The German saxophonist Philipp Gerschlauer and the Austrian keyboardist Georg Vogel, both currently based in Vienna, have been brought together at the 31-tone organ to give a spectacular bebop concert full of microtones. Both musicians are among the most prominent jazz artists in Europe and beyond who specialise in microtonal music. They add an extra dimension to their free jazz by colouring their improvisations with microtonal intervals (Miꓘrojazz). Think of heart-wrenching blue notes, but taken a step further.
With Birds, this duo pays tribute to the legendary saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker, who, 75 years ago, already experimented with exotic scales that do not fit the equal-tempered system. They do this in their own distinctive way, using more tones in the octave than the twelve commonly used. Philipp Gerschlauer is the only musician in the world able to divide the octave on his alto saxophone into a dizzying 128 microtonal steps, while Georg Vogel has developed a unique 31-tone keyboard, the claviton, on which he can virtuoso-play fifths. This keyboard can also be connected to the Fokker organ. Both musicians are therefore as colourful as singing birds. Hence the title: Birds!
The programme includes their own works, featuring two world premieres, as well as several well-known jazz standards by Charlie Parker—such as Blues for Alice and Donna Lee—and the classic Body and Soul by Johnny Green, all presented in new microtonal arrangements. The concert concludes with a joint composition by both musicians. Unlike Gerschlauer, Vogel has previously performed twice in the Kleine Zaal of the Muziekgebouw and is considered a guest artist who returns to Amsterdam every few years to perform on the Fokker organ. Bringing him together with Philipp Gerschlauer fulfils a long-cherished wish of the Huygens-Fokker Foundation to unite these two microtonal jazz icons at the Fokker organ.
Following the concert, at 12:30 pm, there will be a free lecture-performance on the use of microtones in bebop.