Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas ft. Jeff Ballard & Clemens van der Feen

Different moods and atmospheres

For fifteen years they have been searching for musical innovation together based on their background in American jazz, with an unmistakable European flair. On the album they guide you through different moods and atmospheres together with illustrious guests including Han Bennink, Cory Smythe and drummer Jeff Ballard.

This Is Water is inspired by American novelist David Foster Wallace's speech of the same name, in which Wallace taught graduate students to find freedom and meaning in the most basic daily activities. Baas and Van Gelder have performed together on stage more than three hundred times.

They previously released two albums as a duo, Smash Hits with the Metropole Orchestra and Mokum In Hi-Fi, an ode to the city of Amsterdam. Jeff Ballard is a childhood hero of both musicians.

The American drummer became widely known as a member of the Brad Mehldau Trio and also played on our stage in the super trio Fly. He and the renowned Dutch bassist Clemens van der Feen make an appearance for this album presentation.