It was an instant hit. Different generations, different musical worlds and yet such a powerful chemistry between these Dutch jazz giants. Alto saxophonist Benjamin Herman (1968), pianist Peter Beets (1971), drummer Han Bennink (1942), and legendary bassist Ruud Jacobs (1938) played seven of the late Misha Mengelberg’s compositions on New Year’s day 2013 in the Utrecht venue Tivoli. It sounded like they had never done anything else. And it soon became clear that the boisterous pieces by Mengelberg could be brought to life by such a mixed company after all, swinging away. Compositions like Hypochristmastreefuzz, The Romantic Jump Of Hares and The Laughing Dwarf are no problem for this quartet. They play Mengelberg’s compositions in the way that suits them best. This certainly goes for iconic drummer Han Bennink; no wonder: he worked with Mengelberg all his life. A fine album was produced (Quartet-NL), and since that time the foursome, which now includes master bassist Ernst Glerum, has toured successfully as The Quartet.NL.
