Untitled Document
CRAM Quartet
The Netherlands
Corrie van Binsbergen – g
Rutger van Otterloo – sax
Mick Paauwe – bass
Arend Niks – dr
When a woman is compared to the eccentric, US rock crank Frank Zappa, it sounds rather startling. Yet, for the fans of the Dutch musician Corrie van Binsbergen this seems the most natural thing in the world. And, with Vilnius having a monument to Zappa—the leader of the group CRAM will surely feel at home here.
The trait common to both the Dutch guitar virtuoso and Frank Zappa is the love of musical freedom, improvisation, and surprise—Corrie’s trademark for over two decades of her successful career. Since 1986, when she established the group Corrie en de Brokken, this female musician has played with symphony orchestras and ballet troupes, and arranged performances with famous Dutch writers which have enjoyed great success. Therefore, it did not come as a surprise to anyone when, this year, she announced her latest plan, to write an opera together with the author Josse de Pauw, that will premier in spring, next year.
Jazz, rock, and psychedelic music are genres that fully complement each other in the repertoire of this Dutch guitarist. With a classical music education, Corrie, equally enthusiastically, dives into the environment of rock clubs and opera theatres, earning respect in both. As a result, her 1996 project Corrie en de Grotte Brokken brought together a constellation of Dutch jazz and pop stars; and the numerous groups she has lent her talent to would be difficult to count.
In 1999, Corrie was awarded the VPRO / Boy Edgar prize, the most prestigious award in Dutch jazz and improvised music. “On the one hand, she is like a female version of Zappa, yet with absolutely her own voice,” thus the Dutch press praised the musician.
The history of the CRAM Quartet, who appear on this year’s European Jazz scene of Vilnius-European Capital of Culture, attests to Corrie’s spontaneous nature. In 2005, the musician was invited to play at a festival in Morocco. She hastily collected a team of good friends and left for the festival. The show was so successful that after the groups sparkling and energetic performance they decided to continue their activities.
Today, CRAM’s biography also includes a performance—a great surprise—at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival, and their first album, For A Dog, released last year.
The group’s name, made up of the first letters of the members’ names, shows that each of them are equally important, not surprising as they are all well known musicians in the Netherlands. The saxophone player, improviser Rutger Van Otterloo, plays not only in jazz, but also modern music groups. Both on stage and in the studio, he has collaborated with such celebrities as Kenny Wheeler, Lester Bowie, Steve Lacy and others. The Brazilian-born bass player, Mick Paauwe, is considered to be one of the best performers of Latin American music in the Netherlands. In his biography, Arend Niks, the lead drummer with several groups, mentions joint projects with the Dutch performer Willem Breuker’s group, and the famous Dutch Mondriaan Quartet.
The critics say that the sound of the lead guitarist of CRAM, Corrie, may be very subtle, however, she can also play sharper than the strongest, adrenalin-filled man. Which of her aspects we hear in Vilnius? We will soon find out.
