”Mis jij die inspirerende colleges van bevlogen docenten van vroeger? Maandag 20 mei geeft Frank Jochemsen (678 records) een college over muziekpioneer en unieke jazzpianist Rob Franken. Codarts docenten Bertil Busstra & Hermine Deurloo laten je de technieken zien en geven een klein voorproefje op ons event ”The Electrification – Celebrating Rob Franken”
Rob Franken
Rob Franken (1941-1983) was a unique jazz pianist from Rotterdam. He was self-taught and developed a unique technique and very funky improvisation style. Already in the sixties he accompanied great jazz luminaries such as reed playerBooker Ervin, trumpet player Art Farmer, vibraphonist Dave Pike & drummerKlaus Weiss.
He was a pioneer on the Hammond organ and was the first in the Netherlands to play the Fender Rhodes electric piano. In the seventies he became a popular and highly sought after pianist. For more than ten years he was the regular accompanist of the world-famous harmonica giant Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans, whom he also accompanied in the film music of ‘Turks Fruit (Turkish Delight)’ .
He appeared on hundreds of records as well as being a member of the Rogier van Otterloo orchestra, the German big band of Peter Herbolzheimer, and the Dutch funk-fusion band Scope. Until his premature death, he pioneered and experimented with synthesizers, seized by the new possibilities and timbres. Franken also had several different formations, including The Rob Franken Organ-Ization, Keyboard Circle as well as his own trio and quartet.
Between 1972 and 1983 Rob Franken was the main man & instigator during the so-called FuMu sessions. Functional Music that was meant to sound like background music in shopping malls, hotels, elevators, department stores and airports. In truth, often nothing less than inspirational short jam sessions, in which the best Dutch jazz musicians of the seventies contributed.
For the piano students that get inspired on the 20th of May by the wonderful music of Rob Franken and want to dive in even more: Jazz International Rotterdam has a great opportunity!:
Saturday the 14th of September Rob Franken will be celebrated with a concert in LantarenVenster (more information: The Electrification – Celebrating Rob Franken ) and we are looking for a young piano/fender rhodes player and his band to open the night with a Rob Franken inspired concert. To apply, please contact Hugo Dirkson: hugo@jazzinternational.nl or talk with him on the 20th of May when the program is finished.
You can find the Facebook event here
20 MAY
ROB FRANKEN PROJECT
Time: 16:00-17:30
Location: JLH zaal, WMDC
Program
16:00 – 16:45
Presentation – Frank Jochemsen
16:45-17:30
Methods of Rob Franken – Berthil Busstra
Jazz quartet – with Hermine Deurloo & Berthil Busstra
