Dutch Performing Arts

Dutch Performing Arts » Portraits http://www.dutchperformingarts.com Orange Alert Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:27:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Portrait: Diederik Rijpstra http://www.dutchperformingarts.com/portraits/2011/06/29/diederik-rijpstra/ http://www.dutchperformingarts.com/portraits/2011/06/29/diederik-rijpstra/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:49:01 +0000 Gabri http://www.dutchperformingarts.com/site/?p=1199 BIOGRAPHY: The Dutch Diederik Rijpstra is a relative newcomer to New York, and could be called a promising and original “New Kid on the Block”. He is an unconventional, intuitive and emotional player with a warm and subtle sound. His intriguing compositions are inspired by Radiohead, Philip Glass and sounds from his daily life. His current group with Joost Lijbaart (winner Dutch jazz competition 2002 and a.o. member of Yuri Honing trio), Clemens van der Feen (a.o. semi-finalist of the Thelonious Monk Competition), and Dimitar Bodurov (winnerYoung Pianist Foundation Jazz Competition 2007) is looking for diversity in their music in playful and surprising ways. The Diederik Rijpstra Quartet plays compositions that combine lyricism and intense interactivity. His new album Wampum was released in June 2010. This album also included some duo improvisations with the renowned Eric Vloeimans. Recently Diederik is working as a composer outside of jazz as well. He composed music for a selection of poems of Leo Vroman during the celebration of the poet’s 90th birthday (Amsterdam). He wrote three pieces for the International Holland festival 2009 and composed and editid music for the dance performance ChoreOBJECTograhy (choreography Keeley Walsh, New York). Diederik collaborated with diretor Adrian Hopkins for the short movie “On the Run.” He got some experience of writing for film and commercials at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary music, New York, and took lessons with Gary Pozner (National Geographic) and George Fontenette. Years ago Diederik initiated the founding of QUINCEY, currently one of the most innovative jazz quintets in the Netherlands. They have released their new album Balcony of the Irish Turtle in Februari 2011. In 2004 Diederik toured with the Gideon van Gelder Quartet (winner Princess Christina Concours, finalist Deloitte Jazz Award 2008). Two years later he reached the finals of the Dutch Jazz Competition 2006 with QUINCEY and played with this group at the North Sea Jazz festival. The same year, his great talent clinched him a berth as guest soloist for the Jazz Impulse tour with the popular band Room Eleven. In 2007 he won the Dutch Trust Carnegie Award, which took him to Carnegie Hall, New York, performing with the talented young pianist Jonathan Batiste, known for his work with Wynton Marsalis. Diederik released three CDs with QUINCEY, the latter two got auspicious reviews. Diederik played with several famous Dutch musicians, like Benjamin Herman (winner Boy Edgar Prize) Harmen Fraanje and Jesse van Ruller (winner Thelonious Monk Award) and on stages and festivals like Bimhuis, SJU huis, Beauforthuis, North Sea Jazz festival and The Hague Jazz festival.

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Dutch Performing Arts (DPA): Why did you come to New York? Two years ago I aimed for a further development in trumpet playing and composition. New York has some of the greatest musicians in the world and I decided that I needed to go there. I got a scholarship from the Dutch government and the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and traveled to New York. Besides my study I wanted to play with new people. New York is home to so many great musicians. That makes it easy to find a new and inspiring band. New York is so special because it is so divers. There are modern musicians, traditional musicians, great musicians, bad musicians, weird musicians, normal ones etc. That’s why I came to NY.

PDA: What are the biggest challenges you face here? Getting gigs is not hard. But getting paid for the gigs is hard. Because I was so fortunate to be able to study here with a scholarship I didn’t really worry about money in the past two years. At the moment I am working on getting jobs. I am trying to find jobs in the field of composing for film or documentary. I haven’t really tried it hard due to other work in Holland, but I am sure it will take some effort. Luckily, or unluckily, I am not the only one…

PDA: What do you like about living in NYC? Because many people in New York are ambitious, they work hard. And if they work hard, you work hard. What I like about living in New York is that it makes me productive. Without any problem. I am inspired, I compose faster and I have more ideas. And I can realize those ideas faster. Also the big amount of concerts and art projects are inspiring and give me a feeling of freedom. There is so much to go to and to experience. Every day.

PDA: Do you have any plans for the future? I am working on a new album for my jazz group and will probably record it in November. I would like to play and tour in Europe and do the inspirational work in New York the other half of the year. That would be the ultimate combination. And as I said before, I would like to get some more into film music.

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