High Places (2011)

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“…one of the best Dutch jazz albums of the previous years.” Jazzism Magazine

Original liner notes

The Clemens van der Feen Band is a result of my desire to record some of the songs I’ve written over the last few years. So I asked my favorite musicians, booked a studio and here we are. Two pieces appeared spontaneously while recording: ‘Ziel’ and ‘End of the Walk’. ‘Round it Goes’ is a tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell and a shameless salute to the sound of Jaco Pastorious. I had written lyrics for this song but Jean Toots Thielemans agreed to play the melody, so my quest for a singer ended. I am honored to have Toots on the album for he has been a major inspiration to me over the years.
‘Brothers’ I wrote together with my brother Paul. It is a piece that springs from our mutual past in the family band: the Feenbrothers. As for the other songs, I gladly leave them to your imagination.

Clemens van der Feen

Credits
Jesse van Ruller: guitar and slide
Flin van Hemmen: drums, extra drums on track 4 and 11
Harmen Fraanje: piano and Wurlitzer piano
Clemens van der Feen: Fender Jazz Bass, ukulele, Wurlitzer piano on track 4, piano on track 7.Paul van der Feen: saxes on track 2, 8 & 10, tin wistle on track 10.
Toots Thielemans: Harmonica on track 6, ‘Round it Goes’.All compositions by Clemens van der Feen, except ‘Ziel’ and ‘End of the walk’ by the band.
Edited and mixed by Papa Flagellum; Mastered by Zlaya Hadzic at Studio 150
Front photo by Krijn van Noordwijk; Band photo by Pieter Hijma; Artwork by JvdF.nl
The band was recorded on 3-5 may 2010 at Fattoria Musica in Osnabrück, by Stephan van Wylick. Toots Thielemans was recorded on October 19th 2010 at Sonicville in Bruxelles, by Christine Verschorren.
Produced by Clemens van der Feen

Many thanks to:

Paul, Flin, Harmen, Jesse & Toots!!
The family, too many to mention, but especially: Matthijs & Mark van der Feen for 30 years of music! Stephan & Benno, Mark Haanstra for letting me use his fretless, Veerle, Krijn, Pieter, Christine, Yfke and last but not least: all thanks to the Inventor and Creator of music/the universe.

Sun rises, hurries back again
Round it Goes
Wind blowing south and turning north
Round it Goes
Streams flow into the sea
but the sea is never full. You say
Look! This is something new
This we’ll do tomorrow
Do you even know? No, no, no
Round it Goes

Lyrics by C. van der Feen, based on words of king Solomon around 10th century BC

FULL TRACKLIST:

1. Peaceguns 03:44
2. Brothers 04:27
3. Intro 00:38
4. Baby Baby 03:35
5. The Devil’s Delusion 05:51
6. Round it Goes (feat. Toots Thielemans)04:24
7. End of the Walk 02:31
8. Happy & Rich 05:58
9. Tuesday 03:28
10. High Places 04:59
11. Middle of the Seven 02:43
12. Ziel 02:53

Press about Clemens van der Feen:“…international level.” De Telegraaf 4-2010 (dutch national paper)“…the excelling bassplayer Clemens van der Feen…” de Volkskrant 1-2010 (dutch national paper)

“… you will be hearing more from this guy.” Washington City Paper.com, 12 oktober 2009