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Joris Teepe Peace on Earth (S5 | E247)
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 24 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:
THE PRINCESS AND THE MONSTER – ALBUM: Going Dutch – 2005 – Randy Brecker (Trumpet Flugelhorn), Don Braden Tenor Sax, George Colligan Piano, Gene Jackson Drums – “Going Dutch” is a vibrant and modern jazz album that blends original compositions with fresh interpretations of jazz classics. The title itself is a playful nod to Joris Teepe’s Dutch heritage while leading a top-tier New York-based band.
GOODBYE PORKPIE HAT – ALBUM: Conversations – with Don Braden – 2017 – “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” was composed by the legendary jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus. He wrote the instrumental piece in 1959 as an elegy for the great tenor saxophonist Lester Young, who had passed away shortly before the recording. Young was known for his distinctive pork pie hats, which became a signature part of his image. The album “Conversations” is a collaborative effort between bassist Joris Teepe and saxophonist Don Braden. It’s a significant recording that highlights their long-standing musical partnership, which spans over three decades. Conversations” is aptly named, as it’s a testament to the deep musical dialogue and “telepathic” communication between Teepe and Braden. The album’s concept draws influence from legendary chordless trios, most notably those led by Sonny Rollins. By omitting a piano or guitar, the album emphasizes the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic interaction between the bass, saxophone, and drums. This allows for greater freedom and improvisation, forcing the musicians to imply harmony and navigate the musical landscape with heightened awareness of each other.
FOR ADULTS ONLY – ALBUM: For Adults Only – 2000 – with Chris Potter & David Hazeltime – Concept and Musical Style: “For Adults Only” captures a live performance, at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City, creating an energetic and interactive atmosphere. The album highlights the strengths of the quintet format, particularly the “dueling” or complementary saxophones. “For Adults Only” was widely praised by jazz critics. Reviewers highlighted the stellar performances by all musicians, particularly the synergy between Potter and Braden, Teepe’s strong compositions, and the album’s overall swinging and sophisticated hard bop aesthetic. It was seen as a strong statement from Joris Teepe early in his leadership career.
ALONE TOGETHER – ALBUM: Songbird – 2003 – Deborah Brown – The album “Songbird” by jazz vocalist Deborah Brown is a notable release that showcases her expressive voice and her ability to interpret both standards and original material with depth. It’s also significant for its personnel, including contributions from bassist Joris Teepe. “Songbird” presents a collection of jazz standards and a couple of original compositions, allowing Deborah Brown to demonstrate her vocal range, improvisational skills, and emotional delivery. Deborah Brown is known for her soulful and agile voice, and on “Songbird,” she navigates the melodies with precision and feeling. Her interpretations are often lauded for their freshness and the way she makes each song her own. “Songbird” is considered a solid album in Deborah Brown’s extensive discography, highlighting her continued excellence as a jazz vocalist and her fruitful collaboration with Joris Teepe and the accompanying musicians.
PEACE ON EARTH – ALBUM: Rhythms & Rhymes – 2001 – Fay Claassen – The album was well-received, particularly noted for Fay Claassen’s elegant and refined vocal performances and the quality of the musicianship from her collaborators. It helped establish her international presence as a jazz vocalist. Mr. Teepe composed “Peace on Earth” a few days after 9/11/2001 and produced this track. Boris Koslov plays the bass,. This track also features Mike Stern.
FAKE NEWS, ALBUM: “The American Dream Today” 2024 is a very recent and significant album by Dutch-American bassist and composer Joris Teepe. It reflects his experiences and observations after over three decades living and working in the United States.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Princess and the Monster | We Take No Prisoners | Joris Teepe Big Band,Joris Teepe | 9/4/09 | Challenge Records |
| Almost Lucky | We Take No Prisoners | Joris Teepe Big Band,Joris Teepe | 9/4/09 | Challenge Records |
| Goodbye Porkpie Hat | Conversations | Joris Teepe,Don Braden | 2/17/17 | Indielabel |
| For Adults Only | For Adults Only | Joris Teepe,Chris Potter,David Hazeltine,Don Braden,Bruce Cox | 5/13/22 | Postcards Records |
| Alone Together | Songbird | Deborah Brown | 6/3/03 | Jazz ‘N Pulz |
| Peace on Earth | Rhythms & Rhymes | Fay Claassen | 3/23/08 | Jazz N Pulz |
| Fake News | The American Dream Today | Joris Teepe | 8/1/24 | Planet Arts Recordings |
