"Everything was set for a triumphant celebration of John’s eighty-fifth birthday. Every venue in Holland had opened its doors to honor one of the national treasures of Dutch Jazz. And then in March due to Covid-19 everything closed. On John’s birthday, 13 May, in the middle of the first lockdown his entire street filled with musicians and friends. His wife and soulmate Liz put his drum kit out in the street and he played all afternoon with everyone who came by. A bittersweet moment in what turned out to be the quietest year in not only John’s professional career but that of just about every musician on the planet.

Luckily the jazz community knows how to improvise. Seeing as the place was empty because of the lockdown, we contacted Amsterdam’s renowned Bimhuis venue who agreed to lend us their facilities and their wonderful technical crew. We figured if we kept enough distance and kept everything safe as milk, we would at least have something tangible when the coronial chaos was over. So, we got together in the main hall and managed to record an album that is a worthy contribution to all three our separate catalogues."

-Benjamin Herman

credits

released March 12, 2021

Drums: John Engels
Bass: Joris Teepe
Saxophone: Benjamin Herman

Recorded June 15 & 16 at Bimhuis, Amsterdam
Recorded by Marc Schots

Produced by John Engels, Joris Teepe, Benjamin Herman
Co-produced by Liz Horvath
Cover design by Johannes Niemeijer
Photography by Bastiaan van Schip