NYC Adventures II

Best wishes to everybody! May 2016 be filled with health, happiness, peace and beautiful music!
Three weeks after returning home from two weeks in the Big Apple I’m still feeling the thrill and inspiration of all the incredible music I heard and the musicians I met.
I can’t do justice to this trip, let alone this fabulous city, in just a few words but I want to share some highlights with you.
It’s almost surreal having to choose between concerts that in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter) you would look forward to for ages, are daily practice here and happen simultaneously all the time. You easily get a feeling you’re constantly missing out on something great, I can get used to this luxury! Although the costs keep your feet on the ground: in most clubs you’re outside after one set having spent at least 50 bucks. Some great musicians I heard include Peter Bernstein, Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, Gerald Clayton, Lewis Nash and Willie Jones III.
I was fortunate enough to catch a few free listening parties at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Phil Schaap (about Bird and Freddie Keppard) and the great Bill Charlap. Absolute highlights were the opportunities to have a lesson with Chris Potter and Aaron Goldberg. I can’t possibly express the inspiration I got from listening to and playing with these insane and generous musicians.
My hands are itching to get back in the shed. And to go back.

This year to me will be all about playing, teaching, shedding, new trips and the prospect of a new album. Stay tuned and hopefully until soon!

Release and tourdates “Flo’s Flow”

On September 25th Floriaans debut CD will be released. “Flo’s Flow” will be globally available in shops and webshops.
The release tour will be from September 29th until October 7th, kicking off in the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam. Floriaan’s quartet consists of the master musicians Karel Boehlee on piano, Jos Machtel on bass and Willie Jones III on drums. Check the agenda for his full tour dates.

Showcase at Dutch Jazzday 2012

Jazzdag
The Floriaan Wempe Quartet has been selected to perform a showcase during the Dutch Jazzday 2012 on June 22 in Rotterdam. This is Holland’s biggest jazz networking event where national and international representatives of jazz meet. The showcase program is one of the main elements and it features some of Holland’s newest and most promising bands. During this concert Floriaan will present material from his upcoming debut cd “Flo’s Flow”, to be released in September at Challenge Records. Entrance is free, time and location will follow soon. Stay tuned!

More information can be found on www.jazzdag.nl.

Debut CD released at Challenge Records

Challenge Records
After the spectacular tour and recording session with Karel Boehlee, Jos Machtel and Willie Jones III, the story has gotten a new chapter. Holland’s biggest and most prestigious label Challenge Records is going to release Floriaan’s debut CD. Challenge Records represent some of the best and most creative Dutch musicians (Eric Vloeimans, Yuri Honing, Toon Roos) and has a great reputation for its high quality and well designed productions. Obviously this is a wonderful reward on Floriaan’s dream that came true.

The CD is expected to be released in September of this year and will be followed by a club tour in the first half of October, on which Willie Jones III will be present.However, already you can listen to a few samples of the CD in the left column of this website under “Listen Here”.

All updates concerning the release, presentation and the new tour can be found here or be sent to you by signing up for the mailing list.For further information, general or pressrelated questions and bookings, do not hesitate to contact Floriaan through the contact page.

Debut CD with Willie Jones III

Floriaan Wempe Kwartet
In October 2011 a musical dream came true. After graduating and working as a sideman over the past few years, the time was right for Floriaan to lead his own band and to play his own material. He brought together a band of phenomenal musicians to do a tour and record his debut CD as a leader. This stellar cast consists of Karel Boehlee on piano (Toots Thielemans, Gino Vannelli), Jos Machtel on bass (Brussels Jazz Orchestra) and, all the way from New York, Willie Jones III on drums (Roy Hargrove Quintet & RH Factor, Hank Jones). It can only be described as a dream for a 22-yearold to work with some of the finest and most experienced musicians around.

This resulted in a fresh and adventurous CD, on which 7 out of 8 tracks are Floriaan’s compositions. The music can be categorized as melodic, energetic and romantic jazz, deeply rooted in the tradition, ranging from swinging neobop to latin and funk influences. Especially for the recording Floriaan wrote a few arrangements for 3 horns featuring Tom van der Zaal on alto saxophone and a special mystery guest on clarinet.

The CD is expected to be released in fall 2012. More details about the release date and presentation tour will follow here.

For updates, questions and/or bookings, do not hesitate to get in touch with Floriaan by joining the mailing list or sending a message.