INDEPENDENT WEBMAGAZINE
PROG JAZZ ROCK WORLD FUSION ZEUHL ECM EVM
Reviews, Interviews and Articles in Dutch and English
• Storm Bakker & Robin Boer [PJ © 2018-2021] •
SPECIAL | 4 | Ton Scherpenzeel | REVIEW Velvet Armour | Storm Bakker
INTERVIEW | PAYKUNA | Demian Coca | Robin Boer
REVIEW | ZAPPA | A film by Alex Winter (2) | Kelvin Hogarth
INTERVIEW | SIVAN ARBEL | Sonic Change | Robin Boer
IN MEMORIAM | JAMES MAC GAW (Magma) | Storm Bakker
Album | WILLEM! | In Contrast | Storm Bakker
Album | BONSAI PANDA | Short Term Memory Music | Storm Bakker
Album | FRANCESCA REMIGI | Archipélagos | Storm Bakker
CONCERTS
BOBO STENSON TRIO | North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam | Storm Bakker
ESTAFEST & SANNE RAMBAGS | TivoliVredenburg | Storm Bakker
RELEASES
ARTICLES
AND YOU ARE...? | Sun-Mi Hong (portrait)
02/09/21 20.30u | Duycker Hoofddorp | Dutch X-ing
03/10/21 15.30u | FarmStead Jazzclub | Jeroen Pek Upcycle
10/10/21 15.00u | Stadsgehoorzaal Vlaardingen | Stormvogel
IN MEMORIAM
JAMES MAC GAW (MAGMA)
Last March 8 the French-Scottish guitarist James Mac Gaw passed away. He has been the guitarist from the illustrious vocal jazzrock group Magma from July 1997 (Nice Jazz Festival) to June 2015 (Osaka, Japan). Together with bassist Philippe Buissonnet he became the backbone of the born again phenomenon, flanking leader Christian Vander (drums/vocals), always ready, delivering everywhere. The tandem soon became very involved and with their telepathic connection and rhythmic synergy, ‘Bubu’ & James formed the ideal companions for the adventurous and unpredictable master drummer. Thus the young men were at the cradle of Magma's come-back, which led to almost endless world tours and countless albums.
With his great musicality, versatile playing and dexterous technique, his developed guitar sound and control over his FX-board, James Mac Gaw was the ultimate and complete guitarist for Magma. In addition to his mindblowing guitar work and dazzling solos, his absolute hearing, theoretical knowledge and musical training, James (together with vibraphonist Benoît Alziary), provided scores of the masterpieces of the genius Vander, who himself never entrusted a note to the paper.
With his 17 years of service, he was in any case one of the most loyal members of the band, which is characterized by an ever-changing line-up. James has participated in hundreds of concerts, dozens of studio and live albums and DVDs and sometimes he added workshops to the performances. He toured tirelessly with Magma and One Shot (a jazz rock formation with Magma members), until he was attacked in 2015 by an aggressive brain tumor. He survived the operation and embarked on the fight of his life, an unfair fight that ended in early 2021.
In december 2020 James Mac Gaw produced his farewell album called 'La Fin des Temples', a tribute to his friend and leader Christian Vander. A beautiful echo of everything that Zeuhl has become known for. Christian Vander posthumously wrriting to his eternal friend James, calls it “the ultimate message; a celestial hymn that connects us to your new universe…” Stella Vander, singer of Magma, salutes James as her charming friend and a real 'Son of Magma', but above all a musical wizard who created osmosis. "Loosing James was very hard for all of us..."
James Mac Gaw in Nijmegen, The Netherlands MUSIC MEETING 2010 | Photo © Hans Speekenbrink
July 6, 2021, Rick Laird (80) | In Memoriam Guitarworld
March 18, 2021. Paul Jackson (71) | In Memoriam NPR
March 8, 2021. James Mac Gaw | In Memoriam LOUDER
March 1, 2021. Ralph Peterson (58) | In Memoriam JAZZ.FM
February 9, 2021. Chick Corea (78) | In Memoriam JAZZIZ
April 15, 2020. Lee Konitz (92) | In Memoriam DOWNBEAT
February 10, 2020. Lyle Mays (66) | In Memoriam DOWNBEAT
January 18, 2018. Didier Lockwood (62 | In Memoriam PROGJAZZ
April 15, 2017. Allan Holdsworth (70) | In Memoriam THE GUARDIAN
January 30, 2017 | John Wetton (67) | In Memoriam ROLLING STONE
STORM BAKKER
Veelzijdige schrijver over muziek en geschiedenis, actief voor magazines als Jazzism, De Nieuwe Muze, ProgJazz, Jazz aan de Amer, en sporadisch Jazzenzo, Draai om je Oren, Jazzpodium/Cultuurpodium e.a.. Actief geweest als redacteur voor regionale media, ondermeer als interim hoofdredacteur voor de Baarnsche Courant. Sinds 2017 actief als programmamaker en presentator voor Eemland1 / RTV Baarn, als opvolger voor vriend en toeverlaat wijlen Cees Schrama.
Als docent actief (geweest) aan diverse conservatoria, kunstencentram academies en muziekscholen, op het gebied van cultureel ondernemen, creatve design, piano, combo, analoge synthesizer, polyritmiek, muziektheorie en -geschiedenis. Van 2006 tot en met 2014 organisator van het jaarlijkse Festival de Muzen in Eemland. Als medewerker tekst & design actief voor Amersfoort Jazz festival van 2007-2014, BUMA-JazzNL 2009-2013, en als hoofd promotie en fondsenwerver voor Amersfoort Jazz 2017-2020.
Als uitvoerend musicus/componist en concertorganisator actief met Alter Ego Jazzbarcok Consort, Bohemian Groove Orchestra, Eemsaga, Barditus en diverse jazz en fusion-ensembles. Als sideman op keyboards/piano in o.a. Tommy Smith KARMA, Leo Janssen Group, Lucas van Merwijk's Music Machine, Wieke Garcia Group, PitchWhiteStorm, Nabil Khemir, Naked Ears, Amsterdelics, Marc Scholten en Twan van Gerven.
ROBIN BOER
Sinds 2018 actief als schrijver over muziek, exclusief voor ProgJazz magazine. Boer is gespecialiseerd in prog- en jazzrock, beschikt over een immense platencollectie alsmede een encyclopedische kennis van de moderne muziekgeschiedenis.
Boer beklimt als zanger/toetsenist de podia met de spraakmakende Zappa-tributeband 2000Motels en als sideman in Stormvogel's Alter Ego. Hij maakt furore in binnen- en buitenland met zijn melodieuze progrockproject Lunar Clock. Het eerste album 'The Scream Of Nature' (2020) wordt enthousiast onthaald door magazines als ProgWereld en ProgArchives, alsmede toonaangevende magazines in Italië, Duitsland en Spanje.
GAST REDACTEURS
René van Delft
Kristina Simonyan
Laurent Sprooten
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Onno Witte
Olaf Blaauw