Baarn Welcomes World-Class Talent with Scott Hamilton & Peter Beets
Peter Beets, born on June 12, 1971, in The Hague, is a leading Dutch jazz pianist. Coming from a musical family—his mother is a music educator and his father is a jazz enthusiast and gynecologist—he began playing the piano at the age of six. His older brothers, Marius (double bass) and Alexander (tenor saxophone), are also professional musicians. Together, they have formed the group “The Beets Brothers” since 1985.
After studying at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where he majored in both music and law, Beets decided to focus entirely on music. In 1998, he became the resident pianist of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. His international breakthrough came in 2001 with the release of the album “New York Trio,” recorded with Rodney Whitaker and Willie Jones III.
Beets has performed with jazz greats such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. His discography includes, among others, the albums “Chopin Meets the Blues” (2010), in which he weaves Chopin’s music with jazz improvisations, and “Portrait of Peterson” (2013), a tribute to his idol Oscar Peterson. In 2010, he received an Edison Award for the album “Blues for the Date,” recorded with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. For more information about Peter Beets and his music , please visit peterbeets.nl
SCOTT HAMILTON
Scott Hamilton, born on September 12, 1954, in Providence, Rhode Island, is an American jazz tenor saxophonist known for his warm tone and swinging style. He began his musical career in various rhythm-and-blues bands but later switched to jazz and the tenor saxophone. In 1976, on the advice of trumpeter Roy Eldridge, he moved to New York City, where he toured with Benny Goodman, among others. He recorded his first album as a bandleader in 1977 for Chiaroscuro Records. That same year, he released his debut album on Concord Records, a label with which he had a long-standing collaboration and for which he recorded both solo albums and recordings with the Concord Jazz All Stars. In addition, he accompanied singer Rosemary Clooney both in the studio and on tour for a decade.
In the early 1980s, Hamilton formed his own quintet and toured worldwide. In 1994, he released the album “Organic Duke,” on which he showcased a unique style: a full, well-rounded yet focused tone and improvisations that, while rooted in swing (especially Ellington), also incorporated more modern elements. During this period, he moved to London and formed his current quartet with British musicians. He is currently touring throughout Europe.
Hamilton has recorded more than forty albums as a bandleader, including collaborations with renowned artists such as Ruby Braff, Dave McKenna, and Gerry Mulligan. His playing is characterized by a rich, warm tenor saxophone tone and an impeccable sense of swing, giving each song he plays a unique, personal interpretation.
"DOCTOR" BERNARD BERKHOUT
Bernardus Johannes Berkhout, born on April 18, 1961, in Santpoort, the Netherlands, is a family physician and jazz clarinetist. He studied medicine at Leiden University and has been working as a family physician in Dordrecht since 2002. In addition to his medical career, Berkhout has built an impressive musical career. In the 1980s, he was discovered by pianist Pim Jacobs, who introduced him as a soloist with the Metropole Orchestra under the direction of Rogier van Otterloo, alongside clarinetist Eddie Daniels. He subsequently founded the successful quintet “The Swingmates” with vibraphonist Frits Landesbergen.
In 2008, he founded “Doctor Bernard and His Swing Orchestra,” a big band that focuses on swing music from the 1930s and 1940s, inspired by greats such as Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. With this orchestra, he performed both at home and abroad and released the album “Let’s Dance” in 2011.
JACCO GRIEKSPOOR
Jacco Griekspoor is a Dutch vibraphonist and manager. As a musician, he has contributed to various jazz projects, including the 2002 album “Latin Lounge Party,” on which he collaborated with artists such as Alexander Beets, Rob van de Wouw, and Lils Mackintosh.
He also performed with Bert de Kort’s Swing Group during the Breda Jazz Festival in May 2023.
In addition to his musical activities, Jacco Griekspoor works as Manager of Marking & Line Marking at Griekspoor B.V., a family-owned company specializing in civil engineering and infrastructure.
For more information about Dutch jazz musicians and events, please visit this website: https://gptnederlands.nl/