With

Blues For Bessie
Roefie Plays Hueting
With the Down Town Jazzband

Personnel
Piano: Roefie Hueting
Trumpets: Menno Daams; Karel Rijper; Kees Dolle; Koos van der Hout; Michel Muller
Reeds: Jack Stouten; Barry Block; Thijs de Jong; Han Veenstra; Jan Morks
Trombone: Eelco van Velsen; Harry Westerbeke; Casper Netscher; Piet Saakes; Henk Sinnema
Banjo/guitar: Hans Rusche; Dick Braxhoofden; Jaap van Kempen; Arno Hagenaars; Koos van der Hoeven
Bass/Tuba: Alex Milosevic; Co Atpress; Ab Haverkamp; Eddy Hamm; Chris Smildiger; Jos Machtel
Drums: Wim Kegel; Louis Debij; Kees Carpentier; Arie Merkt; Peter Ypma; Martin Beenen

Tracks
Jamie's Blues * Pascal * Kenia Blues * A Joy For Enno * Change * No More Blues
* Knock Out Stomp * Paul Loves Bea * Third Little Girl * Mickey Meets Carl * Cheering Rag * Blues For Bessie * Lillian Blues
* Walking In Calcutta * Down Town Blues * Mascha * Thinking Blues * Trampling Little Feet * Who Cares For Abraham
* Psychotechnical Change * John's Boogie * Eurovision Blues

(ti) CDTTD656 - Time 65.59 - Farmhouse Studio
Timeless Records - P.O. Box 201, 6700 AE Wageningen, Holland.
www.timeless-records.com

I’m not referring to opera, but towards the dexterous, pianoforte, grand-masters of the classical music, orchestrated, piano performances, whether they are those of the symphony type or otherwise, excluding the feelings and emotions expressed by those great concert pianists, pounding the keys of their instruments at speeds necessary to handle and encapsulate the masses of scored measured notes, thus forming a standard virtuoso, sound among them all, all abundantly lacking the boundless build of delightful sounds and nuances that can be heard from the playing of this CD "Blues For Bessie" by solo pianist Roefie Hueting as he lightly, finger touches the seven plus octaves of his pianoforte creating this wonderful feathering piano music.

Roefie, who plays solo on many of the 22 songs, is the arranger of all of them, and creator of some. The album is full of duos, trios, quartets and the Down Town Jazzband, whose musicians on the eight tracks all are playing to a very high standard. The band reigned from 1949 to 2001, and the Hueting liner notes chart the musicians to the songs in the CD.

Pianist Roefie Hueting who is featured on all tunes, is clearly a lover of the Bessie Smith music, and in his notes he gives nice turns of phrases to that effect, indeed, so very much so as he does this in his music.

The subtle variations - nuances, are pronounced in abundance on Pascal the second number on the CD, augmenting themselves throughout the other dozen and one Hueting solo spots, with string bass accompanying on some, drum wire brush strokes on others.

The eight jazz band numbers lend themselves a choice favourite for many listeners, out of which Kenia Blues and tune number fifteen Down Town Blues that has a guitar opening to it are recommends, and, both sets are really very beautifully played - believe it.

Of the ‘Blues’ numbers again the choice is yours, but I’ll put in fourth place Lillian upwards to No More through Thinking reaching the top most outstanding one Blues For Bessie, with everso light-fingered piano key movements, sensual, emotional intensity - majestic.

"Empress of the Blues" Bessie Smith 1894-1937, Chattenooga TN - Clarksdale MS, yes, so much crystallising Blues on "Back Water Blues" and many more.

Ian King
Kings Jazz Review
Wednesday the 29th of June 2005