Peter Beets Trio - First Date

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:40
Size: 119,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. Blues for the Date
(6:12)  2. Tricotism
(5:11)  3. Bebop
(6:37)  4. Con Alma
(8:12)  5. It has Happened
(6:38)  6. Degage
(5:53)  7. Groovin' High
(6:44)  8. First Song

Peter Beets has shared the stage with jazz greats like Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Chris Potter and John Clayton. He recorded with Jeff Hamilton and Curtis Fuller and in 2001 his recording "New York Trio" was released, which brought him international acclaim. Peter Beets was born on the 12th of June, 1971 in the Hague. From birth he was surrounded by music: classical from his mother who is a music pedagogue, and jazz from his father who is a gynaecologist with a great love of Oscar Peterson and Art Blakey. This musical family, which includes two older brothers, Marius and Alexander, moved in 1972 to Groenlo, where Peter received his first piano lessons at the age of six. Although originally both parents did not associate the word "musician" with the word "career", music is definitely in the family's blood. Both Marius (1966) and Alexander (1968) become professionals on string bass and tenor saxophone, respectively. After college, Peter studied from 1989 at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He combined his music studies with law school, but the jazz virus matured and he decided to concentrate exclusively on music. From 1985 the brothers performed together as “The Beets Brothers”. In 1988 Peter won the prestigious Pall Mall Swing Award and a year later the Princess Christina Award. After this point, Peter's career began to rise rapidly. In 1990 the first recording of The Beets Brothers appeared, followed by two more, School is Closed Now (1993) and Brotherwise (1995). In 1996, Peter recorded a remarkable trio album called “First Date”, with drummer Jeff Hamilton, the driving force behind Monty Alexander and Oscar Peterson. Peter became a much wanted pianist both inside and outside the Netherlands, and accompanied, among others, Deborah Brown, Dee Daniels and Holland's "First Lady of Jazz", Rita Reys. In 1998 he finished his conservatory studies, and won the Parisian Prix Martial Solal. He also became the regular pianist of “The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw”. With trombone and jazz legend Curtis Fuller, Peter made a live recording in 1999 and won in that same year yet another prize, the Concours de Solistes de Jazz in Monaco.

More recordings follow: in 2000 “Powerhouse”, in 2001 “All Or Nothing At All” In 2001 he recorded the CD “New York Trio”, with the rhythm tandem Rodney Whitaker and Willie Jones III, the first CD of Peter Beets recorded on the Criss Cross label. After the sequel,  “New York Trio Page Two” recorded with the world-famous Larry Grenadier on bas he made a third CD for the label Criss Cross. This time with Reginald Veal on bass and drummer Herlin Riley, known from the group around Wynton Marsalis. In October 2007 his most recent CD appears on the renowned label. This time he chooses to perform without drums, but with the strength of piano, guitar and bass. The CD, called “New Groove”, is recorded in New York featuring Joe Cohn (guitar) and Reuben Rogers (bass). A few songs are recorded with a dutch cast, Martijn van Iterson (guitar) and Ruud Jacobs (bass). Peter has had very successful tours with his trio in several countries in Europe such as Germany, Switzerland, Finland and Poland as well as in Japan and the US. He played at the famous Birdland Club in New York as a “special guest” for one week.

Personnel:  Peter Beets - piano;  Marius Beets - bass;  Jeff Hamilton - drums

First Date

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Lils Mackintosh - Black Girl

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:53
Size: 115,2 MB
Art: Front

(0:22)  1. Intro
(4:03)  2. Black girl
(3:09)  3. Shorty George
(3:13)  4. Bottle up and go
(3:22)  5. Ledbetter
(3:07)  6. Relax your mind
(3:42)  7. Slavery is still around
(2:50)  8. Goodnight my teen
(4:34)  9. Backwater blues
(4:41) 10. Take this hammer
(1:32) 11. Bring a little water
(3:12) 12. Silver city bound
(3:08) 13. Hurt me
(3:35) 14. Good morning blues
(5:16) 15. Take this hammer (instrumental)

Lils Mackintosh (Amsterdam, June 11, 1955) is a Dutch singer, composer, actress and writer. At seventeen she was talent-scouted by the Dutch actor Jack Monkau and traded a formal education for a career in music. Being the daughter of two parents in the music industry, a career along that road seemed a natural step to take. Lils became a professional singer with the acceptance of a role in the musical 'Hair'. Next she played key roles in the Dutch rock opera 'Ik, Jan Cremer' and the high profile musical 'Barnum'. Lils then decided to become more experienced as a lead singer and played in different rock and hardrock bands. She also toured on a regular basis. One of the highlights was an extended tour in Sudan, Kuwait and Egypt. This was also the period in her career where she had the honor to perform with jazz legends like Oscar Peterson and B.B. King. In 1977, Lils released her first jazz single, a cover version of the Rogers & Hart classic 'My Funny Valentine'. Winning the 1990 'Vocalistenprijs' at the Dutch Jazzconcours in Breda lead to a significant career change. Lils then decided to specialize in jazz music. She started to perform extensively in Europe and the United States and was a regular performer at the legendary North Sea Jazz Festival. In 1993 she released her debut album, ‘It’s not perfect to be easy’. She received recognition for this album with the nomination for an Edison Jazz Award. Two more albums were released in this period: 'This is the strangest life I've ever known' is released in 1994, followed by 'Seasons', in 1997.

