Eef van Breen for President (why politicians should not miss this concert)

Shimmering. Wondrous, ferocious. Poetic, powerful. Creative and humorous. Musical. Engaging. Layered. Spirited.

A few days after my concert visit, words like these keep bubbling to the surface. And even though the Eef van Breen Group (EvBG) with Chapman for President is a typical case of 'especially go there', 'hear for yourself' and 'cannot be described', I'll make an effort.

In the beginning

My expectations were high. In 2013, I heard the first, exploratory steps of this film without images. A search for cinematic sounds. Sounds that evoke images and are connected by two personal stories:

• Chapman, the former post-colleague of Eef (who had a side job as a student at the time) was convinced to one day spark a revolution in his homeland Cameroon.
• Eef's experiences with a faltering film device that left only sound from a recorded adventure in New York.

In 2013, I especially heard the search for trains, rails and crossings. Then in an empty storefront. I unfortunately missed the later public concerts. Heard good stories about them through the artistic director of the LISFE for example (had recited them there).

Music & more

Anno 2017, we all sat together on the stage of the main hall of the Rotterdam Schouwburg. 'I sat in the ideal spot to mostly listen (hardly saw anything, but hey, that wasn't the point here either). See - on a mostly dim stage - just silhouettes of musicians with violin, double bass, flute. Also see them stooping, clapping. Shuffling things. A pink balloon. Trumpet. Mouths going up and down. And of course conductor, pacer, total befuddled musician Eef van Breen playing, singing, talking and hitting. Occasionally brightly lit.

Ear

But most of all, I hear them. In a concatenated narrative composition of music, text and radio play-like sounds, we are sucked into a wonderful world. Is someone haphazardly turning a radio here? Are we sliding into Cameroon via fragments of classical music, an (overheard) telephone call (or are we calling ourselves?), jazzy sounds and are we witnessing a revolution?

Too much happening to list just like that. Would actually like to go a few more times. As often desired with good shit.

Force

Previously I already called them circus meets improv meets do-it-yourself meets radio play meets jazz and classical music... Last Saturday, I experienced their free hopscotch-jumping through the world of sound and music even more. So, for the record, by this I do not mean that they are just doing anything. Or that they are in their own inaccessible world.

Far from it. These creators know very well what they are doing. They know what music is about or could be about. What sounds could symbolise. What music does.

With depth, humour, full of skill and enthusiasm, they make (their own) music. Music that resonates. Sounds that strike and strike (witness also the audience reactions on Facebook). Add to that Eef's infectious, intense musical energy (the kind of energy I feel with Jacques Brel, for instance), his beautiful compositions and you get a whirlwind of power in sound. You have to be there!

In short, a fresh, original, blistering wind through music land. Such a wind that you would grant more worlds. Such a wind that could positively excite the ears (and other senses) of many. Set them on edge. Fuel the imagination.

Extra

Just happened to read an appeal in the NRC the other day by journalist Louis Stiller (see below) for politicians to invite storytellers. Here is a whole group of storytellers. I say: 'politicians, seize the opportunity!' Then ask the Noord Nederlands Toneel about their experiences with EvBG in Borgen.

Eef told me he wanted to build on the underlying idea of Chapman for President: using music to evoke images. Tell stories. Perhaps then with even less descriptive cq explanatory text (which for me was now read out just a bit too monotonously, especially when compared to the rich timbres in the music). Less 'radio play' and even more narrative music and sounds? I am already looking forward to it.

Call

World, give Eef and his Group a pot of money and a business right-hand man slash manager, so they can do what they are made for. What they are particularly good at: telling stories in their own way with music that are about beauty, society ánd unmentionables. Cherish these makers. Give them more stage in the Netherlands (because before you know it they will be crossing the border)...

Still to be seen this season in... Delft, Tilburg, Enschede, Emmen and Groningen. Will you let me know what you thought of it?

A suivre!