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| EURO CINEMA |
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| THE LOWDOWN |
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| Year Formed: 2006 |
| Home: Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Website: |
| MySpace: CLICK HERE |
| Label: HAMMONDBEAT RECORDS |
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| PROFILE |
EMAIL THIS ARTIST |
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“Jazz isn’t dead, it just smells funky.” That’s the motto of Dutch soul jazz group Euro Cinema. The group’s members were all born in the early seventies. So was their sound, which is heavily inspired by classic Blue Note and Prestige grooves (think Grant Green, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Idris Muhammad) as well as 70’s B-movie soundtracks – hence the name.
Beginnings
Euro Cinema’s first line-up consisted of guitarist Tim den Heijer and his Yamaha sampler. When offered a gig, Tim called on long-time musical companion Niels Piay (drums) and former bandmate Rob Schepens (Hammond organ). After a few false starts, the band’s line-up was finally completed when seasoned bass player Dennis Orsel joined. Since then, the electronics have given way to live, organic grooves.
The band’s first demo, intended purely to solicit bookings, was recorded by a friend in a few hours. However, the track Euro Boogaloo was picked up on myspace by influential DJ’s including Maestro (Blue Note records) and Craig Charles (BBC6 Soul and Funk show), who called their sound “a very nice line in soul jazz." The group started gigging on a regular basis in Dutch jazz/funk clubs and quickly acquired a reputation for their energetic live shows.
Debut release
For their first proper recordings, Euro Cinema contacted producer Phil Martin, the man behind the Soul Snatchers, Jazzinvaders and Laura Vane and the Vipertones. His production brought out the group’s raw, funky side without compromising their jazz sensibilities. When the tracks were previewed at the band’s Myspace page, Craig Charles immediately played the new tune Brooklyn Groove on his BBC6 show.
Euro Cinema is very excited to release Brooklyn Groove (which actually has more of a New Orleans vibe) and a rerecorded version of Euro Boogaloo on limited edition 7” vinyl with Hammondbeat records, a label the band have been fans of for quite a while. The digital release also includes Brother Lou, a Hammond-led slice of funky soul jazz.
Live on stage
Euro Cinema performs regularly at well known jazz clubs and festivals throughout the Netherlands, including SJU Utrecht, DJS Dordrecht, Bitterzoet and Badcuyp Amsterdam, Paard Café The Hague, IJazz Festival, Jazz in Duketown Festival and many more. Live dates as well as music and video can be found at www.myspace.com/eurocinema.
Some quotes
“Quite superb! Brooklyn Groove goes straight on the show. Another modern funk nugget!" – Craig Charles, BBC6 Funk and Soul Show.
“The souljazz these gentlemen have now recorded has a nice raw edge, the way we like to hear it.” – Rundfunk.nl (Dutch DJ collective/online magazine)
“You guys sound very good and I would love to hear you live and maybe sit in for a tune or two.” – Melvin Sparks, legendary soul jazz guitar player. |
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ROB SCHEPENS
Joined Band: 2006
Role: organ
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TIM DEN HEIJER
Joined Band: 2006
Role: guitar
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DENNIS ORSEL
Joined Band: 2006
Role: bass
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NIELS PIAY
Joined Band: 2006
Role: drums
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