The music of the Christian Hassenstein Trio is naturally geared toward Christian's guitar playing. His improvisational talents and instrumental wizzardry are featured and determine the sound of the Trio.

Christian finds himself at ease in the trio setting, since he is able to express himself utilizing chords and single lines, making maximal use of the possibilities of the guitar. Playing trio is a demanding task, but Christian's 25+ years of experience as a Jazz guitarist enable him to succeed beautifully. See also what others found of Christian's playing here.

Within this framework the other two members join along resulting in three voices interacting with each other. In addition to originals, the Trio plays modern Jazz based on the standard latin and swing repertoire.

But they don't just replicate what has been played before: in due respect to the rich Jazz tradition, their vocabulary is constantly being re-shaped, re-defined and expanded in search of making a profound and individual statement. In their playing, the creative process--may that be in improvisation or ensemble-interplay--is of highest importance.

The trio has played many concerts and has build a great rapport. Sometimes they feature a seasoned soloist as guest star, i.e., Ack van Rooyen or Toon Roos.

Demo music of various trios featuring Christian can be found here.

For bookings you can contact me by email.

Besides Christian, the current members of the trio are:

Ruud Ouwehand (acoustic bass)

Ruud ( born 1958) is a in-demand top bass player from Enschede/NL, finished his Jazz studies at the Hilversum Conservatory in 1985. Played with (among others): Chet Baker, Archie Shepp, Ferdinand Povel, Greetje Kauffeld, Don Friedman etc. Concerts and tours to Russia, Portugal, Belgium, Indonesia. Festivals: North Sea Jazz Festival, Hoffestival, Jazz Tage Kiel. Ruud teaches ensemble and ear-training at the Amsterdam en Enschede Conservatories.

Franc auf dem Brinke (drums)

Franc (born 1961) studied drums at the Den Haag Conservatory. He graduated at the Rotterdam Conservatory with a.o. Peter Ypma and Bruno Castellucci and studied in New York at the Drummers Collective and at Manhattan School of Music (with a.o. Marvin ´Smitty´ Smith and John Riley). He played with Karel Boehlee, Lilian Vieira, Benjamin Herman and Rick Margitza and performs with his own bands The Extensionicers and Sambacá. Franc teaches groups and individuals since 1992, also at DJAM, his own drumschool Drummers Initiative and the Amsterdam and Groningen Conservatories.

Zur Übersicht

---

The addition of Toon Roos, the great Dutch tenorsax man, is a splendid one. Toon and the Trio produces Jazz with emotional depth and flow rarely heard of in the Jazz circuit. This band will perform originals of all band members as well as Jazz standards. Not to be missed!

The Trio featuring Toon Roos is available for performances in 2009/10. For bookings please contact me by email.

Demo music of Toon and the trio (recorded July 08) can be downloaded/listened to using the following links:

• You are all Things
• Thoughts
• In Case

Toon Roos (tenor- and sopranosax)

Toon Roos (born 1964) is considered one of the finest tenor and soprano saxophonists in Europe who's lyrical style of playing is highly appreciated by the audience, press and colleagues. Toon is a true and unique storyteller,  intuitive and soulful, with a lot of blues, and above all, a strong sense of swing. His playing, as Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker once put it, is ‘so well-balanced, that every note has a musical meaning.’ As Joe Zawinul commented on Toon's style of playing, it's 'easy, nice and easy... you feel the music.' Since 1984 Toon has performed as a soloist or with his own groups in clubs, theatres and at jazz festivals throughout Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Bulgaria, the Caribbean, Mexico, the USA and China.

Over the years he performed and/or recorded with many jazz greats such as Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner, Danny Gotlieb, Jimmy Haslip, Jack Macduff, Joe Zawinul, Art Blakey, George Mraz, Enrico Pieranunzi, Hein van de Geyn, Rob Madna, John Scofield, Philip Catherine, Pete Christlieb, Walfredo Reyes Jr., David Fathead Newman, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer and Bud Shank. Recently Toon made recordings for pianist Ivan Paduart with drummer Manu Katché (Sting, Joni Mitchell, Manu Katché Group).
You find more information on Toon Roos on his website.

Zur Übersicht

---

the trio
Christian and David met in 2007. They struck the same chord and made plans to collaborate.
David notes: “Christian is a world  class jazz guitarist. A very lyrical,  warm and heartfelt sound with no hint of pretension... a very gifted artist!”
In 2008 both musicians met again for a tour of Germany with Dutch drummer Joost Lijbaart. The result was Conversations., , released October 2009 on the label NRW Records. This CD was presented on a tour of Germany in fall 2009.

the music
This trio covers a broad spectrum of infuences, ranging from Jazz to world music, adding collective improvisation at times.  They enjoy a unique synergy.
The pieces include soft latin grooves or swing furiously, are built around complex harmonies or modal simplicity.  In some passages David just taps on his bass, while Christian dampens his strings and plucks in counter rhythm, and Joost rattles a bell tree to complement. The occasional bass or guitar solo rounds up their performances.

“It’s all about creating an intense listening experience for the audience,” Christian says.

This trio is available for performances at least once a year. The next tours are sceduled between April 9 and 16 (almost fully booked) and October 28 / November 6, 2010 respectively. For bookings please contact me by email.

