Karel Boehlee is a striking name in this list. The pianist/composer is at home in hard bop, fusion and Brazilian music. He got acquainted with the last genre through formation Batida. For a while Boehlee also performed with fusion group Face to Face, including Toon Roos. He recorded five CD's for Japanese Alfa Records label with the European Jazz Trio, Roy Dackus and Frans van der Hoeven. Two of these were released in The Netherlands. Lately Boehlee often worked together with Toots Thielemans, with whom he toured jazz clubs in Japan and Europe. And more recently he performed at North Sea Jazz in Capetown. Boehlee is a member of the Jesse van Ruller Quartet and the Toon Roos Quartet. At the last festival edition he performed with both groups. Furthermore Boehlee teaches piano at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
The CD-series Jazz at the Pinehill contains solo recordings by ten famous Dutch pianists. Six of them, Jan Huydts, Karel Boehlee, Rob Madna, Frans Elsen, Rob van Bavel and Bert van den Brink, will be performing at the festival Escher Hall. Small private sessions in an old basement, turned into a studio, in Leersum were the inspiration for Jazz at the Pinehill. A select audience enjoyed the memorable performances in an intimate environment. For some pianists this was their first solo-CD recording.
