"Thanks to the beautiful melodies of reed player Iman Spaargaren, which give structure to the music, flexibility is never artificial" (Mischa Andriessen, Trouw).
"That’s a whole bunch of see-sawing moods expressed through ensemble, solo and group improv, impressionistically slipping between thoughtful arrangements, loose affiliations and uninhibited free music, all suspended over an eclectic set of rhythms. The Orchestra, enthusiastically underlined by drummer Marcos Baggiani, picks and mixes beats from samba, railways, Saharan caravans and horseback. An artistic interpretation of the Covid-19 pandemic: the courageous Undercurrent Orchestra were certainly among the first to tackle this toughest of subjects. And, what’s more, have done a commendable job (Len Weinreich, London Jazz News)Line up:
Iman Spaargaren - (bass) clarinet, tenor saxophone
Gerard Kleijn - trumpet, flugelhorn
Joost Buis - trombone
Annie Tangberg - cello
Guillermo Celano -guitar
Marcos Baggiani - drums
Ja, Wat Bedoel Ik?! What do I mean?! What does the artist, the musician mean by his work? I would say: for you to find out! To lift the veil a bit: many, if not all, compositions on Everything Seems Different echo the range of feelings and state of mind of the past year. That year was not only for me, but probably just about for everyone on this globe an alienating, complicated, sometimes frightening and possibly even life-threatening period due to the arrival of a malicious virus.
The world changed, social contacts changed, people changed. But at the same time, much also remained the same. Some companies went bankrupt, other powerful players took advantage of the crisis.
The feeling of being together in a large waiting room, waiting for redemption. And at the same time killing time with rediscovered hobbies or series on Netflix. A feeling as if you are living a borrowed life, while your old life is on hold, taking a pause. A strong desire for better times and earlier times, for freedom, for social contacts, for dancing and having fun!
The 11 compositions on Everything Seems Different capture an era that seems unique, but on the contrary is somewhat similar to several historical periods. The state of affairs might turn our social conduct into a new standard of behaviour. A health crisis that is strongly intertwined with how people deal with their living environment, nature and the planet. Perhaps we are now experiencing a period of High Tide and then we will go back to a quieter Low Tide. We will have to work together as humanity to turn the tide.
Everything Seems Different portrays pieces of music that are powerfully executed by the Undercurrent Orchestra: a collective of acclaimed musicians from the Amsterdam music scene. The strong interaction between the players produces exciting music. Dreamy soundscapes, solid grooves and burning improvisations create a strong story in multiple layers. The cinematic pieces tell a story about fear and hope, boredom and inspiration, sadness and joy.
Artistic production by Iman Spaargaren
Recorded at Studio Groenland, Hilversum 13 & 14 February 2021
Mixed and mastered by Hans Ravestein at Studio Groenland March & April 2021
Art design by Carolina Altavilla
Photography by Efraim Schulz-Wackerbarth
www.imanspaargaren.nl
Record Label: Zennez Records www.zennezrecords.com
A super big thanks to Gerard Kleijn, Joost Buis, Annie Tangberg, Guillermo Celano, Marcos Baggiani for their incredible playing, support and making this dream come true! And a huge high-five for Hans Ravestein, Carolina Altavilla, John Weijers of Zennez Records and Efraim Schulz-Wackerbarth for making this music project possible.
All compositions by Iman Spaargaren except for Smoke Gets In Your Eyes written by Jerome Kern.
