Martin Verdonk, world wide renowned percussionist and endorser of drummerszone.com, released his third solo album \'Old School New Sound\' in 2004. Now he is back in the studio to record another solo project. Another theme with different musicians, but just as New Sound as hist last album. Drummerszone.com visited Martin and his fellows during a recording session on a dull, rainy day to find out what Martin is doing and where it will lead to... \"We recorded some basic tracks earlier this year in Florence, Italy. I did 12 tracks with drummer Danny Sahupala (Toon Roos), gitarist Edoardo Righini, the great Italian bassist Lorenzo Feliciati and keyboard player Glen Corneille. A good basis for tuning the album and selecting songs.\"
Sadly enough Martin had a huge setback with the sudden death of Glen who died unexpectedly August 23td in a car accident. Glen was one of the busiest recording artists of the moment. An incredible talent and composer of many (international) hits of famous artists.
But running projects should go on. Two weeks ago Mike Mainieri recorded three songs for the upcoming release in Bussum, The Netherlands. And in studio As Loud As in Herveld, The Netherlands where we were present Martin had a three day session with Danny and other musicians: on guitar Lou Guldemond, on bass Boudewijn Lucas, Emiel van Rijthoven (of the Latin Jazz band Sensual) on keys and from Sweden singer and composer Stephen Simmonds.
But who would Martin be if he wouldn\'t do something surprising? Being one of the most renowned percussionists at the moment and Latin Jazz master on his instruments, this album is nothing like his other solo work. This release will not be filled with Latin Jazz or World Music, this will be an album with the styles that were and are his favorite:
\"This will be an album with songs that have the sound of the music that I love and still listen to. The music on this record will be a crossing of the Incognito sound and the Funk-Fusion of the 80\'s.\"
And the studio is filled with that sound. Another Martin Verdonk, different from his previous solo work. A studio moment for your illustration: Stephen arranges a song. Martin lets him, gives room to let the song grow. The song with working title \'Nr. 3\' (of the day) grows with the collaboration of the musicians. Martin reflects on the sound where he thinks it\'s necessary. It\'s a group of musicians who listen and pick up everything that is best for the song, intense but professional just as the musicians are. Emiel van Rijthoven, pianist and composer of Latin Jazz band Sensual reflects on working with Martin:
\"Man, this is education at its best. I am young and sure, I am fairly new, but working with these guys is one step further. The things I want to do are experience for them. And believe me, I was nervous with the idea of recording with these majors. Working with them is high profile. But low profile because of their experience.\"
Just some illustrations of a recording session that is a year\'s work but will lead to a new record with its own sound. And with a line-up like this it is almost guaranteed good music. As icing on the cake Tony Momrelle, lead singer of Incognito and super saxophone player Bob Malach (Stevie Wonder) will be recording artists on this album. And if Candy Dulfer (Prince, Van Morrison) will pick up her saxophone for Martin, we can surely expect a variety of musical spheres. What a rainy day can do with you!
With a working title like VERDONK, the man behind the project known as VERDONK, the music that will be released in May 2006 can\'t be anything else than VERDONK.
Stay tuned for more on Martin\'s new release on drummerszone.com.
