NeOropa with Michel Godard

NeOropa – New Jazz from the Old World

Michel Godard (tuba, serpent) • Oene van Geel (viola, violin, cajon) • Sanem Kalfa (vocals) • George Dumitriu (guitar, viola, violin) • Steven Kamperman (clarinets)

‘Since the practice of authentic performance has become a general standard, musicians are likely to be wary when performing early music. (…) Musical adventurer Steven Kamperman couldn’t care less. With passion, humour and bravery he and his fellow Neoropeans throw themselves onto estampies, chaconnes and sarabandes, and extrapolate old melodies into contemporary improvisations (…) This is an entirely original musical adventure’ Ton Maas, Mixed Music

‘Early music coming alive and becoming contemporary, exciting and driven, played with passion. New jazz from the old world, an absolute surprise and tip.’ Moorsmagazine

Neoropa, feat Michel Godard

How would a contemporary Estampie or Sarabande sound? And how can plainchant and ecclesiastical modes lead to chromatic music?

For NeOropa, clarinettist and composer Steven Kamperman sought for inspiration in early European (folk) music. Music with haunting melodies, enchanting drones and catchy rhythms. But his approach is contemporary and surprising: adventurous jazz improvisations, modern rhythms and even a touch of Mediterranean import play roles of significance.

Two names in the line-up stand out: French tuba player Michel Godard not only is a giant of the tuba in improvised music, he is also a phenomenon on the Medieval serpent in early music. Boy Edgar Prize winner Oene van Geel makes his viola sing and alternates inspired solos with percussion accompaniments on cajon.

Critic Jacques Los about the first meeting of Godard, Kamperman & Van Geel on ZomerJazzFietsTour: “The three men played with visible pleasure and were very well attuned to one another. Each one of them is a formidable improviser. (…) Due to their enthusiastic musicianship and rhythmic upbeat music the ZJFT could not wish for a better finale. ”

CD available november 2017!!!

CD and 2017 tour have been made possible by support of the Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds.

Estampie comp Steven Kamperman

Mirie it is trad, arr Steven Kamperman

Deus Ex comp Steven Kamperman

Jheroen’s Hel comp Steven Kamperman

Ciaconna comp Michel Godard