JIRI STIVIN & ALI HAURAND

Gerd Dudek - Ali Haurand - Rob van den Broeck

The music of this cooperatively led trio has a strong affinity to both tradition and renewal and endeavours at all times, through a subtle appreciation of jazz history, to create an idiosyncratic and up-to-date mode of expression. Charisma, message and spirituality are undoubtedly part of the experiential essence of these three musicians - which is why they cannot and will not blindly copy what has gone before, but aim instead to supply continuity with a unique touch. Ali Haurand, a "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (France 2005), has as bassist and bandleader of the European Jazz Ensemble made music history.

Dates for live performances you will find (as soon as we get them :-) @ the TOUR DATES section of the European Jazz Ensembles.

Questions and booking:
Connexion Agency • Konrad-Adenauer-Ring 10 • 41747 Viersen
Fon +49 (0) 2162 - 18408 • Fax + 49 (0) 2162 - 15373

Gerd Dudek (tenor & soprano sax)
Born in 1938 in Gross-Döbern (now in Poland) Gerd Dudek, after completing his studies, was a member of the famous Kurt Edelhagen Big Band from 1960 to 1964. Whereupon he joined the Manfred Schoof Quintet. As a member of the Albert Mangelsdorff Quintet and the German All Stars he undertook several tours of Asia and South America. Gerd has also played in a quartet with Alan Skidmore and Adelhard Roidinger. He was one of the founding members of the Manfred Schoof Big Band as well as of both Alexander von Schlippenbach´s "Globe Unity" and "Berlin Contemporary Orchestra". What is more, Gerd Dudek was also among the founding members of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE in 1976. Besides many other productions with various groups and soloists, he made a recording in Japan in 1961. In the 1960s he went on tour with George Russell and Don Cherry. He has worked extensively in trios, quartets and duets with Ali Haurand. With the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE and smaller formations he has recorded more than 70 records and CDs.

Ali Haurand (bass)
Ali Haurand was born in Viersen, Germany, in 1943. Right after finishing his studies at the Folkwang School in Essen he founded his first trio. Since 1967 he has been a member of the George Maycock Trio. In 1969 Ali with the Dutch pianist Jan Huydts founded the group "THIRD EYE". Ali has toured with Philly Joe Joens, Ben Webster, Don Byas, Bobby Jones, John Handy, John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, Jan Akkerman, Joachim Kühn, John Taylor, Tony Coe, Eje Thelin, Joe Albany and Enrico Rava. Together with Gerd Dudek, Alan Skidmore, Leszek Zadlo and Pierre Courbois he founded the "EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE" in 1976. From 1978 to 1984 he played with SOH, a trio that included Tony Oxley and Alan Skidmore. In 1982 with Rob van den Broeck and Gerd Dudek he formed "THE QUARTET". As leader of the "EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE" he has been on tour in Australia, Canada, Russia, Africa and very nearly all European countries. He is also a member of Pantomime & Jazz, which includes the mime Milan Sládek from Slovakia and the Czech flute player Jiri Stivin. With Jiri Stivin he has been collaborating in a duet for a long time now. Tours and festivals have taken him all over Europe, America and even further afield; notable festivals include: Moers, Berlin, Warsaw, London, Paris, Den Haag, Vancouver, Toronto, Barcelona, Prague, Burghausen, Munich, Oslo, Sydney, Melbourne, Leverkusen, to name but a few. Since 1998 he has been playing in a trio with the alto saxophone player Charlie Mariano and the drummer Daniel Humair. The 10th, 12th, 20th and 25th anniversary concerts of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE were recorded for German Television and broadcast by the WDR station in Cologne, West Germany’s leading broadcaster. Ali won the European Jazz Poll of the "Jazz Forum Magazine" in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, with the European Jazz Ensemble, with SOH, or as a bass player. Since 1991 he has also been doing freelance work for the WDR TV station and has acted as co-presenter of the two TV series "Round Midnight" and "Fullhouse". The more than 50 records and CDs to his name so far - as well as his many concert tours – have made him an internationally recognized artist. Thus in 2005 by being made a "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" Ali Haurand received the French Republic’s highest award for cultural achievements.

Rob van den Broeck (piano)
Rob van den Broeck was born in Hilversum, the Netherlands, in 1940. In 1961 Rob began playing with various Dutch groups, such as, among others, Dick Vennik´s group and the Chris Hinze Combination (with Gary Brown on drums and John Lee on bass). He has recorded with Billy Higgins, Clint Houston, Joe Farell, Kenny Wheeler, Alan Skidmore, Ali Haurand and Gerd Dudek. For many years now he has headed the Band "FREE FAIR", which is famous both as a combo and as a quartet plus four trombones and four trumpets. Rob has made several CDs for the Timeless label, among them with Joe Farell, Dexter Gordon, Billy Higgins, Clint Houston, Louis Hayes and Ben Webster. He has, moreover, recorded several trio albums with the English drummer Tony Levin. He has worked together with Ali Haurand in the group "THIRD EYE" since 1972, making recordings with that group, with Alan Skidmore and Wilton Gaynair. Rob has been a member of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE since 1981 and also since 1982 of its Quartet & Trio formation. Thirteen recordings chronicle his intense work with Gerd Dudek and Ali Haurand, among them: "Dedication" (1982), "Relation" (1984), "Interchange" with E.L.Petrowsky (1985) and "Live" (1987); "Pulque", "After All“ and "Crossing Level" between 1990 and 1998 (also published by Konnex Records, Berlin). Tours have taken him as far afield as Canada and Australia.