Live at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw by Fay Claassen & Trio Peter Beets

Fay Claassen & Trio Peter Beets

Live at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw

Format: CD
Label: Challenge Records
UPC: 0608917341126
Catnr: CR 73411
Release date: 02 October 2015
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Label
Challenge Records

UPC
0608917341126

Catalogue number
CR 73411

Release date
02 October 2015

"It was announced as a 'glorious tribute to Rita Reys'. "

De Telegraaf, 15-8-2016

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

Press

About the album

When asked who would be the successor to her throne, the world renowned jazz vocalist Rita Reys always pointed out Fay Claassen as the only Dutch vocalist who would be able to fill her elegantly swinging shoes. Those who know that Rita Reys was once honoured with the title ‘Europe’s First Lady of Jazz’ at the prestigious 1960 Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival will realise just how important Reys’ kind words have been to a young singer like Fay Claassen. So it was only logical that after Reys’ sad demise in 2013, it was Fay Claassen who teamed up with Rita’s last working band, The Peter Beets Trio, featuring guitarist Martijn van Iterson, bass player Ruud Jacobs and, of course, the swinging virtuoso pianist Peter Beets himself. Their first gig together took place in 2014 at the famous Amsterdam Concertgebouw, a date that was recorded live to capture the spontaneous, pure and thrilling vibe that filled this sacred building of music with the spirit of Holland’s greatest jazz singer ever. For all of those who missed this very special occasion, there is the album Fay Claassen & The Peter Beets Trio live at the Concertgebouw. Claassen and the Trio combine their improvisational skills resulting in an unsurpassed synergy and musicality. From the first note on it is evident that Beets and his men have paid their dues playing superb renditions of the standard jazz repertoire for many years.

Als man Rita Reys nach einer würdigen Nachfolgerin für ihren Thron fragte, verwies sie gerne auf Fay Claassen als einzige Niederländische Sängerin, der es möglich war, in ihre eleganten, swingenden Schuhe zu treten. Jemand, der weiß, dass Rita Reys 1960 beim Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival als 'Europe's First Lady of Jazz' geehrte wurde, kann sich in etwa vorstellen, was diese Worte für eine Bedeutung für die junge Sängerin Fay Claassen hatten. So war es nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis Fay Claassen mit Ritas Band, dem Peter Beets Trio, zusammenkam, um nach Rita Reys Tod 2013, das Erbe der Diva weiter zu tragen. Ihr erstes gemeinsames Konzert fand 2014 im berühmten Concertgebouw in Amsterdam statt. Die spontane, pure und aufregende Athmosphäre dieses Abends in den heiligen Hallen mit der Musik einer der größten Jazzsängerinnen der Niederlande ist auf diesem Album festgehalten.

Artist(s)

Fay Claassen
Fay Claassen (vocals) Fay recorded her own albums together with many international musicians such as Mike Stern, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielemands, and she was invited as soloist for many CD recordings by the WDR Big Band, Bob Brookmeyers New Art Orchestra, the Millennium Jazz Orchestra and the Danish Radio Big Band.

She cooperated with well known conducters and arrangers such as Jim Mc Neely, Vince Mendoza and Michael Abene. Fay was rewarded with The Golden Record for her double album Two Portraits of Chet Baker. Jazz Times USA wrote about this cd: ’An Astonishing Album’, Down Beat: ‘A mega-production with extremely solo contributions’.

In the Winners Poll of All About Jazz USA the album was proclaimed as ‘Best Vocal Album of the Year’. Moreover, for other albums Fay received a Grammy longlistnomination and an Edison Award. In 2011 her succesfully cd SING! with the WDR Big Band and the WDR Rundfunk Orchester conducted and arranged by Michael Abene was presented. As guest soloist Fay was often invited by the Metropole Orkest and Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. Her effortless skill of improvisation not only brought her on stages in Europe, but also in Japan, China and the U.S.A.

Composer(s)

Various

Press

It was announced as a 'glorious tribute to Rita Reys'.
De Telegraaf, 15-8-2016

"Swing, beautiful songs and melodies, we are going to make a nice party."
De Telegraaf, 05-8-2016

"...it is the subtle musical class of Fay Claassen which makes this Live-Album remarkable."
Jazzthing, 01-4-2016

"Although the pace is sometimes a bit in a hurry so it seems, and for both Claassen as Beets strongly applies that you have to be fond of their virtuoso, lush decorative style, this ode does definitely honor Rita Reys."
Klassieke Zaken, 01-2-2016

[...] After Reys passing in 2013, Claassen decided to contact Reys' last band, the Peter Beets Trio. There they established a tourschedule that began with a resounding concert in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and this CD was the result. Improvisation, swinging jazz, roaring notes and the hoarse voice of Claassen make for a memorable evening that the momentum is highly maintained. Partly, of course, thanks to classic like 'Just None of those things' and 'Summertime'. [...]
Villa D'arte, 04-1-2016

["] ... This time it was going to be songs that are closely linked to the Reys and coaches (Peter Beets, Ruud Jacobs, Martijn van Iterson) were steeped in her music. Claassensang very convincing, scatte at least as good (or better ?), waved like mad and proved that she could bring Zon in Scheveningen as ;anguorously as its predecessor .. ["]
Jazzism, 24-12-2015

["].. The album is actually a tribute to Reys and a catch for anyone who missed this concert."
Music Emotion, 01-12-2015

"But truly impressing is, how deep Fay Claasen noticeably goes on into each single song, to give each song a voice out of its own center."
Jazzpodium, 01-12-2015

['']..Singer Claasen proves herself as Rita Reys' successor."
NRC Handelsblad, 21-9-2015