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REVIEWS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
February 5, 2008
VAN: Sascha van Esdonk Theaterprodukties
Klik HIER
March 23, 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
It has been my genuine pleasure to know Mr. René Laanen
for about fifteen years. I do not exaggerate when I say that
I have found him to be a rarity in the music business, as
well as in the rest of the professional world. His honesty,
generosity, and integrity, as well as his dependability, common
sense and intelligence are unmatched by anyone I have been
associated with in my professional life. He has impeccable
manners and taste, and all of the foregoing qualities are
reflected in his immaculate playing, regardless of the type
of music he encounters, and in his personality, which is always
an asset to any organization, large or small.
Although I am now retired, my experience in positions of authority,
both in the music business and later, in Las Vegas casinos,
has made me acutely aware of just how valuable a person René
Laanen would be to any prospective employer. He is also multi-lingual,
which adds to his adaptability to unique situations, and is
easily able to fit in to any organization, musical or otherwise.
Mr. Laanen also has extensive computer skills, as demonstrated
in his operation of a comprehensive array of musically informative
web sites that are highly superior to what one generally encounters
on the Internet. Anyone looking for a versatile employee with
superb qualifications has found the right person in Mr. René
Laanen.
If I can be of any further assistance, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Cliff Stark
Former Lead Trombonist Orchestra Frank
Sinatra, Las Vegas
6112 Cromwell Circle
Las Vegas, Nevada 89107-2513
www.jazzmasters.nl/cliff_stark.htm
(702) 878-6065
cliffstark@aol.com
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February 7, 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
I have known René Laanen for about 15 years.
In this time he has shown me through constantly working in
his profession, and performing with me, that he has a beautifully
big dark and centered sound, and fine sense of rhythm.
He is a marvelous colleague to have around, and is a totally
a positive force. He started his international reputation
with performing and contracting musicians for Shirley Bassey,
Madeline Bell, and Rita Coolidge.
His international reputation has continued through associations
with trombonists around the world.
If you need any other information about René, please
contact me:
Sincerely,
David Taylor
Bass Trombone
www.davetaylor.net
212 595 9204
dave@davetaylor.net
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February 8, 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
It has been my privilege to know René Laanen for thirteen
years.
René is a consummate professional musician, embodying
an excellent work ethic as well as a great sense of humor
and patience. He has demonstrated incredible energy towards
the fine art of trombone musicianship. He has been selfless
and proactive in promoting the careers of others around him
as well, and he is very well known, and highly respected amongst
a worldwide fraternity of trombonists.
Recently, I had the good fortune of sitting alongside René
during a rehearsal I attended with a big band. I was thoroughly
impressed listening to his accuracy of pitch, and the beautiful
tonal quality of his playing.
He certainly can give the "big sound" when it calls
for it, and the elegance of simple, pure tone when required.
René brings to the music not only his personal musical
excellence, but he is always "on time, ready to play"
before anyone else, demonstrating a quiet, quality leadership.
From this trombonist, I can only think of one word to describe
René Laanen; "AWESOME".
If you have any questions, please feel encouraged to call
or write to me at any time.
Sincerely,
Gary
Platt
Founder & Former President
Ex'pression College for Digital Arts
Emeryville, California (San Francisco)
www.expression.edu
510 594 6904
debeleen@sbcglobal.net
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February 11, 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
René Laanen is a trombonist of the highest international
standard.
I have known him for many years and first met him (1980) in
South Africa where in my capacity as musical director, I was
lucky to be able to book him for my recordings with The South
African Broadcasting Corporation and live performances at
the Pretoria State Theater.
His intonation and technique are impeccable, his sound warm
and supportive as is his personality and attitude towards
his work. Rene` was always an absolutely vital player to my
orchestras due to his exceptional talent and command of his
instrument and also his concentration, thorough professionalism
and dedication to the job in hand.
If you need any other information about René, please
contact me:
Sincerely,
Howard Wilkinson (AKA Howard
Morgan)
22 Beaulieu Close
Oxhey
Watford WD19 4BJ
United Kingdom
01923 218 607
howard.wilkinson1@talktalk.net
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The
Highlight Jazz Orchestra CD with Bart Van Lier (tb) and
Leo Janssen (sax)
"...Very nice !!"
