Album Notes

Jan Verwey Meets Bert van den Brink: ‘ Standards & Other Pieces’
Special guest: Fay Claassen

Harmonica player Jan Verwey has worked wit larger ensembles producing previous cd’s. A memorable concert by Jan Verwey and Jillian Lebeck (piano) and Paul Rushka (bass) in Canada was met with such audience enthusiasm that he decided to produce a new cd and concert tour using the small line-up concept. He now produced an album with well known jazz pianist Bert van den Brink. The duo is enhanced by contributions from Edison winning vocalist Fay Claassen.

Chromatic harmonica and jazz; as one of the few who dared to play the harmonica for their livelyhood, Jan is probably the only one who succeeded in creating his own style on this characteristic instrument. He is, for instance, the only one who plays octaves on the harmonica, also in his solo’s.

This new album contains both new compositions, improvisations as well as interpretations of jazz standards. Some of these improvised pieces came about without any preparation, simply by sitting down and starting to play. This part became like a small suite or etude. Fay Claassen lends her considerable talents singing several titles from the American Songbook and a text inspired by a theme by Charlie Parker.