Being an artist with the desire to develop and transform, Lils took a different take on her career when she formed the 'Lils Mackintosh & The Swing Cats' band in 1998. This period also marked the return to the theatre, with the 'Jazznight' theatre tour, together with the Beets Brothers, the Stylus Horns and the Rosenberg Trio. Her fourth studio album, 'Black girl' produced by the renowned saxophone player Hans Dulfer, is a tribute to the American blues singer and guitar player Huddie Ledbetter. The album was released in 1999 and made a big impression in the jazz scene. This, in turn, lead to Lils' first Edison Jazz Award. Published on multi-channel SACD in 2002, Lils' first live endeavor was a recording session at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam, in front of a live audience. The album, named 'In the wee small hours of the morning' was well received by both critics and audiophiles. That same year the Beets Brothers released the first ever Dutch jazz DVD, featuring Lils and Hans Dulfer. A close collaboration with saxophone player Wouter Kiers, lead to the release of the concept album 'Comes love' in 2005. All of the songs deal with different aspects of love and relationships. After a period of extensive touring in Europe, Lils released the album 'About crazy'. This 2008 album is an intimate portrait of an artist who has seen significant ups and downs in her personal life. Lils also used the classic Hammond organ to create a distinctive moody and melancholic sound. The album coincidentally marked the start of her long term collaboration with the Dutch saxophone player Clous van Mechelen. The release of the 2010 album 'A fine romance' is an audiophile's delight. This was actually a remastering of Lils' debut album. In this version, extra care was taken in finding the right balance between voice and band, and achieving the highest possible sound quality. 

The album is a classic demo disc for the demonstration of high end audio systems.  Lils Mackintosh is an award winning jazz- and blues singer and is considered one of the most distinguished artists in the Dutch jazz scene. Lils has worked with the likes of Oscar Peterson, B.B. King, Scott Hamilton, Rita Reys, het Rosenberg Trio, Cor Bakker, Madeline Bell, Hans Dulfer, Candy Dulfer, Louis van Dijk, The Beets Brothers, Georgie Fame and the Dutch Swing College Band. Lils has also worked on different projects as an actress and voice-over performer. She has done numerous commercials, some of which have become quite famous in the Netherlands.http://www.lilsmackintosh.nl/lils-eng-biografie.htm

Personnel:  Vocals, Arranged By – Lils Mackintosh;  Double Bass – Frans van Geest;  Drums – Hans Dekker;  Piano, Arranged By – Peter Beets;  Tenor Saxophone – Alexander Beets, Hans Dulfer (tracks: 10, 12, 15);  Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Arranged By – Jan Wessels

Black Girl

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The Beets Brothers - A World Class Jazz-Act

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:07
Size: 135.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. Thirteen Ain't Too Much
[5:00] 2. Black Orpheus
[3:10] 3. I've Got The World On A String
[4:57] 4. 6,-6,5
[6:57] 5. Berliner Waltz
[4:33] 6. Blues For Stephanie
[5:03] 7. It Might As Well Be Spring
[4:56] 8. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
[6:20] 9. Moanin'
[4:46] 10. Tristity
[5:06] 11. Love For Sale
[4:38] 12. Whisper Not

Alexander Beets - tenor sax, Peter Beets - piano, Marius Beets - bass, Wim Holthaus - drums, Geja Griek - vocals. Recorded: 3 and 25 March 1990.

The Beets Brothers are from Groenlo, a small town east of The Netherlands. Their music is sixties style jazz, but it is all fresh and new in appeal. They gave their first performance in 1983 and in 1985, they were discovered at the Doetinchem Jazz Festival. During the same year, they appeared on many radio and jazz television programs throughout Europe gaining more and more popularity. Their success continued, winning the "Rein Gieling Trophy" for the most original and promising jazz band. They also won awards at N.O.S. Jazz Festival and the Polaroid Jazz Festival in Enschede and began playing at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague in 1990.

