Short Stories: Jan van Duikeren’s JVD4 & Metropole Orkest Strings

Last year drummer John Engels long-cherished wish became true. To record an album full of beautiful ballads with JVD4, the quartet of the Rotterdam top trumpeter Jan van Duikeren, of which he is a member. With the cooperation of the Metropole Orkest Strings led by Rob Horsting, ‘Short Stories’ was recorded during the corona lockdown. On December 3, the entire album will be performed in an all-star line-up at De Doelen.

“John had asked for years after every concert when we would finally play ballads for an hour or so. His 85th birthday and the chance to record with the Metropole Orkest Strings during lockdown were the perfect reasons to book the studio.” Says Jan van Duikeren.

Together with the entire string section of the Metropole Orkest and special guest Marcel Veenendaal (Di-rect), a repertoire mainly written by Van Duikeren was recorded in two days. The simultaneous recording of the entire string orchestra and the soloists in the same room results in a unique document that exudes tension, energy and the pleasure of playing. The compositions ‘Mum’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Almost Blue’ (Elvis Costello) with Marcel Veenendaal are the absolute highlights.