The Pitch Pine Project

Udo Hans Pannekeet (14-04-78) started playing bass-guitar on the age of 14. He studied bass guitar at the Amsterdam Conservatory. After finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in jazz music, he graduated in June 2003 from the masters program at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Udo plays six-string frettles and fretted bass. He teaches at the conservatory of Tilburg and Alkmaar and works as a producer/engineer for jazz and pop-productions. Beside all his recording activities, Udo plays on many stages and venues. Rob van Bavel (16-1-65) graduated in 1987 at the Rotterdam Conservatory with the highest possible mark. He won several awards, e.g. the second prize at the first "Thelonious Monk Jazzpiano Competition" (Washington D.C.) and the dutch grammy (Edison). Leads his own Octet and Trio. Teaches at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Amsterdam Conservatory. Played with Woody Shaw, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Johnny Griffin, Bob Mintzer, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Willis, a.o. Also composing and arranging. Tom Beek (14-12-69) studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and with Ferdinand Povel and Rob Madna at the Hilversum Conservatory, graduating in 1995 with very high marks. He plays tenor sax, soprano sax, alto sax and EWI. Inspired by Michael Brecker, he decided to play the EWI in 1993. Tom performed with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell and Bill Evans (sax) and with Dutch legends Wim Overgaauw, Rod Madna, Rita Reys, Jerry van Rooyen, Rob van Kreefeld, Louis van Dijk and Jan Akkerman. He is a player, arranger, producer, writer and teacher.
Martijn van Iterson (11-07-70) plays guitar since the age of 9 and studied at the Hilversum Academy of Music with Wim Overgaauw and became his successor at the Academies of Amsterdam and The Hague. He is in great demand as a guest soloist. With the Martijn van Iterson Quartet he plays exclusively originals. Martijn received the prestigious Bird Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2004. Early 2005, his cd got up to the 11th place on the Jazzweek Jazzchart in the USA which is unique for a Dutch production.
Chris Strik (1967) started to play the accordeon when he was 6 years old, but soon changed to drums. When he was twelve he alreay did his first studio-session. In 1993 he graduated with the highest possible grade from the Conservatory in Utrecht. He studied drums with David Weiss and Gerhard Jeltes, but also followed classes in harmony, piano and history. He plays with: Buzz bros band, Fernando Lewis, Rob van Bavel 3, Amina Figarova and works as a freelance (studio) drummer all over the country.
Randy Brecker (Philadelphia, 1945), has been shaping the sound of Jazz, R and B and Rock for more than three decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Parliament-Funkadelics to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, David Sanborn, Horace Silver, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa. In the 70’s he teamed up with his younger brother Michael as the legendary Brecker Brothers. The Brecker Brothers were to become a band of immeasurable influence and impact. Hailed by pop and jazz critics alike, their first album,The Brecker Brothers (Arista) which Randy produced, wrote, and arranged, was nominated for four Grammys. The Brecker Brothers went on to record a total of six albums, including the still popular Heavy Metal Be-Bop and garner seven Grammy nominations between 1975 and 1981. In 1978 Randy and Michael played a week in NYC with Frank Zappa which resulted in the much requested album Zappa in NY. Ever since Randy Brecker continues to influence and inspire young musicians.