A group of traveling musicians who are close friends as well. This is how the members of New Cool Collective describe their band. The guys that once brought jazz to the dance floor have already arrived at their seventh album: Out of Office. A record with a whole new groove: the sound, though still jazzy and danceable, has become deeper and darker.
Since 1994 New Cool Collective has been known for their unique sound: a mix of jazz, dance, latin, and salsa. Massive, energetic, and made for dancing, with the big band of 19 members or in the small formation of eight men. After Trippin’, the last small formation album, these eight guys now take themselves to a new level with this record: Out of Office. “We keep trying to cross boundaries. We are always on a journey.”
This journey has been a metaphorical one through many different music styles, but in this case it was a literal one as well: “On the road to concerts we were listening to loads of music: Pharoah Sanders, Mongo Santamaria, Jackie Mittoo. Joris Liebrechts, our driver, ‘forced’ us to listen to his collection as well. Music that we would probably not bring along ourselves, but which was incredibly inspiring: from Mars Volta to The Hives. Rock bands distinguishing themselves through a lack of boundaries and the fact that anything seems possible in their music. All these records, combined with the many endless traffic jams, have had a huge impact on this album.”
The band's current course took off at the monthly Big Mondays: live performances in Meander, Sugar Factory, and Rotown. “On these nights we really started to improvise on stage.” During countless concerts and festivals, from Europe (North Sea, Roskilde, Sziget) to Africa and Canada, many inspiring encounters contributed to a new sound. A tour with Jules Deelder, a fixed night in club Panama with different guests, the cooperation with Mapacha Africa in Kenia. Absolutely unique was meeting Nigerian afrobeat drummer Tony Allen in 2005. Their cooperation on Trippin’ put the band on a whole new track. “Allen taught us to have faith in ourselves, to play more freely. We are now experimenting more, which at the same time brings more focus to our style.
New Cool Collective always stands for a jazzy and highly danceable party. Still, these gentlemen keep showing that their music is always on the move: the musical journey before Out of Office has led to an increased profoundness. Their new record takes unexpected turns and fresh brass sounds create an atmosphere that is bigger and darker, “almost cinematic”. Out of Office sounds unrestricted, more nonchalant, and is heavier than their previous work; even rock influences are clearly audible. “We created the record step by step, it is the result of trying out many different things. The music has more influences from different styles than the things we've done before, so anybody can get something out of it that he or she really likes. We want to take original fans along with us on our journey, but we will also surprise a whole new audience.”
And where does the journey end? “Nowhere for the moment. We will continue till we're eighty. We now know exactly what we want and who we are. We can't wait to go on tour.” The men keep on traveling, and with pit stops like this record, their trips are definitely worthwhile.
Line-up New Cool Collective (slim version)
Benjamin Herman (saxophones/ flute/ vocals)
Frank van Dok (percussion/ vocals)
Leslie Lopez (bass/ vocals)
Anton Goudsmit (guitar),
Willem Friede (Fender Rhodes/ piano/ hammond electronics / vocals)
Joost Kroon (drums),
David Rockefeller (trumpet / trombone / flugelhorn/vocals)
Jos de Haas (percussion/ vocals)
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