For more than 30
years Paul van Kemenade has been one of the very active figures in the Dutch
world of Jazz and improvised music; first and foremost as alto saxophonist but
also as a band leader, workshop leader, composer and organizer.
Since 1979 he has
been leading his own formations and has written his own music. He has played in
different existing ensembles and has performed in various ad hoc formations.
In 1982 he founded his own quintet with which he is still performing both in
the Netherlands Para ..noia".
Paul van Kemenade
can be heard on many records and CD's of which several have been produced under
his own name. He has won many prizes and in 2000 he was awarded the prestigious
Boy Edgar Prize for his contribution to Jazz in the Netherlands
"I was very
honored to be invited by the Metropole Orchestra to realize a project with my
own compositions, which were orchestrated by two arrangers of my own choice and
performed by a symphonic orchestra and big band with 53 musicians.
This offered an
excellent opportunity for me to make my music symphonic. It has been a very
special and instructive experience and I would especially like to thank Jim
McNeely and Niko Langenhuijsen for their beautiful arrangements and the
Metropole Orchestra conducted by Vince Mendoza for its wonderful
performance."
The following
video features Paul’s composition “Freeze” as performed by Paul on alto
saxophone with The Metropole Orchestra conducted by Vince Mendoza. The
arrangement is by Jim McNeely with additional solos by the orchestra’s resident
guitarist, Peter Tiehuis and tenor saxophonist Leo Janssen.
