Jazz!

A couple of weeks ago I hooked up with one of the major Dutch jazz agents in Holland. It has been my fondest wish for quite a while to do more with jazz music.
This does not mean I will quit my other jobs. It is simply because I love the music so much and I have plenty of ideas. In the coming weeks I will work on some projects which will hopefully have a follow up next summer.
Last week I was introduced to the legendary Toot Thielemans at the Bimhuis. Toots is 88 and still going strong! Wim Cramer is the photographer who was so kind as to take this picture and sent it to me, it has even been published on Toots Thielemans's own website. Thanks, Wim!

Ans van Heck's pictures

It has been a while since my last update. I assisted at Universal's release party of Exile On Main St and am busy with the release of Sticky Fingers. I am in talks with a Dutch agent/production company, so hopefully we can soon start working on some projects together.This takes an awful lot of time and many an hour is spent at the computer, skyping as well as sending e-mails.
My friend Ans van Heck made some stunning pictures at various gigs she attended throughout the past five years and published them on her newly launched website. Ans took some fresh pictures for my website, which will hopefully be restyled soon. The picture in this topic was made by Ans on 18 September. I think she did a wonderful job. Thanks,Ans.

Ben Keith

The sad news of Ben Keith's untimely death reached me while I was holidaying in Spain. Ben suddenly passed away, aged 73. He was a very sweet man, but above all an excellent musician who will be sadly missed by his colleagues. I had the opportunity to do an interview with him in June 2009, when he and the Neil Young band stayed at the Amstel. The interview is on my website. RIP, Ben.(picture : Ben on the left, Rick Rosas on the right)

Writing Dutch press release for UMG

All the Exile final preparations are in full swing! Friday afternoon was spent writing the Dutch text for the Exile On Main Street press release. Universal had asked me to do this. It took me two hours to write it. On Saturday I received a thank-you from Universal.
It seems that the Stones single Plundered My Soul was well-received, as it was a nr 3 entry in the Dutch charts, something that has never happened before. I remember Street of Love(200) and Satisfaction(1965), both nr 5 entries, but Plundered My Soul beat them!
Coming Tuesday evening I will hook up with Universal's team and photographer Dominique Tarlé (photo) , who has been invited to attend Exile's press presentation on Wednesday evening. We have met before at V!psart Gallery in Rotterdam, where he has told me some pretty amazing stories about his life with the Stones in Villa Nellcôte and there is no doubt he will continue to do so on Wednesday!
Now it is back to usual: the coming three days will be spent at school and then it is time for Exile. After that there will be four days off, hurray!

Preparing the Exile press presentation

Yesterday I visited renowned journalist Jan Vollaard(picture), with whom I prepared the Exile popquiz. It took us about an hour to put it all together. Today was spent writing the first draft of the press release. I talked to several Stones fans who had received an invitation. In between I rushed off to the townhall to get myself a new passport....Fortunately there is no school this week.

Exile On Main Street Dutch press presentation

Over the past weeks I have been working for Universal Music, assisting them on the Exile On Main Street release.Its release is due in May,the presentation to the press will take place on the 12th. This week the single Plundered My Soul entered the Dutch charts at nr 4, which equals Satisfaction(1965) and Streets of Love(2006). Next week I will be working with Dutch journalist Jan Vollaard, who will be the presenting the press presentation.
To anyone who is interested in attending this event: Heineken gives away a limited nr of tickets. Click on this link for more info>

Exile On Main Street

This afternoon marked the second meeting with Universal Music about the release of Exile On Main Street, coming May. We discussed some marketing plans and exchanged idea. To be continued.

January , February , March

January was eventful: I went on tour w/Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings to assist on merchandise, starting at Paradiso, Amsterdam, where I took this pic of the soundcheck.

After completing gigs in Germany and Switzerland Bill and band returned to do several gigs in Holland and Belgium. I took this picture at Ede when the band was discussing the setlist, backstage:

In February I was very busy at school and saw Georgie Fame singing in Noordwijk and I went to see Bernard Fowler, who played at Zoetermeer with his IMF(International Motherfuckers, pardon my language), where I took this picture of the band on stage:

In March Chris Jagger paid me an impromptu visit in Amsterdam, discussing future gigs. Tim Ries and I have teamed up with a business contact in Spain, which will hopefully lead to a tour of Spain in the autumn. And I have been approached by Universal Music. I co-organised the press presentation of the Bigger Bang DVD release for them in 2007 and we have been in touch ever since. Right now we are in talks about the re-release of Exile On Main Street. More on that later! There is more to come. Henk Meutgeert is conductor of the renowned Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw; soon we will be in touch about some possible future projects. Henk kindly invited me to attend their concert with Hammond giant Dr Lonnie Smith in the Hague, February 2010, where I had the priviledge to talk to Lonnie Smith:

I filmed bits of the concert , click on this link.

Bill Wyman back in town

Yesterday Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings touched base in Amsterdam . It marked the start of a tour of Holland , Germany and Switzerland. Tonight they will play Paradiso, Amsterdam, with special appearances of Mick Hucknell and Robin Nolan.
I had the priviledge to share a few drinks with Bill, Terry Taylor and Toni Panico at the hotel. Today I will do the merchandise for them at Paradiso.

Bill will be interviewed today for Eén Vandaag(Dutch TV), it will be broadcast tonight.

On Saturday, January 16, the V!P's International Art Gallery in Amsterdam will host a private VIP Reception to celebrate the photographic work of Bill Wyman. (This reception is by invitation only)

More on my upcoming adventures here on my blog in the following days.

Season's Greetings from Amsterdam!

I have been rather quiet on my blog, because over the past two months I have been very busy at school, teaching extra classes. This year at school was closed by the Christmas prom (see pic). I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. This year has been one of fewer activities, but I hope 2010 will be a blast!

School Christmas prom 2009(photo courtesy B.Sluiter)