NICA x BIMHUIS: Dutch Mountain Tribe & Fabian Dudek / Almost

NICA artist development and BIMHUIS Amsterdam cooperate

Two visionary bands in exchange: This double-concert is a cooperation between NICA artist development and BIMHUIS. Founded in 1974 and based at the Piet Heinkade in Amsterdam since 2005, BIMHUIS is one of the most important venues for improvised music in the Netherlands. The day before the concert at Stadtgarten Köln, Koen Boeijinga and Fabian Dudek will play with their bands at BIMHUIS.

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Dutch woodwind player, composer and improviser Koen Boeijinga presents his new project Dutch Mountain Tribe. The seven-piece collective consists of young pioneers as well as established virtuosos from the Dutch improvisation scene.

Dutch Mountain Tribe spins a web of idiosyncratic melodies, enchanting rhythms and fiery improvisations. Like folk songs from a mythical Dutch mountainside, they are coloured by an arsenal of percussion instruments, flutes, bagpipes and other objects from the immense collection of band leader Koen Boeijenga. This versatile wind player and composer includes both young and established players in his seven-piece band.

Last year, Dutch Montain Tribe was honoured with KEEP AN EYE The Records. The band’s debut album was released on 15 March 2024 on ZenneZ Records.

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On the road, somehow arriving somewhere. Concentrated on a destination with an uncertain outcome in mind: Almost. Four musicians focusing on Fabian Dudek’s unique and thoughtful compositions, with which the German saxophonist explores new sound spheres. Dudek has worked with pianist Felix Hauptmann for many years – Hauptmann plays in Dudek’s two main projects and contributes his voice to this constellation which premiered summer 2023. Like Dudek and Hauptmann, drummer Alex Parzhuber stands out with his attentive and energetic playing, whether on his releases under his own name or, for example, as a member of Dudek’s La Campagne or of Vagabond Souls.

These three are joined by London-based bassist, singer, and composer Ruth Goller, who is considered an important player in the English improvisation scene, who previously collaborated with, among others, Paul McCartney and Marc Ribot. A meeting of four individually strong musicians, who unite around Dudek’s music, which explores escapes from the world and leaves its listeners enough space for reflection.