BIMHUIS TV Presents: Gideon Tazelaar/Ian Cleaver Sextet

Their jazz sounds so playful that they were dubbed ‘The Kittens’ by lauded Spanish drummer Jorge Rossy, who plays on their collaborative debut album. Trumpeter Ian Cleaver and saxophonist Gideon Tazelaar are making music that has a strong kinship with American jazz of the 1950s and 60s. In New York they formed a unity with bassist Felix Moseholm. Together they played with jazz greats such as Wynton Marsalis en George Coleman.

Back in Europe during lockdown they formed a group with Jorge Rossy, who’s known from the Brad Mehldau Trio. Spontaneous recordings at Electric Monkey Studios in Amsterdam led to the album Volume 1, for which they welcomed illustrious guests: New Cool Collective-saxophonist Benjamin Herman and bass clarinet player Joris Roelofs. The reactions on the album were so positive that they formed a sextet together. Gideo Tazelaar and Ian Cleaver met each other for the first time at age 11 and 12, respectively, and since then they have been playing together in various bands and orchestras.

Gideon Tazelaar: tenor sax
Benjamin Herman: alt sax
Joris Roelofs: bass clarinet
Ian Cleaver: trumpet
Felix Moseholm: bass
Jorge Rossy: drums