Angelo Verploegen, Jasper van Hulten - The Duke Book (2018) Hi-Res

“The Duke Book” is an extensive dialogue between flugelhorn and drums, a configuration that as far as I know, is unique. The necessary duels have been fought between trumpet and percussion, but the tender flugelhorn has never entered this type of arena. In the hands of Verploegen it becomes a different instrument: the characteristic gentleness gets expanded with new fierceness.

Notice, for example, that perfectly placed high note in the beginning of the classic ‘Take The A Train’, a musical moment that sticks around for the entire song.

Wonderful to hear the musicians scan each other in the opener “Blues in Blueprint”. It is clear that a duo can dive into music a little deeper than a regular larger line-up. Van Hulten makes his percussion speak as if it is a melodic instrument. As a listener you are encouraged to play an active role: unnoticed you give your own musicality a place in between the game of the flugelhorn and the drums. Free as a bird you can spontaneously fantasize your own melodic lines.

The music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn is the theme of this production, with songs such as “Satin Doll”, “Come Sunday”, “Caravan”, “It Don’t Mean A Thing” and “Sophisticated Lady’. Well-known and appealing material that creates a framework for the improvisations by the duo.

Beautiful are also the “Interludes” between a number of tracks: more or less free pieces that form an organic connecting link. Ellington and Strayhorn are among the greatest tonal poets of the last century and their music has now become as established as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Debussy. Their themes with that typically romantic touch, form a recognizable handle for all listeners.

Until recently, the flugelhorn was more or less a poor child in jazz, but because of this new work, Verploegen and Van Hulten’s new album give the instrument an extra dimension: that from a not always gentle sky stormer. Verploegen says: “Jasper’s musical inception runs parallel to mine. Jasper is just like me a melodic thinker, someone who builds musical structures. We both like to take risks. Working with him is a delight. We recorded The Duke Book in Studio 1 in two days at Muziekcentrum van de Omroep, an almost ideal space with a natural reverb. The result felt good right away and actually everything went a lot easier than the last time at “The Sweetest Sound”. I also go on tour with Jasper, because many venues are interested in this project.”

The duo Angelo Verploegen & Jasper van Hulten has a golden future!