Carl Schulze, at 66 years of age, the Dean of Dutch vibraphonists, has finally delivered his masterpiece, 31 years after his first and only recording under his own name: "Empty Hours", now long out of print.
Carl hasn't been sitting still though in the meantime! After his coming out at the Loosdrecht Jazz-competition in 1961, where he won first prize as best soloist, being a member of the Louis van Dijk quartet, he formed his own group in 1965 in which many Dutch jazz-cats played as time went by.
He has appeared in countless TV programs and performed for radio year after year, with his groups or as a sideman, accompanying the greatest American artists! In the course of his musical career he has also written many compositions and arrangements for Big Bands and large orchestras like the Skymasters and the Metropole Orchestra.
After his various Latin Jazz-groups in the seventies, he formed his summit-group "Last Resort" in the eighties. This band was a powerful funky unit in which Carl explored all the electronic possibilities of his vibes.
They appeared at the North Sea Jazz Festival, and twice baffled audience and listeners at Nick Vollebregt's Jazz-cafe, while performing live for TROS radio in SESJUN.
April Dance is a delightful experience in great sounds and improvisations built on various great "young" standards by the top of the American Jazz-establishment such as Wayne Henderson, Mal Waldron and Jerome Richardson. Naturally Carl himself delivers some of his intriguing compositions. Just listen to his haunting "Children's Song", and the neat arrangement of his title-song "April Dance.
Carl is aided and abetted by three terrific young Dutch Masters, who close together and individually prove their skills in musical harmony.
Maarten Kruijswijk, born in Amsterdam in 1964 finished his studies at the Sweelinck Conservatory in his hometown in 1989. He plunged in the Amsterdam salsa band "Fruta Bomba", earning his money and a reputation as a powerful percussionist. As a freelancer from 1993 he performed many times with tenor player Rinus Groeneveld and formed "El Trio" with pianist Cajan Witmer , recording two albums.
Martin Zand Scholten, born in Amsterdam in 1959 studied bass and bass-guitar at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and at the famous Hilversum Conservatory. He has recorded and played with a wide range of international and local Jazz-greats.
From '89 till '94 he played in Hans Dulfer's "Tough Tenors". Besides being a busy sideman he also writes for the Dutch magazine "Gitarist". Child prodigy Jean Louis van Dam, encouraged by his parents, already appeared playing the piano on Dutch TV at the age of seven. At eleven he took up accordion and at 15 he entered the Amsterdam conservatory finishing his studies in 1985. By then he had already performed with numerous Dutch and international artists. For 12 years he worked as composer, arranger and piano player for very popular entertainer Tineke Schouten. By now he is a very busy performer/producer and composer for a great variety of artists. He considers this collaboration with Carl Schulze as one of the high points in his career, for, as he says: "Carl is one of the best musicians I have ever worked with". Period!
John "Groentjie" Grünberg
