Starvinsky Blogstar

Dinner with Hermeto

2009-11-02T07:04:00.001-08:00

After a wonderful gig with Hamilton de Holanda & Gabriel Grossi, Hermeto enjoyed a dinner in Genesio, Sao Paulo. What a wonderful musician, 'inspirator' and human being, spreading freedom & love through music. Obrigado!

NRC Review (in Dutch)

2009-11-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

01-01-2009 - Kuyper, Amanda schreef:

Martin Fondse & Starvinsky Orkestar:Fragrant Moondrops Ongemerkt stikt het momenteel van de bigbands en jazzorkesten. Van groovy beats met een knallende blazerssectie, eerbetonen of Afro-Caraïbische klanken – musici creëren voortdurend nieuwe speelmogelijkheden. Dat moet wel, want in bestaande formaties komt slechts sporadisch een plek vrij. Maar het belangrijke motief vormt het uitvoeren en uitdragen van origineel werk om – hoe lastig financieel ook – zelf een ensemble op te richten. Dat geldt zeker voor een van de meest gevraagde componisten in de hedendaagse jazzbeweging, Martin Fondse. De geboren Zeeuw boetseert al enige tijd aan zijn jazzensemble Starvinsky Orkestar. Gedreven door ‘de sensatie om met een groot orkest te spelen’ vergroot hij hiermee zijn uitvoeringsmogelijkheden als componist. Want, zegt Fondse, „iedere componist moet op een zeker moment zijn eigen orkest hebben”. Al jaren voorziet de pianist en componist jazzmusici van muziek. Als vaardig componist/arrangeur voor diverse orkesten voorzag hij ook (korte) films van muziek en een enkele dansvoorstelling. In zijn moderne small bigband The Groove Troopers combineerde Fondse de rijke bronnen uit de traditionele bigbandhistorie met de moderne beats en sounds van deze tijd. Met Starvinsky Orkestar, een hybride vorm van klassiek en jazz, doet hij zijn doctoraal examen als componist en orkestleider. Fondse wordt geroemd om de constante afwisseling en diepgang binnen zijn composities, ook bij solo’s en improvisaties. Bovendien verweeft hij diverse stijlelementen tot een natuurlijke eenheid. Op zijn langverwachte cd Fragrant Moondrops doorbreekt hij de grens tussen diverse jazzgenres, maar ook klassiek, wereld- en filmmuziek op een unieke manier. Zijn bigband wil nadrukkelijk geen klassiek ensemble zijn, en andersom, maar ze lenen veel elementen van elkaar. Fondses orkest, met trompettist Eric Vloeimans en de Duitse rietblazers Steffen Schorn en Claudio Puntin, beweegt van sfeer naar sfeer.Happiness is een kleine subtiele compositie voor klarinet en strijkers, terwijl diezelfde strijkers in Luz wild zagen over lange blaaslijnen. Titelnummer Fragrant Moondrops is een buitengewone meesleper. Fondse is niet bang voor hoe-het-hoortclichés in de muziek. Hij paart luchtig aan diepgaand en kan zijn jazzmusici met grote vanzelfsprekendheid modern klassieke passages laten spelen. Het Starvinsky Orkestar speelt een stortvloed aan ideeën. Maar wat dit album laat slagen is dat alle nummers, hoe ingenieus en fraai gelaagd ook, ademen.

Copyright NRC Handelsblad BV

More Strs for Strvinsky Orkest*r

2009-10-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

What's in a name...
Another wonderful review of our cd 'Fragrant Moondrops'. Jazzmagazine NL.

(my translation of the article you find here)

FSO is a twelve-headed ensemble that indeed create sounds that smell like outflowing scents, spreading in invisible clouds. The secret is the dosage of slow sliding tempos in relation to fast tempos, the movement of lines with accelerations and eruptions. It is evoked by the layering, the quality of the variation of repetitive themes and dynamics. Fondse, in all three respects as a composer, arranger and band leader has much to offer. He has the gift to give equally space to either small or big sounds. . His wonderful ostinatos give the time to grow and bloom beautifully. They make your soul shine and your heart dance. The highlight for me is the piece entitled Luz, with its reminiscences of Ravel that sounds like breaking light. Wonderful how Fondse create different versions of the same theme. A major supporting feature of the beautiful sound are the excellent Swiss clarinetist Claudio Puntin with his duo partner Steffen Schorn (mostly in the baritone saxophone). The sound colour of the line up is very sophisticated and consisting of internationally prominent musicians (rhythm section, five brass, four strings). FSO sets a standard here, and their certainly international potential can compete with ensembles such as the Jazz Bigband Graz or ONJ. Perhaps it may have some sharper edges and deepen their music more further.

