Ioannidis/Papastamou/Absolute!
Tom
is writing another piece for Kristjan Jarvi's Absolute Ensemble. This
for a show of the Greek (and Cypriot) heroes Alkinoos Ioannidis and
Miltiades Papastamou. Of course the tour is coming to Greece as well.
The general excitement of an Absolute concert is hard to beat, and the
writing/performance is always impeccable. It will rock.
Steve Vai Again!
Tom
is writing again with the amazing Vai. He's writing and performing again
with an orchestra (where he belongs). The last effort was the
"(Visual) Sound Theories" CD/DVD, and this time it's for a
Vai festival with the North Netherlands Orchestra. Having had both success
with Vai (with the Metropole) and success with the NNO (with Armin van
Buuren, read below), this promises to be amazing.
Basement Jaxx!
Tom
wrote 2 tracks for a developing project with Basement Jaxx and the Metropole
Orchestra. Guest conductor/fine Englishman Jules Buckley produced the
ambitious get-together, which will have you dancing in your pants. There
is also a concert scheduled for performance in Amsterdam's Paradiso
later this year (more ticket info to follow). Cool!
Armin van Buuren/NNO!
Tom
orchestrated a concert of Armin van Buuren's music for the Noord Nederlands
Orkest. Armin is the number one DJ in the world right now, and a truly
creative musical mind. Thanks to Marcel Mandos/NNO for making it happen!
Go find this online and listen to it!
Beatles Symphony!
Tom
orchestrated for the Beatles Symphony with the Metropole Orchestra/AVRO
shows in April. Featuring Jon Allen, Manuela Kemp, Frederique Spigt,
and Henk Hofstede, the shows were a sold-out fantastico. You'll be able
to hear this online, too.
Games in Concert on Television again!
The live video games project Tom's been involved with with colleagues Martin Fondse and Jules Buckley - was televised again in Holland (and undoubtedly to be seen everywhere else in the world on the interweb). Check info on the site below for news about this cool project.
Harrij de Waij!
Tom is arranging again for Harrij de Waij's new solo album. This guy is honest, real - and it's good old fashioned, good to listen to music. Harrij also has a really cool voice. Bigger arrangements this album, too!
Brigitte Kaandorp!
Tom
did a few charts for Brigitte Kaandorp's upcoming theater thing. Brigitte
is a painfully good writer/deliverer of text, and generally one of the
funniest people alive.
Adrian Belew!
Tom orchestrating Adrian's new album, "e" for the Metropole Orkest. The wheels are finally turning on this cool initiative. After a chance evening in Amsterdam a few months ago, talks began. February 2011 are the shows (and other fun things).
If you don't have the power trio version of the album yet, you need it.
Cobla/Claron McFadden!
Tom
is composing (and conducting) a small opera with colleagues Ilja Reijngoud
and Frank Carlberg for Cobla la Principal d'Amsterdam! Pleased to report
that the lead will be played by Claron McFadden. The opera isn't finished
yet, but a try out with a few scenes was held in the Bethaniënklooster,
Amsterdam on 03.01.2010 and was a success. Look for this on tour in
the summer, 2010.
KEITH CAPUTO!
Tom orchestrated a set of material for Keith Caputo (Life of Agony). An acoustic set of Keith's beautiful solo music, presented by Keith, his band, and a small orchestra of strings and winds- it was absolutely gorgeous and Keith and his band are real musicians.
Clip of "Got Monsters" on YouTube
l'ONBA/Bordeaux/Evento!
Tom wrote arrangements (and some original music) for the opening of the festival "Evento" in Bordeaux, France. The music was conducted on the 9th of October by Kwamé Ryan.
Featuring electronics by Max de Wardener and Vocals by Mara Carlyle, Seaming To, and Marcela de Loa it was a great evening. Kwame is extremely talented, and the orchestra as well. Hopefully this event will repeat itself.
U.N.K.L.E.!
Tom wrote an arrangement for U.N.K.L.E.'s new album. The tune was/is called "Country," featuring Gavin Clark, and will hopefully turn out gorgeous. More info to follow.
GEORGE DUKE!
Tom just wrote for George Duke. This wonderful evening of Dukey treats was concertized by Napoleon Murphy Brock, Edsilia Rombley, Michiel Borstlap, the Metropole Orkest and George, of course.
Listen to the concert here (click on "Luister de uitzending hier terug")
ED KOWALCZYK!
Tom wrote for Ed Kowalczyk, lead singer for "Live." Premiere was Heineken Music Hall on the 3rd of October. It was a beautiful, massive sold-out type of crowd. There's talk of a DVD.
ENSEMBLE MODERN/REIJSEGER!
Tom and Ernst Reijseger (a very very creative man who plays the cello) orchestrated two Reijseger pieces for the Ensemble Modern from Frankfurt. Premiere on the 4th of October was wonderful and successful.
CAREL KRAAYENHOF/JARVI's ABSOLUTE!
