Begin van de Leidse Jazzweek.

In English: scroll down please.

Gitarist, banjospeler en componist Paul Pallesen is oprichter en bandleider van Bite the Gnatze, een ensemble dat aparte melodieën, harmonieën en improvisaties combineert. In de muziek van Bite The Gnatze horen we echo’s van de jazz van Monk en Mingus en de orkestraties van Milhaud en Ives, maar met instrumenten als de banjo, lapsteel en whistle sijpelt ook de folk subtiel door bij de zeven koppige band. Muziek met flair, humor, precisie en toch met vrijere improvisatievormen.

Bite The Gnatze kun je ook beluisteren via VPRO JazzLive.

For our English speaking visitors:

2013 Starts really well.There’s lots and lots of great jazz during the Leiden Jazzweek.The Leiden Jazzweek kicks off  in Hot House on Saturday January 19 in the Tuinzaal of The Burcht, 14 Burgsteeg, Leiden. Here the seven first-rate musicians of the jazzband Bite the Gnatze will do a concert in which they combine jazz improvisation with classical and traditional folk music.

Paul Pallesen has composed most of the music, but all members of the band are free to come up with and add their own ideas. This, together with the interesting line-up with saxophone, trombone and clarinet results in music that sometimes takes surprising turns but is always melodious.

Be bold! Come and see for yourself! Even if the word jazz should have negative connotations for you, the classical and traditional Irish influences , the improvisation and the nice atmosphere might well enchant you.

Joost Buis trombone and slide guitar/ Michel Duijves  clarinets and flutes / Steven Kamperman sax and clarinet / Frank van Bommel piano and vibraphone / Paul Pallesen guitar, banjo and bouzouki / Meinraad Kneer bass / Alan Purves drums and percussion

Tuinzaal De Burcht, Burgsteeg 14, Leiden, 19 January ,  9 o’clock pm

Admission 15 euros ; students 8 euros