Aargh!

With its new album Aargh!, Amsterdam-based group The Jig establishes its reputation as an original, heart-warming and uncut funk collective. The Jig is one of few genuine funk bands in Europe. It is an instrumental groove machine with a rock & roll-attitude, known for its powerful and exhilarating live shows. Inspired by heroes such as Bootsy Collins, Lettuce, James Brown, Average White Band en The Meters, The Jig creates its own original sound: vintage and up-to-date at the same time. Soul, Afro, Jazz and Rock & Roll are kept close.

Two years after the successful album Brooklyn Blowout, which was recorded in New York, The Jig retreated to its home ground Rock Supplies in Amsterdam’s Baarsjes neighbourhood to record fresh and tasty new material in a semi-live setting. The eleven tracks on Aargh! breathe warmth, spontaneity, a hint of craziness and are highly danceable. Some of the bands musical friends dropped by: trombonist and singer Joseph Bowie (Defunkt), tenor-tough-guy Boris van der Lek and Holland’s foremost jazz musician: alto saxophonist Benjamin Herman. The album was mixed in the internationally renowned Studio 150 by Joeri Saal and mastered by Zlaya Hadzich.

In the past two years The Jig played over fifty gigs on renowned stages and festivals in Holland, Spain, Germany and Belgium. The release of Aargh! in the middle of April 2013 will be followed by concerts in Dutch clubs, on festivals and by a tour through Germany in June.

Line-Up: Luuk Hof – Trumpet / Jeroen van Genuchten – Tenor Sax / Koen Schouten – Baritone Sax / Martijn Smit – Guitar / Bas Grijmans – Keys / Arry Niemantsverdriet – Bass / Niels van Groningen – Drums

Some Achievements:

• The album Brooklyn Blowout was selected ‘Week-Cd’ in 2011 by national Radio 6
- The single Pleasure Planet was selected ‘Schijf van 6’ in 2011 by Radio 6
- The track ‘Sweat in the Buttcrack’ was selected in 2012 by Holland’s most famous DJ Giel Beelen for his compilation cd Giel Jazz 2.
- The Jig performed a.o. at the shows of Gerard Ekdom (Freaknacht, 3FM), Jaap Brienen (Radio 6) en Jaap Boots (JaBo Gumbo Show, Radio 6)
• The Jig performed a.o. at: Paradiso, Bitterzoet, SJU Jazzpodium, DJS, Sugar Factory, Breda Jazz Festival, Jazz in Duketown Den Bosch, International Jazz Festival Enschede, Jazz Amersfoort, Noorderzon, Magneetfestival, Swingin’ Groningen, Bar du Matin Brussel, Nublu NYC, Stellwerk Hamburg, Booga Culb Granada, Fever Bilbao etc.

Quotes:

‘Brooklyn Blowout was one of the best albums of 2011. This is more than a motley crew, these are tightly disciplined, top-of-the bill musicians. Performing top compositions.’ (Jaap Boots, VPRO)

‘Tingles your ears, snaps at your calves. The Jig doesn’t accept any dry spots on the bodies of its audience and on their own. They fulfil their claim.’ (Guuz Hoogaerts)

‘Cosmopolitan quality…. Explosive interplay …Irresistible dose of funk…The results of these seven men demand cheering, this is a powerful performance.’ (Jazzism magazine)

‘The Jig sind unüberhörbar musikalische Söhne der Ära Shaft, begnügten sich jedoch nicht mit der Rolle der Epigonen, sondern bewiesen ganz deutlich eigene Handschrift’ (Mojo Mendiola, Rheinische Post)

‘Do your neighbours a favour and play this album loudly at home, just like me.’ (Gerard Ekdom, 3fm)