The John Gration Combination
The John Gration Combination plays a fusion of jazz, blues, bossa’s and ballads. John Gration writes all the compositions in his own distinctive style – fresh fusion with a spoonful of the seventies. Not just a bunch of musicians but a together band. Hip and lively, it’ll get you tapping your feet. You don’t have to be an expert to like his music but if you do happen to be a musician there’s enough complexity to sink your teeth into. Hot solos and great lyrics. A maverick combination of styles and talents. A jazz-crossover adventure for your club, pub, festival or event. Are we special? Of course we are. We not only play good music (groovy cross-over jazz) but we’re flexible, arrive on time and we communicate. If you have a goal or a plan, we can help you achieve it. If there’s a problem, we can help you solve it. But most of all, you’ll be glad you booked us.
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John Gration – guitar, vocals
He had something to say and he wanted to say it with music. He just knew he had to become a musician. Six months after starting to play guitar he was playing his own songs in folk-clubs in England. After hooking up with French musicians in Morocco he started his own band, Microcosm and toured for a few years in the South of France. Back in the Netherlands he played a few years in the Amstel Big Band but just had to do his own thing. Just like his compositions, when he plays and sings he sounds just like… John Gration.
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Huub Habets – trumpet, keyboard
A versatile musician with a love for Latin. Plays trumpet and keyboard and when he’s in the mood he plays them both at the same time! Toured in North and South America and Europe. Performed on Dutch and Japanese television. Played with Ekseption, Galaxy Linn, Mannar, Magica, Fruita Bomba, Paulo Passionato and the Pennies from Heaven, Attie Bauw, The Nits and Miriam Makeba.
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Michael Rörby - trombones, piano
Originally from Stockholm, Sweden Michael now lives in Amsterdam since about five years, working with- and writing for his own Quartet and Quintet. Other bands includes Tetzepi, Trabucombo, Zuiderzee Orkest, Tumbabo, ILLICIT, Souled Jazz, New Cool Collective, Mischa van der Wekken Quintet and New Generation Big Band to mention a few. The last years has included various television performances (VPRO), radio broadcasts and appearing in René Seegers' film "Madame Jeanette" directed by Paula van der Oest. Michael Rörby is an alumni of Kungl Musikhögskolan - Stockholm, Sweden, from which he holds a Master of Fine Arts in Music year 2000 and Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he graduated the Second Phase with honours [Cum Laude] in 2003. www.michaelrorby.com
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Arjan Schinkel – bass
Arjan comes from a very musical family; both his brothers and sisters as well as his wife and children play a musical instrument. Originally a rhythm-guitarist, he was constantly searching for the ‘darker tones’. After finding the right mentor he spent a lot of time gigging around from weddings to big-band and was in at the very start of The John Gration Combination.
- Patrick de Bree – drums
Studied drums, piano and vibraphone and has been active in the music scene since 1986. Played in various bands from pop and country-rock to jazz and funk. He’s been providing the groove in the band together with Arjan for quite some years. Patrick also teaches drums at two music schools in the capital.
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