Survival is the Progressive / Symphonic rock project of Dutch multi-instrumentalist and composer Jack Langevelt. A huge fan of the Seventies Symphonic Rock (a.o. Trace, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Ekseption, The Nice) and admirer of the deceased Dutch keyboard virtuoso Rick van der Linden. Survival existed as a band between 1981 and 1997, although Jack continued making music under the name Survival. Recently Survival has been reactivated and in 2008 they released their first official album Crusader on Musea Records.
Jack Langevelt was born on the fifth of August 1954 in Rotterdam, Holland. In his early childhood he had warm feelings for Classical music ( a.o. Bach, Mozart, Chopin). After hearing Air (by Ekseption) he fell in love with the music of Rick van der Linden. Ekseption, Trace, The Nice and Emerson, Lake & Palmer were his major influences. This Symphonic Music highlighted his favourite instruments: Hammond organ and piano. After he had some piano lessons, he studied at the Rotterdam School of Arts (1971). At the same time he started his musical career as a drummer in various groups and styles. In 1980 he switched to his first love: keyboard playing in Symphonic Rock Music. He formed his own group Survival. With this group (1981–1997) he developed his ideas in his own compositions which were a synthesis of classical, rock and jazz music. In 1997 Survival split up, but Jack continued making music under his name and the name Survival. For two years Jack developed a more intuitive style of music, played and composed only by himself. The result was the album The Final Chapter(1999). For the next two years he was occupied creating his own Recording Studio (BJT Studio's). With this studio he saw no limitations anymore for creating, composing and producing his music on a level that was more to his satisfaction. With the help of vocalist Linda Maarseveen and guitar players David Dexter (from the UK), Mario Roelofsen (Purple Rainbow) and Jan Peter Eerenberg (Thijs van Leer Band) he recorded more than 30 songs. As a result he made 2 Progressive/Symphonic/Classic rock albums: Con Brio and Montgisard (self-released).
The album Crusader, officially released by Musea in 2008, is the final and uncompromised result of all this work.
Contents |