Bik Bent Braam September 5, 2006

Bik Bent Braam is a unique 13 piece big band started in 1986 by Dutch composer, pianist and band leader Michiel Braam. It can scarcely be compared to a conventional big band as the band members play Braams compositions with an open playing style that is totally improvised yet totally accessible. Musicians such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus serve as inspiration in Braams striving for a homogenous and personal orchestral sound. As Braam comments, My music isnt about me, its about the musicians who play it. With this in mind, he often writes his material with his musicians in mind, thus getting the best out of each orchestra member. His love of instrumental boundaries is characteristic. He'll let the tuba play really high for instance and the trumpet extremely low, giving the orchestra its unique sound. According to Braam this sound really comes into its own when heard unamplified, which is why the orchestra always plays totally acoustically, even the double bass and drums. One of the new approaches the band has taken in playing their music is called bonsai-ing in which any band member can introduce new compositional material at any point in time, at any tempo, with any musical feel in the hopes that it will generate a new musical direction for the ensemble. How it will turn out is a surprise every time. This approach was taken in their programme Bik Bent Braam goes Bonsai (2002) and Growing Pains (2004). Bik Bent Braam last appeared at the TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival in 2005 for a Canada Day performance in Confederation Park.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of jaywest.