Joris Teepe
A Dutch New Yorker — with creativity as trademark.
A double bass in the shower.
In 1992 bassist Joris Teepe left his homeland — the Netherlands — to chase his dream of being a jazz musician in New York. He moved into a $300-per-month room in Manhattan.
The room was so small that in the daytime the double bass occupied his bed — and Joris had to store it in the shower at night.
Lessons with Ron Carter. Nights with the legends.
He took lessons with Ron Carter, and a year later he recorded his first CD with a band co-led by tenor saxophonist Don Braden. The next six or seven years he found himself working with legends such as Benny Golson, Sonny Fortune, Billy Hart and Randy Brecker.
“Joris Teepe has become musical partners with some of the best musicians in New York. This is due to his status as a bassist who possesses a warm, even tone, and a sympathic, swinging beat — but also to his abilities as a writer, arranger and band leader.”
Coltrane's last drummer. And a bassist who could hold the pulse.
Up till now, Joris has recorded 22 albums as a leader or co-leader and over 65 as a sideman. His longest stint was with Rashied Ali — John Coltrane's last drummer — with whom he recorded five albums and toured the world between 2000 and 2009.
Among other 'heavy cats' that Joris performed and recorded with are Barry Harris, Bobby Watson, Tom Harrell, John Abercrombie, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman and Mike Clark — and Dutch masters such as John Engels (who toured with Chet Baker), Benjamin Herman, Eric Ineke and Rob van Bavel.
Over 100 compositions. For quartet, big band, symphony.
Composing and arranging has always been a creative outlet — and the motivation to release so many of his own albums. His compositions have also been recorded by Don Braden, Rashied Ali, Randy Brecker, Chris Potter, Kevin Hays, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Deborah Brown, Louis Hayes, James Williams, Tom Harrell, Tim Armacost, Cyrus Chestnut, Mike Stern, Carl Allen, Gene Jackson and many others.
He wrote large pieces for symphony orchestra with jazz quartet, and for symphony orchestra with big band and choir. In New York he leads the Joris Teepe Big Band, playing exclusively his own music.
From Queens College to Groningen — and back again.
Over the years Teepe has established himself as an experienced jazz educator, teaching at Queens College – Aaron Copland School of Music (NY), Jazz for Teens (Newark NJ), and serving as Director of the Jazz Department at the Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen.
He has also taught at the Peter Herbolzheimer European Jazz Academy (Germany), Jazzinty (Slovenia), ChoJazz (Poland), Orsara Jazz Camp (Italy), JZ-School Summer Camp (China) and Litchfield Jazz Camp (Connecticut, USA).
Creativity is the trademark of this Dutch New Yorker. Every concert — a challenge for the audience and for himself.