Joris Teepe Part One (S5 | E246)
Lester the Nightfly is proud to present a special episode featuring the acclaimed bassist Joris Teepe! In part one of a two part series, we dive deep into Teepe’s remarkable career, exploring his versatility as a leader and a sideman through a selection of captivating tracks. From his earliest recordings to his most recent releases, we’ll journey through the evolving sound of a true jazz innovator.
Jazz and the Upright Bass
In 1992 bassist Joris Teepe left his homeland – The Netherlands – to chase his dream of being a jazz musician in New York. He moved into a $300-per-month room in Manhattan. The room was so small that in the daytime the double bass occupied his bed, and Joris had to store it in the shower at night.
He took lessons with Ron Carter, and a year later he recorded his first CD with a band co-led by tenor saxophonist Don Braden. The next six or seven years he found himself working with legends such as Benny Golson, Sonny Fortune, Billy Hart and Randy Brecker.
Up till now, Joris has recorded 22 albums as a leader or co-leader and over 65 as a sideman. His longest stint was with Rashied Ali (John Coltrane’s last drummer), with whom he recorded 5 albums and toured the world between 2000 and 2009. Among other ‘heavy cats’ that Joris performed and recorded with are Barry Harris, Bobby Watson, Tom Harrell, John Abercrombie, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman and Mike Clark, and Dutch masters such as John Engels (who toured with Chet Baker), Benjamin Herman, Eric Ineke and Rob van Bavel.
Here’s our track-by-track breakdown for this week’s show:
“Message To Miles” – Kicking off our episode, we have the title track from Joris Teepe’s latest album, Messages form the Bassist, released on G2 Records on March 28, 2025. This track showcases Teepe’s contemporary vision as a bandleader, offering a fresh perspective while perhaps paying homage to the legendary Miles Davis.
“Whisper Not” – Taking us back in time, this classic track from the 1995 album Bottom Line on Mons Records features Joris Teepe alongside an impressive lineup including Tom Harrell, Don Braden, Darrell Grant, and Carl Allen. This tune highlights Teepe’s foundational role in a straight-ahead jazz setting, demonstrating his strong rhythmic and harmonic support.
“On Green Dolphin Street” – From The Intercontinental Jazz Trio’s album Evidence, released on April 6, 2015, via TMA Records, this track features Teepe as part of a dynamic trio. This rendition of the jazz standard likely emphasizes the interplay and communication between the musicians, with Teepe’s bass providing the crucial anchor.
NOTES:
‘Whisper Not’ and ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ both highlight Joris’ arranging skills. He played Whisper Not very often with Benny Golson (the composer), but Bennry never did this specific arrangement.
In “On ‘Green Dolphin St,’ Joris used the rhythms of ‘Evidence’ (composition by Monk) which makes it complex to play, but very exciting.
“Brooklyn” – This track from The Brooklyn Sessions by Marko Churnchetz, Joris Teepe, and Billy Hart, released on September 20, 2019, on Jazztribes, offers a glimpse into a more contemporary and perhaps exploratory side of Teepe’s work. With Churnchetz and Hart, this piece likely showcases intricate rhythmic ideas and modern improvisational approaches.
“Bag’s Groove” – From Steve Nelson, Joris Teepe, and Eric Ineke’s album A Common Language, released on April 1, 2024, on Daybreak Records, this track revisits a jazz classic. This interpretation undoubtedly demonstrates Teepe’s deep understanding of the jazz tradition, providing a swinging and supportive foundation for the vibraphone and drums.
“Our Time” – “Our Time” was composed by Teepe. It appears on Steve Johns’ album Mythology, released on January 17, 2025, on SteepleChase, is a fantastic example of Teepe’s sought-after sideman work. His presence on this track underscores his reputation as a reliable and tasteful collaborator in the modern jazz scene. This tune, ‘Our Time,’ is a ‘contrafact’ on the well know classic jazz standard ‘Just in Time.’
“The American Dream” – Concluding our journey, we have “The American Dream” from Joris Teepe’s album The American Dream Today, released on August 1, 2024, on Planet Arts Recordings. This closing track likely provides a powerful and reflective statement from Teepe, showcasing his current artistic direction and perhaps offering a commentary on contemporary themes.
More music forthcoming – nearly always for Joris Teepe – keep track of his progress on Instagram and at his website: joristeepe.com
| Track Name | Album Name | Artist Name(s) | Release Date | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Message To Miles | Messages from the Bassist | Joris Teepe | 3/28/25 | G2 Records |
| Whisper Not | Bottom Line | Joris Teepe,Tom Harrell,Don Braden,Darrell Grant,Carl Allen, Arrangement by Joris Teepe | 1995 | Mons Records |
| On Green Dolphin Street | Evidence | The Intercontinental Jazz Trio, Arrangement by Joris Teepe | 4/6/15 | Tma Records |
| Brooklyn | The Brooklyn Sessions | Marko Churnchetz,Joris Teepe,Billy Hart | 9/20/19 | Jazztribes |
| Bag’s Groove | A Common Language | Steve Nelson,Joris Teepe,Eric Ineke | 4/1/24 | Daybreak Records |
| Our Time | Mythology | Steve Johns, Arrangement: Joris Teepe (contrafact of jazz classic “Just in Time”) | 1/17/25 | SteepleChase |
| Sidewalks in Motion | In the Spirit of Rashied Ali | Joris Teepe | 9/7/18 | Jazztribes |
| The American Dream | The American Dream Today | Joris Teepe | 8/1/24 | Planet Arts Recordings |
