Erik van der Luijt
Encyclopedia
Erik van der Luijt is a Dutch
jazz
pianist
/ keyboard
player, arranger
, composer
, producer
and band leader.
, where he participated in master classes with Michel Petrucciani
and Barry Harris
.
His concert performances have taken him to Sweden
, France
, Belgium
, Indonesia
, Germany
and the United Kingdom
. The album The Sweetest Sounds - Ilse Huizinga
Sings the Songs of Richard Rodgers
(2001), to which he made a major contribution as an arranger, producer and pianist, resulted in his wife Ilse Huizinga
's first nomination for Holland's top music award, The Edison Award
.
In August 2004 he was a finalist at the Deloitte Jazz Award 2004 at the Bimhuis cultural centre in Amsterdam
. In the same year he conducted a series of masterclasses in Indonesia
, at the invitation of the Conservatory
of Rotterdam
.
In 2004 he also released the privately produced and critically acclaimed album Express Yourself
, consisting exclusively of his own compositions and on which he is accompanied by Branko Teuwen on double bass and Victor de Boo on drums. Van der Luijt quotes the fact that two members of the trio had recently married and all three had recently become a father as the drive behind the album. An increased sense of responsibility made them search more than ever for a distinctive style in order to draw more attention to themselves. Three days before the original recording date he decided that recording standards was not the best way to do this and began writing his own compositions. The album Express Yourself
was hailed as "a masterpiece" in the press and compared to landmark albums by Tommy Flanagan and Bill Evans.
In 2005 Erik founded a new band called VEGAS based on his compositions featuring guitar player Anton Goudsmit. Erik plays keyboards in this formation and trio members Branko Teuwen (double bass) and Victor de Boo (drums) complete this quartet.
to raise funds for New Orleans after the city was hit by Hurricane Katrina
. Dutch Jazz for New Orleans also featured performances by Greetje Kauffeld, the Dutch Swing College band, Hans Dulfer
, Laura Fygi
, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Ramses Shaffy and Louis van Dijk
.
with his trio of the late 1950s, also in its fresh chord voicings and harmonic phrasing. Others have called him the Dutch Oscar Peterson
.
. He regularly accompanies and supports singers from various music
al disciplines such as Rita Reys, Madeline Bell
, Joke Bruijs, Joke de Kruijf, Pia Beck, Denise Jannah
, Greetje Kauffeld, Heddy Lester
, Gerrie van der Klei, Marjol Flore and Edwin Rutten. As a pianist, arranger and producer Erik has contributed to numerous projects, including the Metropole Orchestra
, the Jazz Orchestra of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
, Ferdinand Povel, Piet Noordijk, Ruud Jacobs, Frits Landesbergen, Bernard Berkhout's Swingmates, the Royal Military Band, the Dutch Swing College Band, musical and cabaret productions and CDs by leading Dutch jazz musicians.
Conservatory. Erik met the jazz singer Ilse Huizinga
when her regular pianist fell ill and he stepped in at the last moment before a performance in Amsterdam
. They married in Leiden in 1998. Their daughter Ellen was born on April 1, 2000.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
/ keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and band leader.
History
Erik van der Luijt started playing the piano at the age of four. He studied jazz piano with Rob van Kreeveld and Rob van Bavel at the Royal Conservatory of The HagueRoyal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
, where he participated in master classes with Michel Petrucciani
Michel Petrucciani
Michel Petrucciani was a French jazz pianist.-Biography:...
and Barry Harris
Barry Harris
Barry Doyle Harris is an American bebop jazz pianist and educator.-Biography:Harris left Detroit for New York City in 1960...
.
His concert performances have taken him to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The album The Sweetest Sounds - Ilse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
Sings the Songs of Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
(2001), to which he made a major contribution as an arranger, producer and pianist, resulted in his wife Ilse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
's first nomination for Holland's top music award, The Edison Award
The Edison Award
The Edison music award is an annual Dutch music prize, awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry. It is one of the oldest music awards in the world, having been presented since 1960.-Origins:...
.
In August 2004 he was a finalist at the Deloitte Jazz Award 2004 at the Bimhuis cultural centre in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. In the same year he conducted a series of masterclasses in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, at the invitation of the Conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
.
