Dutch composer Jesse Passenier employs compositional principles of classical and contemporary music and jazz in his work and explores the peripheries of these genres and the depth and possibilities of harmony. He has worked with Kurt Elling, Vince Mendoza and Quincy Jones as well as classical and jazz ensembles as the Metropole Orchestra, The Heritage Orchestra, the Royal Band of the Dutch Navy, the Dutch Wind Ensemble, the South Netherlands Philharmonic, Holland Opera, and the WDR Big Band.
Passenier’s Fight for Light was written for the Spanish Adda Simfònica led by Spanish conductor Josep Vicent, dutch jazz vibes player Vincent Houdijk and Finnish jazz pianist Kari Ikonen. The album was recorded in Adda Simfònica’s home base, the Auditorium of Alicante in Spain in December 2021. Fight for Light is divided into three parts: «Piano Concerto No. 1: Levensdrift» (Dutch for «urge to live»), «Vibraphone and Marimba Concerto: Becoming the Colour» and «Duo for Vibraphone & Piano: Unravelling Confusion».
This is an ambitious, emotional and dramatic work that juggles constantly with shifting colors, melodic veins, rhythmic patterns and layered music. Passenier knows how to sketch nuanced, life-affirming and engaging musical stories, and has found two highly articulate and versatile soloists for his work, Houdijk and Ikonen, who enjoy their emphatic, contemplative and playful duet on «Unravelling Confusion». It is clear that he has studied their work and their respective instruments’ sonic possibilities thoroughly, as well as the orchestral qualities of Adda Simfònica and conductor Vicent. Passenier’s inclusive and open sonic vision resonates with his wish to encourage the listeners to fight for positivity in their lives, persevere to make their dreams come true, acknowledge one another, be generous, and find each other in conversation. Fight for Light reflects his optimistic perspective about respect, inclusion, diversity and connectivity.
Eyal Hareuveni
ADDA Simfònica (orchestra); Josep Vicent (chief conductor); Kari Ikonen (p), Vincent Houdijk (vib, marimba)
