The Tim Kliphuis Trio – set to jazz up Argyll

Dutch jazz fiddler Tim Kliphuis has been hailed as the successor of Stéphane Grappelli, taking his legacy into the 21st Century by crossing over from gypsy jazz to folk and classical music.  His music blends into a ‘swinging, zingy mix from this splendid young Dutch fiddler’ (Herald), and crosses boundaries between different genres, yet is refreshing and appealing to a very wide audience.

Anyone anticipating an evening of music inspired by Kliphuis’s hero, Grappelli, will not be disappointed by the swinging violin-playing, yet this is by no means just a ‘tribute’ performer. Kenny Matheison, writing in HI-Arts says: ‘This entertaining concert confirms his claim that he approaches the Grappelli legacy with his own musical voice rather than attempting to slavishly replicate the master. His singing warmth of tone, luxuriant melodies, richly inventive harmonies and pointed, swinging rhythms all paid fulsome tribute to the Frenchman, but left plenty of room for the Kliphuis trio to place their own stamp on the proceedings’.

Argyll has been fortunate to be able to book Kliphuis on his 2009 Scottish tour with his well established trio.

The stunning Nigel Clark has quite rightly been described as ‘Scotland’s premier guitarist’ (Herald). The excitement and versatility in his playing reflect his careers in jazz, folk and rock. He performs regularly with Carol Kidd and the Scottish Guitar Quartet and has recently signed an exclusive contract with the legendary New York jazz label Arkadia Records. Intricate fretwork and dynamic stylings have become the trademarks of Clark’s playing.

Roy Percy is Edinburgh’s first call bassist for many styles including celtic folk, rockabilly and New Orleans Swing. He plays in the Black Rose Ceildih Band, who have long been recognised as the ‘leading lights’ of the ceilidh band world. In great demand for radio and TV appearances, their latest release, ‘Stepping Out’ has received rave reviews, most notably a 5 star review from Sue Wilson of the Sunday Herald where she notes that the bands arrangements demonstrate ‘brilliantly sophisticated diversity and precision honed musicianship’ His Raymond Scott project was described in The Scotsman as ‘zany melodies, striking melodies, breakneck rhythms … a major achievement’.

Tim Kliphuis’ first international recognition came after he joined Belgian gypsy guitarist Fapy Lafertin in 1999. Since then, he has performed with jazzmen Martin Taylor, Les Paul and Alan Barnes, Appalachian fiddler Jay Ungar, top Irish fiddler Frankie Gavin and gypsy virtuoso Angelo Debarre. Tim appears at venues ranging from jazz clubs to classical concert halls. He has played in Edinburgh, Ottawa, Paris and Birmingham Jazz Festivals, Ronnie Scott’s in London, but also Richard Strauss Festival in Germany, which illustrates the demand for his performances across numerous types of audience.

The trio are now well established on the festival and music circuit having played Edinburgh, Nairn and Newark Jazz Festivals, but, in evidence of their boundary-crossing style, have just as easily impressed audiences at Derry’s Fiddlefest and Newcastle’s Folkworks. Their music has been played on The Jazz (CD of the Week), Classic FM, BBC Scotland and Radio 3.

The concerts in Lochgilphead and Dunoon are put on in association with Fiddle Folk/ Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop as part of their ‘Hands Across the Seas’ Concert Series, supported by the Scottish Arts Council.

The programme for the Tim Kliphuis Trio Argyll Concerts is:

• Friday 23rd October at 7.30 pm, New Rothesay Joint Campus, Bute.
• Saturday 24th October at 7.30 pm,  Mid Argyll Arts Association, Lochgilphead Parish Church
• Sunday 25th October at 3.00 pm, Cowal Music Club, Kirn Church Centre, Hunter St, Kirn
• Tuesday 27th October at 7.30 pm, Lorne and Lowland Church Hall, Campbeltown

For more details of concerts and events in Argyll visit the Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop website.

Mark Morpurgo, Folk and Traditional Music Editor