Eric van der Westen
Eric was born in Zierikzee (Zeeland) in The Netherlands on August 29, 1963. At the age of 10 he started to play guitar, switched to bass and as a teenager, formed his own pop bands playing hard rock and new wave in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He received first serious music education at the age of 19, after quitting his psychology study at the University, when he decided to become a professional musician. It was then that he picked up the double bass. After half a year he enrolled Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam where he graduated in 1990.
While in school Eric started working with Dutch jazz legends like Willem van Manen and Paul van Kemenade followed by countless other (inter)national jazz legends.
He developed a career as composer of modern crossover improvised music in which his band Quadrant (Extended) played a pivotal role. He recorded many albums under his own name and numerous more as a side man.
During the 90’s Eric took a serious interest in African music which brought him all over Africa and resulted in concerts with a wide range of top musicians.
In recent decennium Eric has dug deep into Turkish culture, playing all varieties of music with Derya Türkan, Erkan Oğur, Fahir Atakoğlu, Uğur Işik and The Yarkin Brothers. He became a member of The Sezen Aksu Acoustic Band and played all over the world in famous venues like Carnegie Hall New York, Royal Albert Hall London, Circus Stockholm, sometimes playing to audiences of over 50.000 people.
At the end of that era Eric directed his focus on his roots and started the acoustic duo “A Traveller’s Tale” with guitarist Aron Raams: a structural musical vehicle based on their mutual admiration for blues, folk, country, jazz & Americana. This was followed by Eric van der Westen’s New Quadrant version featuring violin, trombone, trumpet/fluegelhorn, guitar & double bass. Their 1st album was released in October 2021 as part of a trilogy: The Crown & Lobster Trilogy: Part III: New Quadrant.
On November 27 2021 the 1st part was released: The Crown & Lobster Trilogy Part I: PTM (xs) Modus Operandi. This is a small version of his large band Private Time Machine that followed a slightly similar path being influenced by his early influences of heavy blues rock, soul, funk and of course jazz. A powerhouse small big band in which Eric plays only bass guitar and electric upright but also sings.
In 2023 the PTM Project Us-Min(G)-Us saw the light with a contemporary look at the music of Eric’s guru Charles Mingus with poet Jimmy Rage in very prominent role added to the line-up. The album was released on September 9 2023.
The 3rd part: The Crown & Lobster Trilogy Part II: Blue Is All That’s Left is a an overview of a selection of ballads out of Eric’s songbook to which some new tunes are added. Released in January 2023 and prooved to be a hit on Spotify with more than 1.5 Million streams!
With his brother Dieter van der Westen he works as a duo and in Dieter’s band which has an eclectic Americana profile. Check their website for more info.
Besides all musical efforts, Eric has always pursued a business career as well. He runs a Record Label EWM Music since 1998 and took part in several startups like Greenbag.
Since 2019 Eric is heading the Festival Better Get Hit (In Your Soul) in Tilburg The Netherlands. It’s a music festival fully dedicated to all forms of Afro-American music:.