In 2004 he also released the privately produced and critically acclaimed album Express Yourself
Express Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)
Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
, consisting exclusively of his own compositions and on which he is accompanied by Branko Teuwen on double bass and Victor de Boo on drums. Van der Luijt quotes the fact that two members of the trio had recently married and all three had recently become a father as the drive behind the album. An increased sense of responsibility made them search more than ever for a distinctive style in order to draw more attention to themselves. Three days before the original recording date he decided that recording standards was not the best way to do this and began writing his own compositions. The album Express Yourself
Express Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)
Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
was hailed as "a masterpiece" in the press and compared to landmark albums by Tommy Flanagan and Bill Evans.
In 2005 Erik founded a new band called VEGAS based on his compositions featuring guitar player Anton Goudsmit. Erik plays keyboards in this formation and trio members Branko Teuwen (double bass) and Victor de Boo (drums) complete this quartet.
Involvement for Hurricane Katrina Victims
In September 2005 Erik van der Luijt and his trio played at a charity concert at the ConcertgebouwConcertgebouw
The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
to raise funds for New Orleans after the city was hit by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Dutch Jazz for New Orleans also featured performances by Greetje Kauffeld, the Dutch Swing College band, Hans Dulfer
Hans Dulfer
Hans Dulfer is a Dutch jazz musician who plays tenor saxophone.Hans Dulfer was born on 28 May 1940 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He began at age 17 and has been referred to as "Big boy" because of his album of the same name. At the end of the sixties he and Herbert Noord founded a quartet that...
, Laura Fygi
Laura Fygi
Laura Fygi is a Dutch singer.- Background and career :For the first eight years of her life, she lived with her parents in South America...
, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Ramses Shaffy and Louis van Dijk
Louis van Dijk
Louis van Dijk is a Dutch pianist. He studied solo piano at the Amsterdam Conservatorium....
.
Style
Critics have praised Erik van der Luijt's talent for melody and the classical influences on his work. His style is likened with the subtle cohesion of legendary Bill EvansBill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
with his trio of the late 1950s, also in its fresh chord voicings and harmonic phrasing. Others have called him the Dutch Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
.
- Van Der Luijt reflects a bit of a Keith JarrettKeith JarrettKeith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
influence, particularly when he reaches for some wide gospel chord voicings. Essentially, however, he's his own man, with a muscular, surging swing and a powerful left hand. Van Der Luijt doesn't quite sound like anyone else out there, which is certainly an asset. He's also an engaging, witty composer. - Allaboutjazz.com http://www.allaboutjazz.com
Collaborations with other artists
Erik has contributed as a pianist, arranger and producer to six albums by his wife, the jazz singer Ilse HuizingaIlse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
. He regularly accompanies and supports singers from various music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al disciplines such as Rita Reys, Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
, Joke Bruijs, Joke de Kruijf, Pia Beck, Denise Jannah
Denise Jannah
Denise Jannah, real name: Denise Johanna Zeefuik - Dutch Suriname-born jazz vocalist, first Dutch jazz soloist to be signed by the Blue Note recording label.She was born in Paramaribo...
, Greetje Kauffeld, Heddy Lester
Heddy Lester
Heddy Lester is a Dutch singer and actress, best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest.- Early career :...
, Gerrie van der Klei, Marjol Flore and Edwin Rutten. As a pianist, arranger and producer Erik has contributed to numerous projects, including the Metropole Orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, the Jazz Orchestra of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
, Ferdinand Povel, Piet Noordijk, Ruud Jacobs, Frits Landesbergen, Bernard Berkhout's Swingmates, the Royal Military Band, the Dutch Swing College Band, musical and cabaret productions and CDs by leading Dutch jazz musicians.
Personal life
Erik van der Luijt's father was a talented clarinetist and baritone saxophonist in the now defunct Royal Military Band of the Dutch Grenadier Guards and the Randstad Saxophone Quartet, and a teacher at the UtrechtUtrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
Conservatory. Erik met the jazz singer Ilse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga
Ilse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
when her regular pianist fell ill and he stepped in at the last moment before a performance in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. They married in Leiden in 1998. Their daughter Ellen was born on April 1, 2000.
Discography
- Keytown Swings - Volume 3 (NVGCD 01091, 1991)
- Good Enough To Keep, Bernard Berkhout's New Thundering Swingmates (Polygram / Jazz Behind The Dikes, 1996)
- Out of a Dream, Ilse HuizingaIlse HuizingaIlse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
(Own production, 1997) - Voices WithinVoices Within-Track listing:# "Foolin' Myself" – 3:21# "Some Other Time" – 2:10# "I Should Care" – 6:10...
