Koos Wiltenburg - Worth a Journey Music CD

KOOS WILTENBURG Koos Wiltenburg (1954) started to play bass guitar at the age of 17 in a blues and rock band in Rotterdam. At the age of 21 he started his classical study double bass and 3 years later his jazz study at the conservatory in Rotterdam. On both studies he graduated in December 1983. At the same time he was active as a professional bassplayer (both double bass and bass guitar) and has won the Laren Jazz festival at the age of 23. As a freelancer he played in many groups, theatre productions and radio/television programs. With pianist Harry Happel's trio Intrioduction and with his trio with piano player Johan Clement he played all over Europe and on all the major jazz festivals in Europe {amonst others: the North Sea Jazz Festival, Antibes, Cannes, Brussels},and made many recordings and radio broadcastings. Together they accompanied many musicians a.o. Lee Konitz, Slide Hampton, Urbie Green, Dee Daniels, Charles McPherson, Toots Thielemans,Georgie Fame,Hal Singer,Benny Bailey,Tom Kirkpatrick,Dave Pike,Marjorie Barnes and many others. Koos has has recorded many CD's and also produced recordings for Dee Daniels, Louis de Vries, all the Johan Clement trio recordings he was involved with, Eddy Doorenbos, the Hague Jazz Quartet and for the classical cello player Arturo Muruzabal over the past 18 years. Since 1987 Koos is working as a bass and ensemble teacher at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen and at the Academy for Popculture in Leeuwarden. At this moment he is working-recording with his own band. The compositions are a mix of different styles (jazz,blues, Brazilian and classical). The lyrics in most songs narrative and form a unity with the music. One time the song is introvert with just vocal, acoustic piano/guitar and cello, the other time it's extravert with features for drums and percussion. However harmonically complex the song have a strong melodic character and is very accessible for the listener. Perhaps the best decription is: music with depth, often subtle than again swinging, but above all music for a listening audience.