Concert performances have taken the Beets Brothers throughout Europe, America, China, Finland and Curacao. More recently, they have been invited to give a concert tour in South Africa. They just celebrated their 15-year jubilee by re-releasing the sixth pressing of their first album. They presently have five CDs to their credit, The Beets Brothers 1990, School is Closed Now 1993 (dedicated to Art Blakey), In the New World 1993, Brotherwise 1995 and First Date in 1997 recorded with Jeff Hamilton. There's not a bad one in the lot!

A World Class Jazz-Act

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Peter Beets - New York Trio - Page Two

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:02
Size: 128,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. The Groove Merchant
(3:22)  2. Paradox
(7:19)  3. For Simon
(9:24)  4. Without A Song
(7:12)  5. It Has Happened
(4:41)  6. So What / Impressions
(8:01)  7. Chelsea Bridge/Upper Manhattan Medical Group
(5:01)  8. In a Hazy Mood
(6:04)  9. Night Mist Blues

Although he's recorded with such American jazz masters as Curtis Fuller and Jeff Hamilton, Dutch pianist Peter Beets is just starting to make a name for himself on the international scene. While the first Criss Cross appearance of his New York Trio brought critical raves and fanfares, "Page Two" is sure to bring Beets an even wider audience. This time around, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Willie Jones III complete the trio as they explore a varied program of originals and standards from the pens of Sonny Rollins, Ahmad Jamal, and Billy Strayhorn. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Trio-Page-Two/dp/B00008V5V8

Personnel: Peter Beets (piano); Larry Grenadier (bass); Willie Jones III (drums).

New York Trio - Page Two

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Joe Cohn - Fuego

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:34
Size: 155,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:32)  1. Little Melonae
(6:04)  2. She
(6:13)  3. Bluish Grey
(5:56)  4. DeWey Square
(6:37)  5. The Underdog
(5:14)  6. Fuego De Roberto
(6:58)  7. Love For Sale
(6:23)  8. Call It Wachawana
(8:41)  9. Clockwise
(7:53) 10. Lady Luck

Joe Cohn's second Criss Cross outing is a swinging affair. Joined by Dutch master pianist Peter Beets, and New York A-Listers, bassist John Webber and drummer Kenny Washington, the young guitar veteran (who is the son of the iconic tenor saxophonist-composer Al Cohn) addresses a strong program of first-rate, less traveled jazz and songbook standards, uncorking a string of inspired solos that blend polish and vigor with a style that traverses a broad timeline of vocabulary on his instrument - he reaffirms his position as a major voice on today's playing field. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Fuego-Joe-Cohn-Quartet/dp/B0059889VK

Personnel: Joe Cohn (guitar); Peter Beets (piano); Kenny Washington (drums).

Fuego

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Peter Beets - New Groove

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:40
Size: 143,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. You're My Everything
(7:34)  2. But Beautiful
(5:13)  3. Tricotism
(5:16)  4. I'm Old Fashioned
(5:43)  5. Blues For Giltay
(7:15)  6. In Your Own Sweet Way
(4:20)  7. They Say It's Wonderful
(6:13)  8. Nuages
(4:41)  9. Three Little Words
(6:30) 10. Easy Listening Blues
(5:32) 11. Parker 51

What zesty, light-stepping, buoyant sounds these are. There's some serious swinging happening on Dutch pianist Peter Beets' New Groove. Beets employs two different trios, one from New York, the other from his native Netherlands. Both trios utilize piano, guitar and bass, reminiscent of Ahmad Jamal's 1955 recordings with guitarist Ray Crawford and bassist Israel Crosby, available on Ahmad Jamal Trio (Definitive Records, 2006), or more swingingly on the work of Oscar Peterson, bassist Ray Brown and guitarists Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis. New Groove is Beets' fourth Criss Cross Records release, following New York Trio (2001), New York Trio Page 2 (2003) and New York Trio Page 3 (2005), all employing the standard piano, bass and drums format. 

The guitar/piano teaming enriches the harmonic element, and Beets and guitarists Joe Cohn and Martijn Van Iterson switch back and forth with Beets on soloing and comping, giving the music an organically vibrant feel. The set has an especially relaxed, off-the-cuff vibe, sounding loose and spontaneous within the mainstream framework. The set opens with Harry Warren's familiar gem, "You're My Everything," sounding especially crisp and lively, then slips into a gorgeous take on Kern and Mercer's "I'm Old Fashioned" before moving into a zingy Beets original, "Blues for Giltay."