Jazzism Review: 5 stars rating!

2009-10-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

The cd 'Fragrant Moondrops' of Starvinsky Orkestar has been rated 5 stars in 'Jazzism' the leading jazz magazine of Holland. We are happy, humble and proud!

The Vibrandoneon has arrived!

2009-08-25T00:51:00.001-07:00

On July 11th I made my debut on the incomparable Vibrandoneon: the ultimate combination of a bandoneon and a melodica. Played a lot of concerts already after this and there are plans to release a cd with this special instrument.

Starvinsky Orkestar on North Sea Jazz Festival 2009

2009-04-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

We will be playing on july 11th on the North Sea Jazz Festival 2009 in Rotterdam.
Also we will keep you posted on the Cd release party. 'Fragrant Moondrops' will be out today!

Art Work of our new CD!

2009-04-08T00:38:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to announce the fact that the new cd of Starvinsky Orkestar will be out very soon now. Here's a glimpse of the Cover Art Work, a painting by Kraus von Secca, a big friend from Brazil.
We keep you posted!

Today 17 h.: Concert with Big Band Conservatory Amsterdam

2009-03-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

Original compositions with a lot of Starvinsky Orkestar flavour, played by the 2 o'clock Big Band of Conservatory Amsterdam. Oosterdokskade 151.
Hope to see you there!

Starvinsky Blogstar 2009

2009-03-24T02:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a while and a lot happened! Great concerts, New projects and a cd release coming up.
From now on we will update this blog regularly again.
Here's a photo from our last concert in 2008, a full and enthousiastic BIM HUIS on december 30.
Keep you informed.
Photo's by Igor Khatskelyan

Starvinsky Orkestar @ Vrije Geluiden (dutch national TV)

2008-12-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

We were invited to play 3 pieces and do an interview in Vrije Geluiden, the most profilic musical TV program on Dutch Television. Interviewer Hans Flupsen also challlenged us in a real melodica improvisation extravaganza! Enjoy (and also be thrilled by the pipa player).

One More Time: Sintonize Double Suite @ Cisne Negro

2008-12-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

Tv registration of the dance project in Sao Paulo, November 2008. Tv Bandeirantes!

Back Home: Traffic Mundial

2008-11-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

Traffic - Sushi - Traffic

Table Music Trio

2008-11-26T07:32:00.000-08:00

Musica ao vivo. Where? Italian Restaurant at Rua Barbosa in Bela Vista, Sao Paulo. When? November 2008. What? Ravioli com queijo accompanied by Accordeon & Guitar. With? Tami & Nico.
Never sounded the food so good (and loud...)! As always, I had my melodica with me, my open door to musical contact in Brasil. Melodies with a taste of oregano. NOW: Live in a restaurant near you...

Famous in the Elevator!

2008-11-25T08:34:00.000-08:00

My career goes up & down... More exactly at Club Paulistano, more specific in the elevator of their main building. What goes up must come down! And the other way around. We share our experience with the great Pavarotti, so we are in good company.

Andre Mehmari and Me

2008-11-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

Upcoming concert: Exciting meeting with Brazilian Pianist Andre Mehmari. We will play a piano-duo concert at Club Paulistano, Sao Paulo on thursday 27th of November.

Great Weekend at Atibaia

2008-11-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

Food, Drinks, Food, Live Music, Drinks, Concerts, Love, Nature, Food, Wonderful Musicians, Drinks, Friend, Family, Samba, Special Meetings, Love, Food, Drinks... Here you have a weekend in Atibaia (SP, Brazil)
ps: Food, Drinks, Love

Recording Session at Studio of Chico César

2008-11-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Life is full of surprises! Today Simone Sou called if I would like to play a few (bass)melodica lines on a track for a cd Recording. Ofcourse I would! We went to the studio of Chico César, wonderful Brazilian musician & composer and I played some multi-track-scaleta-lines for the new album of Miriam Maria, blessed vocalist from Sao Paulo. Chico and Simone produce this new cd. Wat a great day, thank you all!

With Andre Mehmari & Nico Okkerse

2008-11-20T11:27:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I had a very inspiring rehearsal, lunch & listening session with the fabulous Brazilian musician Andre Mehmari. We will play a piano-duo concert at Club Paulistano, Sao Paulo on thursday 27th of November. Also on the picture is Nico Okkerse (NO DJ of Silent Disco) who initiated the double suite project with Cisne Negro.

