Gert-Jan Dreessen Quartet / Equilibrium 08-11-23

wo 8 nov '23

Aspiration and rapture in long-awaited new record

Equilibrium (album release)

This triumvirate between Sissel Vera Pettersen, Joachim Badenhorst and Mikkel Ploug built a cult status with a mixture of free improvisation and original compositions. After six years of silence, they return with a long-awaited album.

'When we talk about musicians and groups pushing the genre forward and searching for what can really be done with sound and thought, this trio is what we're talking about,' Jazzwrap said.

Their first three studio albums (Songlines Recordings) received worldwide praise for a melting pot of jazz, folk, classical, minimalism and avant-garde. Time for the next step in their story.

Equilibrium
Sissel Vera Pettersen (NO - vocals and live effects), Joachim Badenhorst (BE - clarinets), Mikkel Ploug (DK - guitars)

Gert-Jan Dreessen Quartet

In no time, drummer Gert-Jan Dreessen emerged as a musician to keep an eye on. At a young age he already shone alongside Joshua Redman, Jakob Bro and Logan Richardson, among others, and he seems to be on his way to becoming a patron of Belgian jazz himself.

He presents his own band with some of the most striking personalities of Belgian jazz.

Gert-Jan Dreessen Quartet
Gert-Jan Dreessen (drums, compositions), Jean-Paul Estiévenart (trumpet), Bram De Looze (piano), Cyrille Obermüller (double bass)

Gert-Jan Dreessen Quartet - Who's Who.

Dreessen moved to New York's renowned New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2019. From his return in 2020, he immediately asserted himself as a musician/composer with interests in traditional and contemporary jazz, classical, electronic and experimental music.
Bram De Looze is perhaps the leading pianist of his generation. Active as a solo artist, but also with ensembles such as MiXMONK (with Robin Verheyen and Joey Baron).
Jean-Paul Estiévenart moves as deftly as virtuoso through Belgian jazz and became the most sought-after trumpet player of the past decade.
Bassist Cyrille Obermüller can be known as the rhythmic anchor of bands such as HAST, Bruno Vansina Quintet and Nabou Claerhout's Trombone Ensemble.

Together, these musicians have the baggage and personality to take Dreessen's compositions full of intoxicating melodies and rhythmic twists and turns to the highest level. The future of jazz, you are experiencing it today.

Equilibrium - Who's Who.

Norwegian singer/saxophonist Sissel Vera Pettersen, has worked with Chick Corea, Marylin Mazur and Jon Balke. She is artistic director of Trondheim Voices.
On guitar plays Danish guitarist Mikkel Ploug, who has toured in more than 25 countries and whose latest releases were named "Best Jazz Album of 2020" in England and Germany and warmly recommended in Rolling Stone Magazine and Downbeat Magazine. He is known for his work with American saxophonist Mark Turner and has worked as a soloist with both the Danish Royal Ballet and the Danish Radio Big Band.
Belgian clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst has been featured in Downbeat Magazine polls for "rising star of clarinet" and is known for his work with the Han Bennink trio and Tony Malaby's Novola in New York. Joachim has recorded for the renowned label Winter & Winter and has collaborated with musicians from Japan, China and numerous European projects.