Ack van Rooyen All Stars live at JazzBaltica 2010

Ack van Rooyen, flh
Johannes Enders, ts
Chris Potter, ts
Don Friedman, p
Martin Wind, b
Matt Wilson, dr
recorded live at Konzertscheune Salzau, JazzBaltica July 3, 2010

1. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (Oscar Hammerstein)
2. Old Folks (Dedette Lee Hill, Willard Robison)
3. Almost Everything (Don Friedman)
4. For Clara (Don Friedman)
5. Darn that Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen, Eddie DeLange)
6. Short Cut (Paul Heller)

Ack van Rooyen's career in the jazz circuit and as a studio musician covers a broad spectrum. Born on New Year's day 1930, he graduated cum laude from the Royal Conservatory of the Hague in 1949. He subsequently joined the Arnhem Symphony Orchestra where he played until 1952. In the meantime his interests were turning more to jazz and improvistation.
On a student trip to the United States with his brother Jerry and Rob Pronk, they heard the new sounds being created on the New York's 52nd street and were among the first to introduce the New Music to Holland.
A period of interaction with leading musicians in larger and smaller formations throughout Europe followed. Returning to Holland he established himself in the Hilversum studio's. Than to France for three years playing with the Aimé Barelli Orchestra during which time he was also active on the Paris jazz scene.
Moving on to Germany, Ack joined the newly formed SFB Bigband in Berlin, and later the SDR Orchestra in Stuttgart. During this period he toured and recorded with the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra as a featured soloist. Together with Wolfgang Dauner and Albert Mangelsdorff he toured Asia and South America. He is a charter member of the United jazz and Rock Ensemble as well as Peter Herbolzheimer's Rhythm combination and brass. He has played with Clark Terry and the Gil Evans Orchestra on their European tours.
Prensently Ack is based in Holland where he works with his own quintet, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz orchestra of the Concertgebouw and in Duo with Joerg Reiter. He teaches the Royal Conservatory of the Hague and leads workshops and coaches Bigbands throughout Europe.

Together with pianist Joerg Reiter he released two duo albums on mood records called "Music for Piano and Flugelhorn".

Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass live at Berliner Jazztage 1973

Benny Bailey, Ron Simmons, Ack van Rooyen, Palle Mikkelborg (tp)
Jiggs Wigham, Ake Persson, Rudi Fuesers (tb); Peter Herbolzheimer (btb)
Herb Geller (as, ss, fl)
Dieter Reith (org); Horst Mühlbradt (elp); Philip Catherine (g)
Lucas Lindholm (b); Kenny Clare (dr)
Special guest: Jon Faddis (tp) on tracks 3 and 4
recorded live at Philharmonie Berlin, November 3, 1973

1. Frog Dance (Peter Herbolzheimer)
2. Timbales Calientes (Horst Mühlbradt)
3. Sunflower Chant (Peter Herbolzheimer)
4. Nica's Dream (Horace Silver)

n 1969 Herbolzheimer formed his Rhythm Combination and Brass (RC&B) for which he wrote most of the arrangements. This big band was unique in that it had an international lineup of eight brass, but originally only one saxophone, with Herb Geller in that chair. The list of brass players included Allan Botschinsky, Art Farmer, Dusko Goykovich, Palle Mikkelborg, Ack van Rooyen (Netherlands) and Jiggs Whigham. The rhythm section consisted of two keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and percussion and included renowned musicians such as Dieter Reith, Philip Catherine, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Bo Stief, Alex Riel, Grady Tate, and Nippy Noya. For special events the group was augmented as necessary, but the basic combination remained as such for several years. In the late 1970s the band toured successfully with a "jazz gala" program featuring guest stars such as Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans, Clark Terry, and Albert Mangelsdorff. In later years the RC&B played many concert tours, television shows and jazz festivals. It was later replaced by a regular sized big band, which featured many noted international artists such as Dianne Reeves and Chaka Khan, that was still active until Peter's passing.
In 1972 Herbolzheimer wrote music for the Edelhagen Band's opening of the Olympic Games in Munich. In 1974 Herbolzheimer's Rhythm Combination & Brass entered an annual television competition held in the Belgian seaside resort Knokke, winning the coveted Golden Swan Award. He also won the International Jazz Composers Competition 1974 in Monaco. Herbolzheimer's arrangements are a distinctive amalgam of swing, Latin and rhythmic rock music. In 1973 RC&B released "Wide Open" on MPS.