I enjoyed it very much.
Bart Van Lier sounds GREAT and the Highlight Jazz Orchestra
is really playing well.
Ed Neumeister
(Trombonist & Leader The
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra)
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The
Highlight Jazz Orchestra CD with Bart Van Lier (tb) and
Leo Janssen (sax)
"This has to rank with my all
time favorite recordings."
Using superlatives too freely sometimes leaves you
nowhere to go when the exceptional happens. Well, I am in
trouble!
As a collector I go to some length to acquire new recordings.
Well I found the HJO, I paid my money and waited, expecting
something that was O.K., play it once and file it!
That is not how it happened. I lost a morning's work, I took
half an hour off a car journey, playing the CD put 10 miles
an hour on my top speed.
The music is taken from a well recorded radio broadcast,
it is live. There are sudden cutoffs at the ends of some tracks,
they don't intrude on the music, remember this is a demo'
CD! Bob Florence once told me that there must be joy in the
music.
This CD overdoses on joy, on talent on excitement.
The arrangement selection is wonderful.
The staff arranger is Rob Pronk for heaven's sake.
Peter Herbolzheimer chips in with SILHOUETTE and a version
of CHEROKEE that should have a government health warning.
The soloists are breath-taking. I should have been there.
This has to rank with my all time favorite recordings. I know
I will play it again and again."
John Killoch, United Kingdom
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The
Highlight Jazz Orchestra CD with Bart Van Lier (tb) and
Leo Janssen (sax)
"...The CD sounds fantastic
!!"
I have already passed it around to several people.
Bart sounds incredible. The charts are great. I loved Cherokee!
Alan Kaplan
(Trombonist, Los Angeles)
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The
Highlight Jazz Orchestra CD with Bart Van Lier (tb) and
Leo Janssen (sax)
"Your
CD is WONDERFUL !!"
I can't thank you enough René !!
Your bass trombone playing sounds great. Love your sound at
the end of "Spring is a Little Late" (Actually,
the more I am able to hear a bass trombone in a song, the
more I like the song. You can never have enough of that low
sound!)
And Bart's not too shabby a player either. The band sounds
very tight and I think your song selections and arrangements
are excellent. You were right, this does not sound like a
demo CD!! Please keep me informed of any future work of you
and your band.
Again, thanks so much. Take care and best wishes!
Mike Schmidt
(Trombonist, Trombone Choir -
Atlanta, Georgia)
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The
Highlight Jazz Orchestra CD
with Bart Van Lier (tb) and Leo Janssen (sax)
"Very excellent CD - I'm very
impressed !!"
The ensemble parts are crisp, clear and perfectly in tune.
You guys must rehearse and perform a great deal.
The jazz playing by Bart van Lier is superb!
His originality, technique, ideas and command of the trombone
are very refreshing in this age of so many pretenders
especially here in The States.
All of the jazz is wonderful as is the orchestra all together.
It doesn't sound like a demo at all. If it were for sale here,
I would buy it just as is.
The CD will be #1 in my CD holder where everyone can see it
and ask about it. I will always treasure it.
Congratulations René to you, and all of the members
of the Highlight Jazz Orchestra for a very musical and interesting
CD.
Cliff Stark
(former lead trombonist, Las Vegas, USA)
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The
Highlight Jazz Orchestra CD with Bart Van Lier (tb) and
Leo Janssen (sax)
"This Demo CD is a real BLAST"
Great arrangements ! Outstanding ensemble sync ! Brilliant
feature Trombone solos !
In the last few days I have listened to this great CD. Very
innovative arrangements.
Inspired Big Band performances, with excellent Big Band "sync".
The Featured trombone soloist Bart van Lier performs with
sure- footed authority.
Very impressive! Chops galore. The High "G" at the
end of cut #3 screams, and blew my mind.
Congratulations to you René, you should be proud of
this very successful project.
Many thanks for sharing this experience with me.
J.J. Johnson
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