Wolfert Brederode
Matangi Quartet, Joost Lijbaart

Dutch.injazz at jazzahead!
Saturday 29 April, 16:15, Messe Bremen

Coming to Bremen for their jazzahead! showcase must feel not at all strange to pianist and composer Wolfert Brederode, Matangi Quartet and percussionist Joost Lijbaart. For it was in Bremen’s Sendesaal in August 2021 that Manfred Eicher recorded the music of Ruins and Remains. Critics unanimously lauded Brederode’s fourth album for ECM Records and the subsequent concerts in the Netherlands (and Brussels).

Wolfert Brederode / Matangi Quartet / Joost Lijbaart

Ruins and Remains is not conceived as a static suite, you have already stated in interviews. What did touring the Netherlands with this music do to it?

“The seeds for experimenting with a more open approach towards the given material were sown during our recording session in the Sendesaal in Bremen with producer Manfred Eicher. Throughout our release concerts in the Netherlands this process has continued and even accelerated. We started approaching the written material more freely and we often extended the (in-between) improvisations, and also made use of more extreme dynamics, thus deepening the content and pace of Ruins and Remains, in my opinion.”

From solo work via duos and trios, to last year’s feature with Celano-Badenhorst-Baggiani, to Ruins and Remains; do you see these as separate projects or is it all one big, connected thing to you?

“Although all these projects differ a lot from each other, one more outgoing or abstract than the other, I see them all connected at many levels. That is because I bring in different colours and ideas from my own palette which I believe will suit the project I am in. And, either as a leader and composer or as a sideman, I will always try to make the music flow. As for myself, I always have an idea or theme in mind for an album. But the difference now, in contrast with earlier work of mine, is that Ruins and Remains is the first project with such an overarching framework. Though it can be approached in many ways, both personal and in a broad(er) sense.”

Wolfert Brederode about Ruins and Remains for ECM Records

Do you think in genres, or do you think in music?

“As a listener and performer I don’t or cannot really think in genres. When music touches me or creates some (undefined) excitement, I am already a happy man. And I am actually glad to see that genres are increasingly blurring nowadays, and seeing that the music of many (young) artists and groups is getting so much more personal by bringing in their own influences, that often go beyond jazz alone, and their background or descent.”

Can you describe your relationship to Germany and the German jazz audience, as opposed to other countries in the world where you played and return to play?

“When performing in Germany during the first two decades of this century, I noticed the attentiveness and concentration during concerts with diverse groups, and the honest gratitude from audiences afterwards. When concerts are booked in Germany, I notice I am always very much looking forward to it. And Germany has so many nice venues and (jazz)festivals. So I am truly hoping to share the music of Ruins and Remains in many more places in this country because I believe it will land well. The German audiences can really appreciate and understand what we are expressing.”

Wolfert Brederode / Matangi Quartet / Joost Lijbaart

  • Wolfert Brederode – piano
  • Maria-Paula Majoor – violin
  • Daniel Torrico Menacho – violin
  • Karsten Kleijer – viola
  • Arno van der Vuurst – cello
  • Joost Lijbaart – drums

www.wolfertbrederode.com
www.matangi.nl
joostlijbaart.com

Practical information

festival conference