OUI026: BULLIPHANT / Sleep
Sometimes they play with the punch of a quick-tempered bull, other times theysound like a spacey group of kind elephants.
Caused by its name and cutting-edge interaction, Bulliphant sets a strong image of natural phenomena.
This is how the music of their debut album 'Hightailing' came to life.
For its new album 'SLEEP', Bulliphant draws inspiration from the experiences of body and mind during different stages of sleep.
That's the initial spark for Ruben's compositions; the rest unfolds through imagination, interplay, and improvisation.
Goya's statement “The sleep of reason produces monsters”, resonates strikingly within this context.
Bart Maris: trumpets
Ruben Verbruggen: saxophones
Thijs Troch: piano & electronics
Gonçalo Almeida: double bass
Friso van Wijck: percussion & bells
Recorded by Cyrille Obermüller, Brussels 2023
Mixed and mastered by Cyrille Obermüller
Compositions by Ruben Verbruggen
pic by Robert Kroos
Bart Maris (BEL) is a versatile trumpeter renowned for his distinctive sound and significant contributions to various bands, such as Spinifex, Flat Earth Society, Moker, Free Orleans Rebel Band, and Jaune Toujours. Beyond the jazz mainstream, Maris crafts a dynamic and multifaceted career, characterized by an extraordinary musical force. In 2021, he was honored with the Cultuurprijs Stad Gent.
Ruben Verbruggen (BEL) is a passionate alto- and baritone saxophonist and composer dedicated to crafting jazz and improvised music with soul. With a strong commitment to musical quality, he leads his own bands, Bulliphant and Yes Pavlov, and he collaborates with others to bring soulful, powerful music to audiences of all ages. Ruben is also a member of other bands such as Punk Kong, Jamaican Jazz Orchestra, Tom Bourgeois' Rumeurs, and more.
Thijs Troch (BEL) is a piano player who is mainly active in improvised music. He plays in bands such as Keenroh, Jukwaa, Kabas, The Milk Factory, Halcyon Days and Bulliphant. In 2023, Thijs released a solo album titled 'Stilleven,' aiming to create textural, electronic meditations — “a space where time blurs, and the natural flow takes precedence without the need for forceful interventions”.
Gonçalo Almeida (PT, NED), a Portuguese musician based in Rotterdam, is a dynamic artist, a unique improviser with a strong interdisciplinary approach. Founder of Hydra Ensemble, Lama Trio, Albatre, and more, he collaborates internationally, sharing stages with prominent improvisers. Gonçalo also founded Cylinder Recordings, a digital label documenting his experimental collaborations and new paths in music.
Friso van Wijck (NED), lives in Rotterdam and is a one-of-a-kind musician and composer known for his mastery of drums and percussion. Beyond his performance skills, he imparts his knowledge as a composition instructor at Codarts in Rotterdam. Always tuned in with open ears, Friso is a super sensitive musician, constantly looking for the right sound at the right time.
Digital release on the 16th of February 2024.Track Listing:
1. Cinematic fields
2. Inner forces
3. Hypnic jerk: a 12-tone discovery
4. Inhale, exhale
5. Sunday, part I: Inception
6. Sunday, part II: Develop and conclude
7. A dream leaving Bali
8. REM stage
9. Deep sleep
10. Waking up
Itunes, Spotify, etc.:
And on Bandcamp: