Fraanje, Ljungkvist, Soniano, Gouband

The young Tilburg pianist and improviser Harmen Fraanje was given carte blanche by the November Music festival. And not without reason: he is only in his early thirties, but already has a substantial career behind him. He is much in demand, and performs with such musicians as Eric Vloeimans, Kenny Wheeler and Philip Catherine. His piano style involves a refined melodic approach and a solid, energetic rhythm. For this musical omnivore, the influences come from every side, from Bach and Ligeti to the polyrhythms of pigmy music. For his carte blanche he has invited two of his best French friends, the bassist Brice Soniano and the drummer Toma Gouband. Soniano developed from a rock bass guitarist to a graduate in jazz and classical double bass. Gouband is a young drummer who is much in demand. He has played with Tobias Delius and Michael Moore, among others. This trio is joined by the saxophonist and clarinetist Frederik Ljungkvist. This Swede is a rising star on the well-developed Scandinavian jazz and improvisation scene and was at the top of Fraanje's wish-list. Ljungkvist plays in the band Atomic and also in Parish, with Bobo Stenson.