Music
Press
Just before the finale on Sunday the Dutch quartet Maalstroom and Scottish singer and saxophonist Jo Freya produced the most sophisticated surprise of Folkwoods 2009 (Eindhoven NL): wonderfully arranged and sparkingly rendered compositions for reed-instruments (clarinet and sax), fiddle, guitar and percussion. With their mainly self-composed work new grounds are covered on the borders between folk, jazz and classical music.'
- Daily dutch newspaper 'De Volkskrant', Ton Maas
Just before the finale on Sunday the Dutch quartet Maalstroom and Scottish singer and saxophonist Jo Freya produced the most sophisticated surprise of Folkwoods 2009 (Eindhoven NL): wonderfully arranged and sparkingly rendered compositions for reed-instruments (clarinet and sax), fiddle, guitar and percussion. With their mainly self-composed work new grounds are covered on the borders between folk, jazz and classical music.'
- Daily dutch newspaper 'De Volkskrant', Ton Maas
Jo Freya and Maalstroom first met up at Musicport in 2008 and made their UK debut at the festival in the following year: this album is a continuation of that collaboration. The second tune on the CD (part of a three tune set, all composed by violinist Gilles Rullman) celebrates the festival and that first collaboration – the seed of the fruits brought forth in the album’s other ten tracks.
Most of the album is instrumental and the opening track sets the approach of what is to follow...tight, sometimes frenetic playing, duets and conversations, and a neat device whereby tunes do not segue into each other but rather resolve one melody as the opening phrase of the next. It’s an approach which both satisfies and surprises (check out the very uptempo Waltz set and the franly slightly demented Thyroid Jig).
While Jo Freya will be known to most Tykes’ readers (Old Swan Band, Blowzabella – influences both evident herein – and fistful of remarkable collaborations), Maalstroom may not be: a Dutch quartet (guitar, 5 string violin, clarinets, percussion) who are clearly influenced by English and Celtic traditions (not to mention the two classic bands of which Jo was a key member), they have been playing together for a decade and are one of the most respected folk/roots bands in the Netherlands – listening to this album one can see why.
It would be wrong of me not to single out the album’s three vocal tracks – Everybody has a Tale with Job’s thoughts on Life (by L) to a tune by Sean O’Riada; the sublime Closing of the Day, tune by Sam Pirt with lyrics by Tim van Eyken and then Jo – quite a pedigree; right at the heart of the album is an easily overlooked gem, a stunning duet arrangement of Green Grow The Rushes O.
- Tykes, Nigel Schofield
Jo Freya and Maalstroom first met up at Musicport in 2008 and made their UK debut at the festival in the following year: this album is a continuation of that collaboration. The second tune on the CD (part of a three tune set, all composed by violinist Gilles Rullman) celebrates the festival and that first collaboration – the seed of the fruits brought forth in the album’s other ten tracks.
Most of the album is instrumental and the opening track sets the approach of what is to follow...tight, sometimes frenetic playing, duets and conversations, and a neat device whereby tunes do not segue into each other but rather resolve one melody as the opening phrase of the next. It’s an approach which both satisfies and surprises (check out the very uptempo Waltz set and the franly slightly demented Thyroid Jig).
While Jo Freya will be known to most Tykes’ readers (Old Swan Band, Blowzabella – influences both evident herein – and fistful of remarkable collaborations), Maalstroom may not be: a Dutch quartet (guitar, 5 string violin, clarinets, percussion) who are clearly influenced by English and Celtic traditions (not to mention the two classic bands of which Jo was a key member), they have been playing together for a decade and are one of the most respected folk/roots bands in the Netherlands – listening to this album one can see why.
It would be wrong of me not to single out the album’s three vocal tracks – Everybody has a Tale with Job’s thoughts on Life (by L) to a tune by Sean O’Riada; the sublime Closing of the Day, tune by Sam Pirt with lyrics by Tim van Eyken and then Jo – quite a pedigree; right at the heart of the album is an easily overlooked gem, a stunning duet arrangement of Green Grow The Rushes O.
- Tykes, Nigel Schofield
"Now here's a tasty prospect: top Dutch acoustic quartet Maalstroom team up here with chameleonic mistress of all things reedy, Jo Freya (of Blowzabella and the acclaimed Lal Waterson project), for a buoyant, blustery bounce through a thoroughly joyous set of tunes, leavened with a sprinkling of more reflective songs.