Irving Berlin's "They Say It's Wonderful," has Beets sounding particularly like Oscar Peterson. And speaking of Peterson, the master gets another nod with Beets' take on Nat King Cole's "Easy Listening Blues," which Peterson recorded on his tribute album With Respect to Nat (Polygram Records, 1965). There's no new ground broken on New Groove, but Beets and his trios swing over the old ground with an engaging panache on an especially fine trio outing. ~ Dan McClenaghan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/new-groove-peter-beets-criss-cross-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan.php#.VGuKzcmHmtg
 

Personnel: Peter Beets: piano; Joe Cohn: guitar (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11); Reuben Rogers: bass (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11); Martijn Van Iterson: guitar (1, 5, 6, 9); Rudd Jacobs: bass (1,5,6,9).

New Groove

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Joe Cohn Feat. Peter Beets - Shared Contemplations

Styles: Guitar And Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:26
Size: 134,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:26)  1. Just One of Those Things
(6:04)  2. Danielle
(5:27)  3. You Turned the Tables on Me
(7:10)  4. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues
(5:25)  5. I Love You, Samantha
(6:52)  6. Blue Serge
(4:27)  7. Something for Lisa
(5:36)  8. Man With a Horn
(6:08)  9. 49th Street
(4:47) 10. Barbados

In his own sure and steady manner, Joe Cohn has developed into one of the more reliable and consistent modern mainstream jazz guitarists. His clean, single-line melodic approach is pleasing to the ear without being flashy or pyrotechnical. The key to Cohn, like his formidable father the late great saxophonist Al Cohn, is his innate sense of musicality bonded to solid technique and good, swinging common sense. For this effort, Cohn is heard in various small ensemble settings primarily featuring Dutchmen the excellent pianist Peter Beets, drummer Joost Van Schaik, and expatriate bassist J.J. Wiggins aka Hassan Shakur in a program of concisely rendered standards and two of his dad's originals. Cohn's allegiance to the concept of counterpoint, as implied in the title, is a strong suit towards interacting with his bandmates, made readily available to listeners who are paying close attention to this music. This set starts with two standards  "Just One of Those Things" and "You Turned The Tables on Me" with a different grouping featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Willie Jones III. 

They are responsible for urging Cohn into the typical, single-line swing and no-frills jazz that signify his style. This ensemble also shows up for the ballad "Man with a Horn" with a soft, slightly tart cameo by young tenor saxophonist Dmitry Baevsky, and the soft bossa "Danielle" penned by papa Cohn. The rest of the material is played by the band with Beets, whose remarkable melodic sense grows with every passing year. His block chords during a samba version of Cole Porter's "I Love You Samantha" display the pure symmetry between him and the guitarist, and how well they play in unison for Bill Mobley's bright bopper "49th Street." The classic, long enduring Charlie Parker favorite "Barbados" is played quite well in its Latin frame, and the band cranks it up a notch for Al Cohn's original "Something for Lisa," as the guitarist plays more chords. "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues" also has Joe Cohn strumming more but still plucking, and shows his patient virtue during the beautiful Gary McFarland evergreen "Blue Serge," an oft neglected but heart warming, well-chosen selection. Where there's a certain variety in song selections, you hear much depth, thoughtfulness, and real purpose in the playing of this music. Where there's no groundbreaking or innovation, Joe Cohn has produced yet another solid, straight-ahead jazz album that should easily satisfy his fans and those who enjoy the contemplative, at ease side of life. ~ Michael G. Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/shared-contemplations-mw0000808575

Personnel: Joe Cohn (guitar); Peter Beets (piano); J.J. Wiggins, Peter Washington (bass guitar); Joost van Schaik, Willie Jones III (drums).

Shared Contemplations

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Peter Beets - New York Trio

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:01
Size: 135.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[5:52] 1. Beets' Beat
[7:20] 2. The Game
[4:31] 3. First Song
[7:01] 4. It's Happening
[8:43] 5. The Nearness Of You
[6:12] 6. The Best Thing For You
[5:29] 7. Admirable
[7:21] 8. The Way You Look Tonight
[6:30] 9. Blues For The Apple

"The title of one of Beets' originals -"Admirable"- is an appropriate metaphor for all of them. Stylistically, he's a lineal descendant of such quintessential boppers as Bud Powell, Hampton Hawes, Bobby Timmons and Wynton Kelly and is closely attuned to their modern progeny but with a lyrical outlook and rhytmic conception of his own underscored by tasteful, cogently structured lines that always swing and a technique that rivals anyone this side of vintage Oscar Peterson." ~Cadence

On his debut album for Criss Cross, award-winning Dutch piano virtuoso Peter Beets links up with A-list American bass/drums pair Rodney Whitaker & Willie Jones III for a swinging, meaty program of six Beets originals & three timeless standards. Recorded in Brooklyn, New York on May 22, 2001.

Peter Beets (piano); Willie Jones III (drums). Liner Note Author: Ted Panken.

Recording information: Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY (05/22/2001).

New York Trio

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