"jesse Ruller"

The pianist Ramón Valle has lived in the Netherlands for years. In 2006, he had long since returned to his native Cuba when he was asked to write a composition for classical guitarist Esther Steenbergen. He called the piece Molinas which means something like Mills. While he was composing he was inundated with memories of the Netherlands. He felt that the years he spent on Dutch soil clearly left their mark on the way he developed himself as a musician and artist. Thus the idea developed to release Flashes From Holland. It shows how a Cuban who at first does not speak the Dutch language feels, and is slowly becoming more and more established. The relaxed Cuban life collides with the hectic feeling of a metropolis like Amsterdam where tourists get in each other's way, but slowly both cultures unite to form a steadfast feeling of habituation. Valle knows how to interpret this in a phenomenal way and enlisted the help of guitarist Jesse van Ruller for extra Dutch impulses.

A strong modern mainstream set, animated by Clarence Penn's powerful drumming and leadership. Trumpeter John Swana and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake make up the front line, with bassist Rodney Whitaker and the promising guitarist Jesse Van Ruller completing the rhythm section. There's an emphasis on original music by the band: Penn contributes three tunes, and Whitaker, Swana, and Blake each offer one. But the band opens with Thelonious Monk's minor-key swinger "Teo" and also plays a beautiful "You Must Believe in Spring."

The European Jazz Trio, comprising Marc van Roon on Piano, Frans van der Hoeven on bass and Roy Dackus on drums has been recording and performing since 1995, when it released a CD of Beatles' songs in fresh arrangements. On each album, the trio has taken songs in every style, shape and color, and has given them a jazz interpretation. For the trio 'Jazz' means to have the freedom to combine and mix styles, melodies, sounds and rhythms to create something fresh and surprising. The European Jazz Trio pushes the envelope of jazz music by adding to it its own sound and rhythm, a result of the music that has influenced the trio's members. With every song the trio records the main focus is on the essence and the inner beauty of the composition.