The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble is a brand-new all-star quintet, with five of the Netherlands' most ingenious young artists. Founder is guitarist Reinier Baas, who opts for a raw and unpolished sound. The group has many influence, ranging from Maurice Ravel to Lennie Tristano, and from Ornette Coleman to the Arctic Monkeys. The lineup of The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble is very special and includes, among others, the well-known sax player Ben van Gelder. But the key ingredient remains the well-considered compositions, firmly based on the truly sublime rhythms of drummer Mark Schilders and bassist Sean Fasciani. Definitions like "elusive" and "eclectic" spring to mind, but nowhere does the group lose track of its original course. The ensemble's self-titled debut album consists of a mixture of original Baas compositions, compositions of Ravel and brave interpretations of American Songbook standards.
