Album Notes

As famous Surinam Jazz singer Denise Jannah writes in her liner notes: “Randy Winterdal shares with us his artistry in playing his bass as well as in composing. I absolutely enjoy his virtuosity as a bassist, and admire his composing skills. His beautiful compositions, celebrating the various rhythms of his Antillean roots, are transparent and breathy and he clearly masters the “less is more” approach.”

Randy Winterdal, composer and bandleader, blends groovy Antillean folkmusic with contemporary harmonies and rhythms. The colourful instrumentation consists of altviolin, flute, acoustic & electric guitar, fretless bass, drums, congas and other small percussion such as the West-African sanza and the Curacaoan wiri. The themes are interpreted by some of the finest Antillean musicians living in the Netherlands, alternated by guestmusicians. The musicians get plenty of room to improvise on the melodic themes. This musical style can be described as Antillean Jazz or World Jazz.

Winterdal is a gifted bassplayer with a specific sound and is very well-known in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles. Born in Curacao, he started at the age of 15 in local bands without ever taking lessons. His talent was soon recognized by local Jazz artist Rudy Emerenciana, who invited him to play in the first Jazzcafé on the island. Later on, he left the island to study at the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands. Randy eventuallly developed quite a reputation as an allround bassplayer and fine soloist. He has played in various Jazzgroups such as Trio Cross Currents (this group won the Oranjeboom Award in 1997). Furthermore with Ronald Snijders, a famous Surinam flute player and composer. Also he plays Latin Jazz and salsa with the Venezuelan percussionist Gerardo Rosales and many others. These groups have performed at Jazz festivals all over the world (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Suriname, Guyana, Curacao, Belgium, Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, Slowakia and others). As a freelance bassplayer he works with Caribbean artists like the Curacaoan piano-virtuoso Randal Corsen, flamboyant vocalist Izaline Calister and the fantastic Jazzdiva Denise Jannah who recorded for Blue note label. Apart from these activities he dedicates his time to composing and creating several musical projects such as a suite (“The Garden” –not yet recorded-) and other works for orchestra and small ensembles. His debut CD ‘Ku pasonan chikí’ –meaning small steps-, is actually a big step forward, concludes Rob de Lannoy, former organiser of the Curacao Jazzfestival.

Musicians:
Randy Winterdal: fretless bass, sanza, additional percussion
Gilbert Braaf: drums
Eric Brigitha: congas, bongos, wiri, maracas
Pedro Libert: altviolin
Jean-Jacques Royer: acoustic guitar
Guest musicians:
Roy Louis: electric guitar
Gerardo Rosales: cajón, shakers
Ronald Snijders: flute
Onno Witte: drums
Ulrich de Jesus: steelstring guitar