.o.
The true beauty of experiencing beauty is sharing that experience. A long cherished dream came true when producer Hein van de Geyn invited me to record this album. It was such a joy getting together with Hein, going over my favorite songs, trying to pick the right ones for this recording date, discussing the usual traps of unnecessary double-time playing and other ways of showing off, finding consensus on sound and musical approach, sharing life experiences. We agreed that the point of departure for interpreting the songs on this album should be staying as close as possible to the original melody at all time, and that the overall feel should be one of introspection, openness and communication. My fellow musicians and me had to find, and express, the sheer beauty of simplicity, and we only could do that by opening up our hearts, our minds and our souls.

I was extremely privileged having the best circumstances available for bringing this adventure to a good end. With their exceptionally sensitive playing, pianist Marc van Roon (European Jazz Trio, Tineke Postma Quartet), bassist Guus Bakker (Clazz Ensemble, Michiel Stekelenburg) and drummer Jasper van Hulten (Eric Vloeimans’ Gatecrash, Wouter Hamel) managed to create an intense and lush atmosphere. An atmosphere that was so accurately caught in all its finesse and detail on ‘tape’ by the indefatigable and committed sound engineer Chris Weeda. And last but not least, Hein van de Geyn’s control over the overall concept and recording process was truly invaluable. I am eternally grateful to these guys. Their warmth and generosity made all of this possible and enables me now sharing the beautiful outcome of this recording project with you. I sincerely hope you will find as much joy and peace in this music as we did while recording it.