, Ilse HuizingaIlse HuizingaIlse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
(Own production, 1999) - Erik van der Luijt - En Blanc Et Noir 2, Erik van der Luijt (Challenge / Daybreak, 1999)
- The Sweetest Sounds - Ilse Huizinga Sings the Songs of Richard RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
, Ilse HuizingaIlse HuizingaIlse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
, (Challenge / Daybreak, 2001) - Erik van der Luijt - En Blanc Et Noir 7, Erik van der Luijt (Challenge / Daybreak, 2002)
- Rainshine, Onno Voorhoeve (Own production, 2003)
- Easy to IdolizeEasy To Idolize-Track listing:# "That's All" – 3:08# "The Sound of Music" – 2:08# "I Only Have Eyes for Eyes" – 3:00# "Willow Weep for Me" – 5:04...
, Ilse HuizingaIlse HuizingaIlse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
(Challenge / Daybreak, 2003) - Express YourselfExpress Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
, Erik van der Luijt (Own production, 2004) - Beyond BroadwayBeyond BroadwayBeyond Broadway is a 2005 album by Ilse Huizinga.-Track listing:# "I Loves You Porgy" – 3:59# "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" – 3:31...
, Ilse HuizingaIlse HuizingaIlse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
(Maxanter Records, 2005) - The Intimate SessionsThe Intimate SessionsThe Intimate Sessions - Volume 1 is a 2006 album by Ilse Huizinga.-Track listing:# "Angel Eyes" – 2:45# "They Can't Take That Away from Me" – 3:42...
- Volume 1, Ilse HuizingaIlse HuizingaIlse Huizinga is a Dutch jazz singer. She performs throughout Europe.-History:Ilse Huizinga was born in Beverwijk, the Netherlands in October 1966 and grew up in Nijmegen. It was an old piano given to her family at the age of six, which first drew Huizinga to music...
, (Own production, 2006)
Samples
- Download sample Ilse & Ellen from the 2005 album Express YourselfExpress Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
Quotations
- "A masterpiece. One of the most interesting piano CDs of this year, played by a piano giant." - Klaas Koopman, De Gooi- en Eemlander.
- "Hauntingly beautiful... Lyrical describing a musician's style, is overused, but it certainly applies to Dutch pianist Erik van der Luijt's on his new CD Express YourselfExpress Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
. With great help from bassist Branko Teuwen and drummer Victor de Boo, he expresses a wide range of feelings using varied tempos and styles, sensitively rendered. The seamless interplay makes the listener eagerly await the group's next output." - Larry Taylor, Jazzreview.com http://www.jazzreview.com - "Erik van der Luijt doesn't need jazz standards to excel, he creates his own classics. Express YourselfExpress Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
is a marvellous album for which Erik has written very attractive and refined compositions. Van der Luijt manages to create very attractive compositions, that are highly sophisticated. He is a master of beautiful melodies. With this album his previous ones pale by comparison." - Ton Ouwehand, Twentsche Courant/Tubantia - "Diverse. If one word belongs in a jury report on pianist Erik van der Luijt it is that. Diverse is first of all the repertoire that consists for 100 per cent of his own compositions. It's so diverse that the funky Latin tune Havana Blue, the intimate Ilse & Ellen and the baroque Corleone appear to derive from different minds." - Frans van Leeuwen, NRC HandelsbladNRC HandelsbladNRC Handelsblad, often abbreviated to NRC, is a daily evening newspaper published in the Netherlands by NRC Media. The newspaper was created on October 1, 1970, from merger of the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant and Algemeen Handelsblad . In 2006 a morning newspaper, nrc•next, was launched...
- "A beautiful album, full of wonderful tonal colours and compositions. I am convinced that Erik van der Luijt is set to embark on a highly successful career and this album showcases his sublime mastery On Express YourselfExpress Yourself (Erik van der Luijt album)Express Yourself is a 2004 album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Dutch jazz pianist and composer Erik van der Luijt.-History:...
Erik displays his sublime mastery and literally plays with his instrument." - Rolf H. Polak, Jazzflits.nl http://www.jazzflits.nl - "Erik van der Luijt knows his Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan and Bill Evans and used their influences to create an exquisite mixture in which coquetry and adventure go hand-in-hand. At times he even comes close to Flanagan's masterpiece Jazz Poet. Those who know this monument from the piano discography, appreciate that there is hardly a bigger compliment." - Jeroen de Valk, Het Utrechts Nieuwsblad
- "Erik van der Luijt surprises with some real gems." - Bert Vuijsje, HP/De Tijd