Tom wrote a bandoneon concert for Carel Kraayenhof - and also arranged some music for Carel, his sextet and Kristjan Jarvi's Absolute Ensemble. This material will be toured later this fall. Carel plays a rare instrument, and plays it extremely well. Premiere for this piece was the 26th of July at Die Glocke in Bremen, Germany.
It will be formally recorded and available soon.
More Info on Absolute/Kristjan
Heritage Orchestra/CLANGERS!
Tom has just conducted the amazing Heritage Orchestra in the Queen Elizabeth Hall (London, Southbank). Vernon Elliot's score to Oliver Postgate's CLANGERS! The second half of the show was Russ Garcia's 1959 outer-space album, Fantastica!
2 Filmscores for MERKIES!
Tom has orchestrated film music for Fons Merkies, probably Holland's most important film composer. Tom has conducted Fons' music before, but never orchestrated. Nice. The two films are "De Storm" and "Lang en Gelukkig", stay tuned for more info on when these things will be ready.
MINGUS MINGUS MINGUS!
Tom orchestrated for a Mingus Project with Randy Brecker, Conrad Herwig and Ronnie Cuber! Conducted by John Clayton, the Metropole Orchestra concertized this in April. Read the review in the Volkskrant (Dutch) HERE.
Check out VIDEO of the concert here!
MEINDERSMA/Another Perfect World!
Tom has orchestrated more film muziek for Bram Meindersma, a truly interesting composer. It's the second collaboration between Tom/Bram - a documentary called "Another Perfect World." The last time music was made, very good things happened. See below, and stay tuned for info on "APW!"
Another Perfect World Trailer on YouTube
GOLDENER BÄR and GOUDEN KALF!
"Den Helder," a film with music from Bram Meindersma (and orchestration by Tom) has been honored in Holland with the biggest Dutch film prize, a "Golden Calf." The film then went to the Berlin Film Festival and won Germany's biggest film prize - a"Golden Bear!" Big-ass golden prizes.
Congrats to Bram and director Jorien van Nes.
2 NEW ALBUMS FROM TOM!
Tom is working on 2 albums for an upcoming release. The first, "Little Animals," is a 2-CD extravaganza of a quintet (violin, clarinet, piano, cello, and contrabass). The first disc is the quintet itself, the second is what is going on elsewhere in your head while you're listening to the quintet.
The second is "Afterlife," an 8-movement suite composed for (and of course, recorded by) the Metropole Orchestra of Holland.
Check back for more info on release dates, and in the meantime, check the (above) music player for samples.
DUST TO DUST/QUINETIQUE!
Tom has written a new string quartet, titled "Dust To Dust" for the most flexible string quartet in Holland, Quartet Quinetique. This was premiered in March, and has entered the amazing Quinetique repertoire. They play shows, go see one.
GORDON!
Tom wrote the string arrangements on Gordon's newest album. Go buy it.
PINK RIBBON/CONCERTGEBOUW!
Tom conducted the Fluitsma & van Tijn Orchestra at the Concertgbouw in Amsterdam. This was the Pink Ribbon Gala, demanding attention for breast cancer. Many Dutch starts sang, and a good time was had by all.
Elizabeth Hurley presented a photography award, and much attention was brought to this very important cause.
You can (probably) find a link
to the program at uitzendinggemist.nl
THE STREETS/HERITAGE ORCHESTRA!
Tom orchestrated for Mike Skinner, better known as "The Streets." Perfomed by the Heritage Orchestra... at the BBC2's Electric Proms
Watch it (if you're in the UK) at the BBC site
BLADE RUNNER/MASSIVE ATTACK!
Tom has orchestrated for the London premiere of the Blade Runner soundtrack, originally composed by Vangelis.
The soundtrack was performed live by the Heritage Orchestra, and mixed and manipulated on-the-spot by Massive Attack as part of their "Meltdown" festival.
It was a huge, sold-out success, and received 5 stars from the London Evening Standard. Click HERE for the review!
BLACK WATER TRANSIT!
Tom has orchestrated the Capitol film "Black Water Transit," directed by Tony Kaye (American History X). The film stars Laurence Fishburne and Brittany Snow. Composers Amory Leader and Will Horrocks lead the compositional side of things.
The music was recorded by the Heritage Orchesta of London, in AIR studios, a fantastic facility. The film has just shown at Cannes, so look for the premiere sometime soon.
GRAMMY NOM!
"The Attitude Song," one of Tom's orchestrations from the Steve Vai record "Sound Theories" was nominated for a GRAMMY this year... didn't win, but it was the second year in a row Steve's project with the Metropole Orkest got nominated.
WITHIN TEMPTATION (CD/DVD)!
Together with fine Englishman Jules Buckley, Tom wrote for Within Temptation. This time it was with the Metropole Orkest and Jules on the baton, in the SOLD-OUT Ahoy in Rotterdam. Go buy the (now GOLD) DVD/CD now!
ON THE JOB TRAINING WINS 2 AWARDS!
Tom wrote the music for the film On The Job Training (OJT) from LA Film whizkid Geff Zamor. This movie has recently been crowned with the audience award from the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and is an official selection from both the Hollywood and San Francisco Black Film Festivals!