| Discography | |||
| As A Leader | Title | Label | Year |
| Private Time Machine | Us-Min(G)-Us | EWM | 2023 |
| EW5 | The Crown And Lobster Trilogy Part II | EWM | 2023 |
| New Quadrant | The Crown And Lobster Trilogy Part III | EWM | 2022 |
| Private Time Machine (XS) | The Crown And Lobster Trilogy Part I | EWM | 2021 |
| Private Time Machine | One (double l.p. and cd) | EWM | 2019 |
| Quadrant Extended | The Devine Cockeyed Glimpse | EWM | 2009 |
| Quadrant Extended | The World Over (double c.d.) | EWM | 2007 |
| Quadrant | Rush Hour | EWM | 2001 |
| Quadrant | It is what it is- featuring Norma Winstone | EWM | 2001 |
| Quadrant Extended | Me, Myself and I-Looking at the Music of Charles Mingus | Challenge Records | 2000 |
| Quadrant | Naala and more songs from the book | EWM | 1999 |
| Quadrant | Diepkloof and other songs from the book | EWM/HLMR | 1998 |
| Octet | The Working Dreamer | BV Haast | 1993 |
| As A Co-Leader | |||
| with Dieter Van Der Westen | The Sun Will Rise Again | Eigen Beheer | 2021 |
| with A Traveller’s Tale | A Traveller’s Tale: Alvin | EWM | 2013 |
| A Traveller’s Tale: JJ | EWM | 2017 | |
| with E-Quad | No Smoke | E-Quad Records | 2007 |
| Tone Tune Tempo | E-Quad Records | 2004 | |
| I hear you Now | E-Quad Records | 2002 | |
| with Louis Mhlanga | Tiri Vaviri | EWM | 2008 |
| Keeping the Dream | EWM | 2003 | |
| Song for Nomsa | EWM/BMG | 1999 | |
| As A Side Man | |||
| With Umit Yilmaz & Derya Türkan | Seyr-i Ahenk | Poll Production | 2022 |
| With Dieter Van Der Westen Band | Honesty Of The Hopeful | Eigen Beheer | 2022 |
| Me And You | Eigen Beheer | 2018 | |
| With Martin Fondse Orchestra | Many Faces Of Jazz | RCR | 2018 |
| With Martin Fondse Orchestra & Lenine | The Bridge-Live In The Bimhuis Amsterdam (DVD) | LCR | 2017 |
| with Martin Fondse- The Groove Troopers | Zoom Zoo | Challenge Records | 2003 |
| with Martin Fondse’s Starvinsky Orchestar | Fragrant Moondrops | Basta Records | 2009 |
| with Martin Fondse Octemble | Ere Ibeji | BV Haast Records | 2001 |
| Upperground | BV Haast Records | 1998 | |
| with Verploegen, Verhoeff & v/d Westen | When Night Falls | Just Listen Records | 2022 |
| (=Amsterdam Jazz Trio) | The Sweetest Sound | Just Listen Records | 2018 |
| For The Time Being | EWM | 2004 | |
| The Night and the Daydreamer | Challenge Records | 2002 | |
| with Paul van Kemenade | Lockdown The End | Eigen Beheer | 2022 |
| Stranger Than Paranoia | Eigen Beheer | 2018 | |
| Fouta | Mundial Records | 2003 | |
| A Night in Indonesia | VIA Records | 2001 | |
| To be continued… | EWM | 2000 | |
| Zvinoshamisa | EWM | 2000 | |
| Live in Sweden | HLM Records | 1996 | |
| Live (except) Just For The Occasion | HLM Records | 1995 | |
| Mo’s Mood | HLM Records | 1994 | |
| Missacity | Z&M Records | 1990 | |
| with Aron Raams | Unspoken | NR Records | 1996 |
| with IIQ | I.I.Q. | Nom Records | 2008 |
| with Ilja Reijngoud & Elizabeth Simonian | Around The World | Challenge Records | 2012 |
| with Pieter Bon & John Nuyten | Iedereen Klopt | Wedgeview Music | 2011 |
| with Jasper van ’t Hof | The Yellow House | Connecting Cultures | 2006 |
| Get Down | Hillstreet Records | 1992 | |
| with Angelo Verploegen | Executive Lounge | EWM | 2007 |
| with Marnix Busstra | 12 pieces featuring Mike Mainieri | Buzz Music Records | 2008 |
| On The Face Of It | VIA Records | 1995 | |
| The Naive World | VIA Records | 1998 | |
| with Feya Faku | Hommage | Challenge Records | 1999 |
| with Ge Bijvoet | Dutz | Challenge Records | 1999 |
| with Willem van Manen’s Contraband | The Ruyter Suyte | BV Haast | 1991 |
| Boy Edgar Suite | EigenWijs/VPRO | 1994 | |
| with Masha Bijlsma | Winds Of Change | Challenge Records | 1994 |
| Lebo | Lippstick Records | 1996 | |
| Jazz Goes To Kur | BW Records | 1994 | |
| with Jeroen van Vliet | En Blanc et Noir | Challenge Records | 2001 |
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