Audio previews of the trio's new CD (recorded March 08) can be downloaded/listened to using the following links:

• Falling
• Soul
• Blues

The opinion of the press
“The music of the trio [ie, Hassenstein-Friesen-Lijbaart] had almost mystical power ... great arrangements played in up-tempo ... impressive ... musicians of undisputed class” (Bocholt-Borkener Volksblatt 2008)

“A guitarist rarely sounded as emotional and subtle as Christian... appealing virtuosity, wit and imagination” (Münstersche Zeitung 2007)

“Few musicians on any instrument have made music as powerful and deeply moving as David Friesen” (Oakland Tribune, USA)

“Joost is absolutely fantastic” (Slagwerkkrant/NL)

David Friesen (Hemage bass)

Born 1942 in Tacoma/Washington/USA. Started out as a guitarist and switched to the bass in 1964. One of the world’s greatest bassists.

Played and recorded with (to name a few): Michael Brecker, Steve Gadd, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Marian McPartland, Sam Rivers, Dexter Gordon, Mal Waldron, John Scofield. He recorded over 65 CDs as a leader (including four 5-star album reviews in DownBeat).

As a teacher active as a Jamey Aebersold clinician, besides teaching wokshops at conservatories all over the globe.

You find more information on David on his website.

Joost Lijbaart (drums)

Born 1965 in Amsterdam/The Netherlands. Studied drums at Hilversum Conservatory (NL) with Cees Kranenburg and Marcel Serierse (diploma 1991).

Played and recorded with (among others): Yuri Honing, Ben Herman, Eric Vloeimans, Frank Moebus, Frank Wingold, Michiel Borstlap, Wolfert Brederode. Has recorded many CDs, also as a leader. Toured all over the world.

You find more information on Joost on his website.

Zur Übersicht

---

The sound of a Hammond B3 organ can't be described in words, it has to be experienced live. This trio respects the heritage of past organ-trios (Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Larry Young etc.) but refines itself constantly in search of individualism and meaning. In this framework the creative process is of great importance in soloing or interplay.

Christian and Dirk schaadt are the main soloists in this trio. As a virtuoso soloist with 25+ years of experience Christian can express himself uninibited employing single lines or chords. The seasoned organist Dirk Schaadt utilizes the possibilities of the organ to the max by using keys and foot-pedals effectively. The picture gets rounded out by drummer Norbert Sasse. Naturally not only a accompanist with big ears but a equal partner communicating on par with the rest of the group. In addition to originals, the Trio plays modern Jazz based on the standard latin and swing repertoire.

The Trio is available for performances. For bookings please contact me by email.

Demo music of the trio (recorded May 09) can be downloaded/listened to using the following links:

• Blues
• Nobody else

Besides Christian, the current members of the trio are:

Dirk Schaadt (Hammond B3 Orgel)

Dirk (born 1975) studied at the Enschede Conservatory with John Hondorp. Masterclasses with Larry Goldings, Joey DeFrancesco and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Played with, among others: Nippy Noya, Dave King and Malcolm Duncan. Did many CD-recordings. Teaches in various music schools in Germany and Holland. Resides in Cologne.

Norbert Sasse (Drums)

Norbert (born 1965) studied drums at the Enschede Conservatory with Danny Sahupala, Hans Dekker and Nippy Noya and at the Frankfurter Musikwerkstatt. He is a in demand-sideman and plays in diverse formations like the Holger Weber Quartet or the Bob Dylan Tributeband ‘How Many Roads’. Resides in Dortmund.

Zur Übersicht

---

The addition of Benni von Gutzeit, the virtuoso violin player from Amsterdam, to the Trio is a interesting one. Violin is an insytrument rarely heard of in Jazz, due to the fact that to succeed the instrumental demands are very high. Benni meets these with flying colours!

The band will perform originals of all band members as well as Jazz standards.

The Trio featuring Benni von Gutzeit is available for performances in 2009/10. For bookings please contact me by email.

Demo music of Benni and the trio (recorded July 09) can be downloaded/listened to using the following links:

• Yes
• Dolphin

Benni von Gutzeit (violin)

Benni von Gutzeit was born in 1980 in Bochum, Germany. He started playing the viola with the age of 4 being taught by his father. When he was 12 years old the renowned viola player Emile Cantor became his teacher. At this age, he also won the German youth-competition “Jugend Musiziert” first price. Two years later he won it again, this time with maximum points.
At the age of 15 he got sick of being called a “Wunderkind” and switched to the electric bass for some years. With 17 he went to study classical viola at the conservatory in Linz (Austria) for one year but decided that he didn’t want to become a classical musician. That’s why he started studying Jazz at the Bruckner-Conservatory in 2001 with Jazz-Violinist Andi Schreiber.
After three years of practicing, jamming and gigging in Linz he went to Àmsterdam to continue his study with saxophonists Ferdinand Povel and Jasper Blom (degree in 2008).

Benni is currently playing in formations in and outside of Holland including Strings get Wings (with Paul van Kemenade), Jargon (with Maurice Horsthuis), Laetitia van Krieken’s Big Bang and the Celano-Baggiani-Group.

Zur Übersicht

---