groups
Tony Overwater

Tony Overwater Trio

More information at www.tonyoverwater.com and the www.fareastrevisited.com and www.kikkerheeftdeblues.nl

 Booking & info

Maarten Ornstein- tenor saxophone and clarinet
Tony Overwater - double bass
Wim Kegel - drums

The Tony Overwater Trio consists of three top jazz musicians from The Netherlands, whose main goal it is to enjoy playing music, to perform without any assumptions and to make ‘free’ music in the true sense of the word. They met at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague during their studies and performed together in various settings ever since. And as outstanding as a trio, just as impressive are the individual careers of these gifted artists.
Tony Overwater, a virtuoso bassist - who received the VPRO/Boy Edgar Prize (thé Dutch jazz award) in 2003 and was nominated for the Bird Award the same year, is also a highly acclaimed composer, whose musical interests range from jazz to improvised and world music. Reed player and composer Maarten Ornstein masters both (bass)clarinet and tenor saxophone and is famous for his special sound and his contributions to modern jazz and improvised music. Wim Kegel is considered one of Holland’s most remarkable drummers, developing a unique style combining jazz tradition with a personal and progressive approach.

The group performed with many international artists like Pat Metheny, Ilse de Lange, Ack van Rooyen, Calefax, and David Murray.
Selected discography:

 

  
suitesTony Overwater Trio - Calefax
Ellington Suites		 opTony Overwater Group
OP		 kikkerTony Overwater kwintet
Kikker heeft de blues!

Tony Overwater Trio
Biography

The Tony Overwater Trio, founded in 1989, create an international stir in 2000 when the trio, featuring flugelhorn player Ack van Rooyen and cellist Ernst Reyseger, release the Edison (Dutch Grammy) awarded album OP, a tribute to bassist Oscar Pettiford. And their second project proves to be just as successful: in 2005 the trio joins forces with the highly acclaimed Dutch classical reed quintet Calefax to play two suites of Duke Ellington: the famous Far East Suite and the lesser-known River Suite. The project is remarkable not only because of the crossover between classical and jazz and the choice of repertoire, but also for the fine arrangements that were for made for this particular line up, without piano! The result, the album Ellington Suites and the presentation concerts receive massive media coverage.
Between concerts and recordings, the Tony Overwater Trio focuses on music education. They created a project for young children, called Stadsnootjes (City Notes):the trio visit primary schools in The Netherlands and talk about (the history of) jazz music. They give examples of the music and explain the concept of improvisation. In the end they teach the children a song which they will later perform in a theatre piece. The project is a collaboration with the renowned Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Tony Overwater Trio reviewed
Press quotes

I can full-heartedly recommend this CD for your collection of Ellingtonia
- International Duke Ellington Music Society Bulletin

The best thing that has happened to the repertoire of Ellington (since the memorable Strayhorn performances by the Dutch Jazz Orchestra)
- Jazzmozaïek

Eine musikalische Genuss der Extra-Klasse
- Online Musik Magazin

Ellington hätte gewiss seine Freude gehabt
- Stereo

OP sets a new standard both artistically as well as in sound quality - Algemeen Dagblad

Most beautiful imaginable tribute to Oscar Pettiford
- NRC

Breath-taking interpretations!
- Parool

In short: an extremely clever and recommendable album
- Doctor Jazz Magazine (about Ellington Suites)