SUZUKI

SUZUKI

Jan Verwey(Holland) .

Instrument of choice: Sirius

Biography of Jan Verwey – cooljazz on harmonica - (The Netherlands)

Chromatic harmonica and jazz; as one of the few who dared to play the harmonica for their livelihood, Jan is probably the only one who succeeded in creating his own style on this characteristic instrument. He is, for instance, the only one who plays octaves on the harmonica. Also in his solo’s.

Jan Verwey is very much a bebopper and entirely self-taught. Thanks to his unique self-developed instrumental technique, he boldly brings about his desired harmony and melody to his solo’s. How exceptional his quality is, shows the fact that during his first visit to the USA (early autumn 1990), he was immediately rushed into the recording studio by top-producer Bill Goodwin (drummer for Phil Woods) to record the CD THE DUTCH CONNECTION wich led to a performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.In 1991 he was back in the USA, being the only European invited to play at, among others, the festival Celebration Of The Arts in Watergap, as a soloist. He also gave a duo concert with pianist Hod O’brien (known for his albums with Chet Baker) at the well known Jazz-club The Dearhead Inn. In 2007 he was playing at festivals in Medicine Hat and Calgary (Canada). He also played at different venues in Europe. He played in Copenhagen, Frankfurt and (at Birdland ) Hamburg and recently in Dusseldorf, Rhede and Darmstadt.
We’re recording a new CD-album in april 2016 (Horace Silver Project).

Different projects and accomplishments in The Netherlands: Nomination for the Pall Mall Export Award.Guest soloist with the Metropole Orchestra. Guest in television- and radio-shows.Composer for TV –series, documentaries and commercials.

Discography :
1990 : CD The Dutch Connection (recorded in the USA,) not released in Europe.
1992 : CD You must believe in Spring (Timeless), with : Jack van Poll(p) – Hein
van de Geyn(b) – John Engels(dr) – Angelo Verploegen(tr)
1996 : CD The Miles Davis Project (Willibrord Jazz) with : Peter Hertmans(g) –
Jos Machtel(tr.b) - Frans van de Hoeven(b) – Hans van Oosterhout(dr)
2005 : CD Jan Verwey plays Thelonius Monk (Munich Records ), with : Olaf
Tarenskeen(g) – Sven Schuster(b) – Jasper van der Wilden(dr) and the
Gustav Klimt String Quartet.
2010 : CD Jan Verwey meets Bert van den Brink “Standards & Other Pieces”,
(Day Break/Challenge Records) special guest Fay Claassen(vocals).
2013 : CD Rays of Light – Hassenstein/Verwey Quartet : Jan Verwey(h) Christian
Hassenstein(g) Ruud Ouwehand(b) – Franc auf dem Brinke(dr)
2016 : CD Dreamdancing (OAP Records) – Jan Verwey(h) – Johan Clement(p) –
Jasper Somsen(b)
2019 : CD The Music of Horace Silver – Hassenstein/Verwey Quartet. : line up as
above, except Jan Voogd playing double bass. (release later in2019)