678 records

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION

We are releasing 6 lp's of music by dutch fender rhodes pioneer Rob Franken. Carefully selected out of 100’s of tapes recorded between 1974 and 1979. Music initially intended to be played at airports, shopping centres, elevators, hotels etc..

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION TRIO - SIX SEVEN EIGHT(LP)

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION - COLOURS & IMAGES(LP)

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION - DON'T STOP (LP)

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION - BLUE SKY FINGERS(LP)

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION - ABSORBED LOVE (LP)

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THE ROB FRANKEN ELECTRIFICATION - TOGETHER (LP)

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JAN HUYDTS TRIO - CONCEPTION (LP)

This is actually the second studio recording of this democratic trio, and fortyfive years after it was recorded, it is now finally being released

JAN HUYDTS TRIO - CONCEPTION (LP)

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Limited edition of 300.

includes 21 of our favorite tracks
A compilation of early, unheard and unknown works arranged and directed by Dutch soundtrack composer Ruud Bos.
Full of wild jazz, organ funk, cinematic grooves, breakbeats and dope fender rhodes piano solo's

A must have LP for anyone who has a heart for cinema funk,soundtracks and rare movie scores!

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'Jazz is the direction most of these recordings take, with changes in style, tempo, mood and groove, but there are diversions into light orchestral, camp funk, chorales and total madness. For many the heat is in Bos’ later soft porn work, but there’s lots to enjoy here'. (Jonny Trunk / 4star review Record Collector april 2015)

Double CD including 12 page booklet with extensive liner notes, carefully digitized and remastered from the original mastertapes.

678 records presents a fantastic compilation of early, unheard and unknown works arranged and directed by Dutch soundtrack composer Ruud Bos.

Two discs (both clocking almost 80 minutes each!) full of wild jazz, organ funk, cinematic grooves, breakbeats and dope fender rhodes piano solo's including the original mono mixes of the sought after NAAKT OVER DE SCHUTTING.

A must have 2 disc set for anyone who has a heart for cinema funk, soundtracks and rare movie scores!

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Rita Hovink (Beverwijk, 1944) is most famous as singer in her native language, and had numerous Dutch pop hits. She also won the 1964 Knokke festival. Her first love, however, remains jazz.
In 1969 she recorded her first LP, Love me or leave me (Decca 800 004 NY), the album has a heavy jazz influence and includes some pop songs in a jazzy style.
On this EP, her distinctive, smoky voice and intense performance is accompanied by a combo leaded by jazz pianist and record producer Cees Schrama who plays Hammond organ and Fender piano. In his Pressure Group, we find top Dutch musicians.
Rita performs four of her favorite songs; The Beatles’ 'Fool on the hill' (with a Latin touch), 'I feel the earth move', a pop song written by Carole King, 'Mr Bojangles', written by Country artist Jerry Jeff Walker and finally an intense version of 'For every man there's a woman', made famous by Peggy Lee.

limited edition 4 track ep listen & buy here

01) Protuberans 8:17
02) Blue bossa 8:45
03) Zomaar in vieren 6:38
04) Six seven eight 10:18
05) Absorbed love 4:24
06) For Eliane 7:09
07) Basic train 7:35
08) Soundcircle / All about us 8:56
09) Tamotua 7:30
10) The Kumquat kids 7:30

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In 1976, the pianists Rob Franken en Jan Huydts both lived in Soest (Netherlands). They hung out together a lot, and shared their love for newly developed key instruments. Both of them were Fender Rhodes electric piano pioneers. Rob Franken's piano virtuosity is to be recognized on as many as four hundred records. In 1976, he had his own trio and performed with the Dutch funk fusion formation ‘Scope’ from the city of Zwolle. In this band, he met with drummer Henk Zomer, whom he was very impressed with.

At the end of 1975, Rob Franken came to the idea to start a new formation based on the combination of different consonance colors by combining Fender pianos with synthesizers, string cabinets and other electronic key instruments. Jan Huydts, who was experienced in making experimental music through his formations ‘Basic Train’ and ‘Third Eye’, thought this was a good idea. They decided to arrange their key instruments in a circle during their performances and so the ‘The Keyboard Circle’ was born.

The two musicians composed their own repertoire out of their own compositions and music covers. For example, on this record we find the Scopesong ‘Tamotua’, Kenny Dorham’s ‘Blue Bossa’ and Eddie Henderson’s ‘The Kumquat Kids’. They decided to play the bass lines themselves, one by one, on a bass synth, while the other was playing his solo. The drums of Henk Zomer, clearly inspired by Jack DeJonetthe and Tony Williams, became the driving force.

Soon after a few rehearsals the first performances took place. One of these first performances is to be found on this CD, recorded on February 8, 1976 in youth centre ‘De Trucker’ in Pijnacker, near The Hague. Han Reiziger, producer for VPRO radio had a craze for special jazz music and was not afraid to show his admiration for Rob Franken's work. He is the instigator of this special recording, that for reasons that aren't clear were never broadcasted. Whilst researching for a radio documentary the maker ran up against these tapes, which everyone had forgotten existed.

To begin with, the soundscape that reveals itself to you when listening to ‘The Keyboard Circle’ is a unique product of its time. Grounded in the mid seventies it’s no less than the works of Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea of those days. Exuberant swing and virtuous solos will find their way through your core. At the same time, the music is subdued in a typically Dutch manner. Most importantly, this music has its own sound, which can't compare to anything you’ve ever heard before.

Unfortunately, ‘The Keyboard Circle’ died at a young age. While Franken was Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans' regular pianist, he had multiple radio and television performances, taught at the conservatory and above all, he was one of the most frequently programmed Dutch musicians during the seventies. Because of the immense amount of gigs Rob Franken was offered, performances were frequently cancelled at short notice. For this reason, Jan Huydts decided to quit after a while. This became irreversible by the sudden death of Rob Franken in 1983. Unfortunately, no record was ever released. Now this time has come. By listening to the CD you finally have the chance to get to know ‘The Keyboard Circle’. This rectification in the history of Dutch jazz music was a necessary one. And so: the circle is round.