Synchronicity?

2008-11-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

Look at this! The 1st picture is the logo of Dutch Label Basta Music, where I hope to release the Starvinsky Album, and the 2nd picture I took in the hall of my girlfriend's appartment in Sao Paulo. Let's Synchronize!

Show with Sou! 2

2008-11-17T08:50:00.001-08:00

Show with Sou!

2008-11-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

Here are some images of a nice encounter with percussionista Simone Sou from our concert in Teatro Sergia Cardoso in Sao Paulo. She makes everything sound like a musical instrument! And I played Melodica (Scaleta here in Brasil), my answer to the waterpipe!

Pictures from the Audience @ Cisne Negro

2008-11-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

And this is how the audience experienced the show. Head Phoneys!

Dance Project with Cisne Negro On Line

2008-11-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

On saturday November 1st dance company Cisne Negro from Sao Paulo premiered 'Sintonize', an initiative of Nico Okkerse of Silent Disco.
It was a marvelous experience with a dual channel headphones system (with music of J.S. Bach on CH. 1 and music of C.M. Fondse on Ch. 2). Some results are available on line through You Tube. Also an in-depth interview about my music for this project.
Music played by Starvinskians Søren Eriksen, Claudio Puntin and me!

25 September, Concert in BIM Huis, Amsterdam

2008-09-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

Come and Listen!

25 September, BIM Huis Special Action!

2008-09-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

Starvinsky Friendstars!

Introducing: Claudio Puntin (clarinets)

2008-09-17T02:58:00.001-07:00

Claudio. Italian. Puntin. Swiss. Magician. Inventor. Berlin. Everywhere. Sepiasonic. 'Vollblut Musiker...' Puntin. Clarinets. Claudio.

Phantom of the Cinema to the Oscars...

2008-09-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

This month we recieved this wonderful news: The Phantom of the Cinema, animation movie made by Erik van Schaaik with music of Martin , is the Dutch entry for the Oscars! Dinner with Joel and Ethan, dance with Brad and Angelina...
THE PHANTOM OF THE CINEMA is an animated short film in which we, the theater audience, get an exclusive look behind the scenes and screens of the cinema. The movie that’s running through the projector suddenly jams and breaks, allowing us to see what happens behind the projection screen when everything is going horribly wrong.

New Film Music

2008-09-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

In the fall 2008 Martin will write an underscore for the new film of Dick Tuinder, Winterland. The songs in the film are composed by Sonja van Hamel, with which Martin worked on the highly acclaimed production 'The Bauer Melody of 2006'. The film score will be performed by Starvinsky Orkestar.
Martin and Claudio composed and recorded the film music for Witte Hond, new film by Natasja Andre de la Porte. Release: january 2009.

Introducing: Eric van der Westen (Bass)

2008-09-11T01:17:00.001-07:00

Fundamental. Solid. Versatile. Melodical. Communicative. Essential. Eric combines it all in his bass playing. Longtime Rhythm Section companion of Martin and Dirk. Love for the Low End. Is a fine composer too, and you can hear that in his bass lines! Also developer of iMuzz and record company owner (EWM).

Studio Fattoria Musica

2008-09-10T03:09:00.000-07:00

Last may we recorded our debut cd with Starvinsky Orkestar at the fabulous Studio Fattoria in Osnabrück, Germany. A wonderful environment, beautiful recording possibilities and many guest rooms to stay overnight. This gave us the opportunity to really focus on the music and grow and vibe together. Benno Thanks!

Introducing: Dirk-Peter Kölsch (drums)

2008-09-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

Rhythm Keeper is the least we can say about Starvinsky Orkestar's drummer Dirk Peter Kölsch. Deep Soulful Brush Touch, Toy Story, Squeeky Ducks, Stamps, Hard Ware Store, Metal Grunge, Poetic Rubber Sticks, Some regalur object we can refer to as Drum Kit; Dirk collects it all. ...and there will be sound! Listen to his 'drum'solo in Fragrant Moondrops and you'll be a follower...

Starvinsky Blog Online

2008-09-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Today we put the Martin Fondse & Starvinsky Orkestar blog online. Here you will find news, interesting musical developments and curiosities about the orkestar and her members.

We wish you all nice stay at our blogstarspace!

Martin Fondse