Michiel Braam
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Michiel Braam (born 17 May 1964 in Nijmegen) is a Dutch Jazz-Pianist and Composer.
He studied at the ArtEZ School of Music in Arnhem, where he currently is head of the Jazz & Pop dept. In 1986 he founded 2 bands: Bik Bent Braam (with Angelo Verploegen, Eric Boeren, Wolter Wierbos, Peter Haex, Carl-Ludwig Hübsch, Peter van Bergen, Jan Willem van der Ham, Bart van der Putten, Frans Vermeerssen, Frank Gratkowski, Wilbert de Joode, Michael Vatcher) en Bentje Braam.
In 1987 Michiel Braam was commissioned by the (NOS). He composed a work for 4 clarinets and piano entitled Cows and Beasts. It was performed by Braam on piano, and the clarinet players Ab Baars, Theo Jörgensmann, Michael Moore and Louis Sclavis. In 1989 he founded Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher (with Wilbert de Joode and Michael Vatcher) and in 2005 Michiel Braam's Wurli Trio (with Pieter Douma and Dirk-Peter Kölsch.
Together with Frans Vermeerssen he co-leads the sextet All Ears (with Herb Robertson, Frank Gratkowski, Wilbert de Joode and Michael Vatcher). He worked also with musicians like George Lewis, Benjamin Herman, Han Bennink, Conny and Johannes Bauer and Steve Argüelles.
The orchestra Bik Bent Braam is considered to be one of the main bigger orchestras in the field of improvisation-music and performs worldwide, as does the trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher.
In 2007 Braam composed Nopera, a sort of music theatre piece in which the written parts could be performed at random and contained lots of room for improvisation, and the libretto was written in the Nothingyettish language.
In 1988 Braam was honoured with the Podium prize and in 1997 he got Dutch most important jazz prize, the VPRO/Boy Edgar Prijs.
[edit] Compositions
De Parkeermeterfabriek for Big Band (Music Meeting 1986) - De AABA suite for Big Band (Gelderland 1986) - Fortunato's & Ontspoord for music theatre (Hof 1986/87) - Zebees, Stuk voor piano & ensemble and Annoyed Art for Ereprijs (1986 / 1987 / 1988) - De Straat for choir & impro-sextet (Ijselfestival 1987) - Achtervolging for 4 marimba's (Michi marimba 4tet 1987) - De asbak raakt vol, maar de lekken zijn gedicht for bassclarinet (Hein Peijnenburg 1988) - Koeien en beesten for 4 clarinets and piano (NOS 1988) - Eet smakelijk!, Wat heb je zelf in de hand? en Met Gemengde gevoelens for Bentje Braam (1988/1989/1990) - Metamorfose for piano (Musictheatre Spelbeeld 1989) - Het wrede bestaan v.e. triangelaar for Big Band (1989) - Zazatjboem for bassclarinet & percussion (Tandem 1990) - Het voorchrift for 12 musicians (W.I.M. 1990) - Opera 'Pias en Akki' for 2 keyboards (Deventer 1991) - Mozart of zoiets for 14 exprovisors and 4 improvisors ( 1991) - Frslt for Orchestra (Volharding 1992) - 9 Stukken for Bentje Braam plus 4 clarinets (Kunsthuis 13 Velp 1992) - Inktvis for Kladderadatsch (Fanfare vd eerste liefdesnacht 1992) - Sopraantje, an operette for vocal & 11 musicians (Hoge School vd Kunsten Arnhem 1993) - Flexitunes for John Engels Flextet (1993) - Levend Blauw for bassclarinet & piano (1993) - Blues in Effe Denken for altosax (1994) - Piccolo for Kladderadatsch (Gentse Feesten België 1994) - Neem 7, geef 8, dan 5 for Bik Bent Braam (Bimhuis 1994) - Second Coolbook for Bentje Braam (Birmingham Jazz Engeland 1995) - Het XYZ der BBB for Bik Bent Braam (1995) - Brasilia (arrangement after Loevendie) for Nieuw Ensemble (1995) - Getijden for Septet Braam (NPS Klap op de Vuurpijl 1995) - Jungle Book Suite for Septet Braam (1996) - De toestand, de moord en de achtervolging for Xenakis stringquartet (CNM Middelburg 1997) - Een potje Gershwinnen (arr after Gershwin) for Calefax reedquintet plus Denise Jannah (Calefax 1997) - Verzoeknummers for Bik Bent Braam (1997) - The Hobbit for Calefax plus piano (NPS 1998) - Zwart Wit for Bik Bent Braam (1998) - Tivoccatajanssen (spreek snel uit) for piano (Ivo Janssen 1998) - Worms is Back for piano (Marcel Worms 1998) - Alle 13 goed!! for Bik Bent Braam (1999) - The Hotbooklet for Bentje Braam (1999) - Jazzine Jansen for violin (Gaudeamus 1999) - Globe Orchestra for Stg Andere Muziek (1999) - Kwertie for male vocal quartet (Mezzo Macho 2000) - Opbouwende kritiek for 2 turnlyres and accoordion (Appelation Controlee 2000) - Flexplain for Bentje Braam (2000) - Colors for Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher (2001) - Bik Bent Braam Goes Bonsai (2002) - Foamy Wife Hum for All Ears (2003) - Growing Pains for Bik Bent Braam (2003). - Change This Song for trio BraamDeJoodevatcher and Michiel Braam's Wurli Trio (2004) - 13 Concerten for Bik Bent Braam (2005) – Nopera for Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher, Zapp strings and 3 singers (2006) - Flex, de stenen gast for mixed ensemble (ArtEZ 2006).
[edit] Discography
- Oeps! (Solo, 1989)
- Bentje Braam (1990)
- Rompiendo La Rutina (European Danzón Orchestra, 1991)
- Howdy! (Bik Bent Braam, 1993)
- Jazzs (Two Penguins in the desert, 1994)
- One For Rahsaan (Frans Vermeerssen Quintet, 1995)
- Het XYZ der Bik Bent Braam (1996)
- Niet met de deuren slaan (Bo's Art Trio, 1997)
- Monk Materials (Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher, 1990) / Playing the second Coolbook (Bentje Braam, 1998)
- Zwart Wit (Bik Bent Braam, 1999)
- 13 (Bik Bent Braam, 2000)
- Colors (Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher, 2002)
- Bik Bent Braam Goes Bonsai (2002)
- Foamy Wife Hum/Line (All Ears, 2003)
- Michiel vs Braam (Solo, 2004)
- Growing Pains (Bik Bent Braam, 2004)
- Cobra (Bo's Art Trio, 2002/2004)
- Hosting Changes (Michiel Braam's Wurli Trio, 2006)
- Change this Song (Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher, 2006)
