December 04th 2009
The best record ever of Bert van den Brink (trio)!

According to Klaas Koopman of the specialized pianomagazine Pianowereld (dec. 2009 issue) Reflections is the best record of Bert van den Brink Together with bass-player Hein Van de Geyn and drummer Hans van Oosterhout. It can be compared to cd’s by Brad Mehldau, Koopman states.  

On the DVD which goes with this wonderful new cd, Bert van den Brink says: ‘My Piano is a mirror’. It mirrors Van den Brink in what he is doing and says to him: ‘you can do that better, you can make it sound more beautiful.’  This perfectionism but also his love for a beautiful sound, has made him search for full and perfect sounds on the piano. Each Piano is different so when he plays somewhere he first has to touch and listen this unfamiliar piano, make it his, explore its possibilities and get out of that instrument the best sound it can give.  

Bert van den Brink started to play the Piano at a very young age and studied classical Piano at the Utrechts Conservatorium where he got his degree ‘cum laude’. For a short time after that he played classical concerts but started to move thereafter towards more ‘lighter’ music. Already in his childhood Bert thought himself how to improvise on Piano and organ as an autodidact. Later on he worked further with this in his jazzmusic. Bert van den Brink worked with Gino Vannelli, Richard Bona, Toots Thielemans, Chet Baker, Nat Adderley, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Rick Margitza, Willem Hellbreker, Philip Catherine, Jesse van Ruller, Clare Fischer, Enrico Pieranunzi, Louis van Dijk, Jules de Corte, Cor Bakker, John Engels, Hein van de Geyn, Hans van Oosterhout, Maria Markesini, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Denise Jannah, Miranda van Kralingen, Heleen van den Hombergh etc.  

In De Volkskrant of November 19th 2009 journalist Koen Schouten writes that Bert van den Brink’s work is “always one under construction”. He means that his work exists not of big gestures or revolutionary ideas, but more of small pianistic insights, inspirations, sketches. All very human things. The cd Reflections is a live concert which was recorded in Terneuzen, in jazzclub Porgy and Bess in 2007. It was an inspired concert, according to Koen Schouten.  

And that it was indeed because the chemistry between the three musicians one can feel and hear. A very special cd this is and a the film ‘My Piano is My Mirror’ as bonus on DVD!          

BASKET
Reflections
Bert van den Brink Artists
Bert van den Brink
Hein Van de Geyn
Hans van Oosterhout
Albums