Shuffly opener 'Musicport' lulls and teases with it's hazy clarinet before launching itself into salt-spray exuberance, and we're off. Though Americans may make spurious claims to the contrary, I've always been convinced that The Netherlands is the true home of jazz, and there's a real swing permeating this album, from the hypnotic thrum of 'rattling Roof Tiles' to itchy footed 'Waltzing Up the Stairs'.
It's inevitable that the fiddles and reeds take center stage, skipping and sweeping around each other like smiley tropical fish, but this is ensemble playing of the highest order. And when things slow to the stately 'Green Grow The Rushes Oh' with its swooning clarinet, the change in register stops you in your tracks. It's a collaboration of genuine class and imagination."
- Rock 'N Reel Magazine, Oz Hardwick
"Now here's a tasty prospect: top Dutch acoustic quartet Maalstroom team up here with chameleonic mistress of all things reedy, Jo Freya (of Blowzabella and the acclaimed Lal Waterson project), for a buoyant, blustery bounce through a thoroughly joyous set of tunes, leavened with a sprinkling of more reflective songs.
Shuffly opener 'Musicport' lulls and teases with it's hazy clarinet before launching itself into salt-spray exuberance, and we're off. Though Americans may make spurious claims to the contrary, I've always been convinced that The Netherlands is the true home of jazz, and there's a real swing permeating this album, from the hypnotic thrum of 'rattling Roof Tiles' to itchy footed 'Waltzing Up the Stairs'.
It's inevitable that the fiddles and reeds take center stage, skipping and sweeping around each other like smiley tropical fish, but this is ensemble playing of the highest order. And when things slow to the stately 'Green Grow The Rushes Oh' with its swooning clarinet, the change in register stops you in your tracks. It's a collaboration of genuine class and imagination."
- Rock 'N Reel Magazine, Oz Hardwick
Discography
MAALSTROOM & JO FREYA
Meet, 2010
MAALSTROOM
Face In The Water, 2000
From The Wood, 2004
Open Windows, 2008
JO FREYA
Jo Freya has recorded extensively amongst which:
Blowzabella, Old Swan Band, Freya/Abbott/ Ferguson and others.
For more details: http://freyamusic.co.uk
Photos
Bio
Maalstroom, a 4 piece band from the Netherlands, play their own exciting new compositions in a folk/jazz blend and sing traditional and original folk songs in their own eclectic way. The style of the band is more-then-a-cast up sum of the various backgrounds of the individual members.
Since 2009 Maalstroom collaborates with British mainstay Jo Freya, which culminated in the CD 'MEET'. Jo and Maalstroom did various Village Hall tours in 2010 and 2011.
Since 2012 they have been also working on repertoire for folk ball events.
Fiddler Gilles Rullmann and (bass)clarinettist Michel Duijves form the center of the band. This interesting combination of instruments gives the sound of Maalstroom it’s special flavour.
Gilles plays Irish and Bluegrass with the duo Janos & Gilles and Irish songs and tunes with the Irish singer and guitarplayer Joe Connolly.
Michel is also the driving force behind the band. He has a widely musical interest; playing klezmer with the ‘Jewish Musicband’, traditional Irish folk with ‘Mind the Midgie’ and jazz & improv with ‘Bite the Gnatze’.
Guitar- and bouzoukiplayer and composer Paul Pallesen is his musical companion from the start of the band. Jazz and improvised music were important for developing his personal style of playing.He joined bands as the Astronotes, the Commotie and worked with theatre compagnies as the Daders(mime) and De Appel. He formed the band Bite the Gnazte.
At last, Maalstroom’s percussionist and singer is Job Cornelissen. He plays the bodhran and cajon and various percussion and is lead vocalist of Maalstroom. Job works also in the theatrefield as dancer, perfomer and dance teacher.
The tunes composed by Gilles, Michel, Paul and Job are influenced by the Irish, English and Dutch folktradition,spiced with a pan-european flavor.
The band’s original line-up included virtuoso flautist Brian Finnegan, but other commitments meant he had to leave after their first CD, Face in the Water (2000).
Brian was succeeded by Wim Poesen from Flanders, who also plays flutes and whistles, but added Flemish bagpipes to the sound. He left the band in 2007.
Apart from ordinary gigs in smaller venues, Maalstroom performed at various festivals in the Netherlands, Germany, England and Belgium among which: Folkwoods in Eindhoven, Wilde Töne in Braunschweig, Musicport in Bridlington and Folkfestival Gooikoorts i.
Maalstroom was on tour in the UK in 2007 ,-08, -09,-10 and -11,and in Germany in 2009 and -10, 11 and 12 and will be there again in August 2013.
Band Members
Links
