Eric van der Westen

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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