Hi there,
well... I was born in the town of Schagen in 1973 and formed my first band 1988. Hot Club de Scagha, with 2 guitars, clarinet and a doublebass.
Three years later I started studying librarianship, with a specialisation in music. At this point I started playing in a several gypsy jazz styled bands. I met sologuitarist Jan de jong, who played with Fapy Lafertin in those days and we regularly played in various line-ups.
As the years went by I played with a lot of people and finally in 1997 I joined the Robin Nolan Trio. In the summertime we played every day on the Leidseplein in amsterdam. When didn't play we toured the world. Well, Canada, Iceland, Spain, Kroatia, Austria, Germany, Sweden to name a few countries. With this band I recorded my first cds. Unfortunately in 1999 I left this excellent trio.
In the beginning of 2000 a slipped disc kept me from working a bit. But luckely enough, together with sologuitarist I recorded the first cd of Pigalle44: "Our Gypsy Rhapsody. More cds followed in 2002 (Bric a Brac) and 2004 (Swing for Bop; Best of Gypsy Swing from Holland).The latest release of Pigalle44 is the cd Mistral, recorded in the spring of 2007. The repertoire is an homage to the guitarists, composers and musicians in Paris, during and after Django's time in Paris. Brigitte Bardot, Sarane ferret, Babik Reinhardt, Henri Crolla and many others...
Starting 2003 I joined the Fapy Lafertin Quintet (with Simon Planting on bass, Reinier Voet on rythm guitar and Tim Kliphuis on violin. Two cds: Fleur D'ennui" and "Fine and Dandy"!
In 2000 singer and violinist George Washingmachine came to Amsterdam. And he returned many times. Together with Pigalle44 he record some tracks, every visit. Now we've gathered enough for a complete album. Keep your ears peeled!
