biography
René
van Helsdingen
 |
 |
Born,
25th of February 1957, Jakarta, Indonesia. Dutch Nationality.
1962-72 Classical studies with Mrs.Komter Loeber, Holland
1979 Jazz studies with Terry Trotter and Lazlo Cser, Los Angeles.
His earliest influences: Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans
| SELECTED TOURS , perfomances and recordings | |
| 1978 | - contract with Munich records. First recordings. ("Helsdingen Modern Jazz" Munich Records BM 150219) featuring: Wim Essed, Klaus Flenter, Börge Ring, Henk Zomer and a student orchestra formed during his studies of mining engineering at the Technical University of Delft, Holland. |
| 1979 |
- Departure
to the United States for private Jazz studies. Introductions at
several educational institutes for jazz. - Recording (LP: "One minute Willy " Munich Records, BM 150200.) featuring: Willie Owens, Essiet Okon Essiet, Jimmy Roberts, Kent Brinkley, Henk Zomer. - First professional appearances with the Charles Owens quartet featuring: Leroy Vinnegar, Douglas Sides. |
| 1980 |
- Performances
with Obie Jessie featuring: Charles Owens, Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley.
Recording as a guest artist with Obie Jessie, Billy Higgins, Brian
Batie and others. - During his 2-year stay in Hollywood, California, René shared a house with several Musicians including Steve Jacobs, Essiet Okon Essiet, Brian Batie, John Rigby, John Butler and others. All house members were involved in a recording at the Media Art Studio's in Hermosa beach. (LP: "After the third Window" Munich Records BM250241) featuring: John Bolivar, Obie Jessie, Felix Ramos, Steve Jacobs, Rick Hannah, Essiet Okon Essiet, Clifford Howard, Rodney Mecks, Brian Batie, Edmond Allmond, Wouter Büchner, Mark Wigman, Nicola Paron, Tequila Mockingbird, David Best, Dale Allmond. |
| 1981 | Return
to Holland. - 'Italian Jazz' quartet featuring: Peter Guidi, Essiet Essiet, Don Mumford. 20 concerts - Holland, including the Northsea Jazz festival. - The recording for LP "Motivation" was financed by the sale of 400 spaces on the record-cover. (Munich Records BM150232) This was supported and first mentioned in a television programme of Mies Bouwman (Dutch TV Host) |
| 1982 |
- 'Superlights
quintet' feat: Obie Jessie, Peter Guidi, Essiet Okon Essiet, Don
Mumford, 85 Concerts- Holland, Belgium (sponsored by Phillip Morris). During this tour, 45 concerts where performed on René's first version of the Stage Bus (The Superlights Bus) |
| 1983 |
- 'Smirnoff
Quintet' feat: John Butler, Dale Barlow, Rick Hollander, Brian batie,
Henk Zomer, Evert hekkema, 85 concerts- Benelux (sponsored by Smirnoff).
- 45 concerts on the Smirnoff Stage Bus. Including a performance
at the Grand- Prix, Zandvoort. (sponsored by le Coq Sportif) - Contract with signed with Turning Point records. (LP:" Smirnoff Quintet" TPR010683) |
| 1984 | - World tour/ travels - in one year time, René visited 150 record companies in 40 different cities all over the world. In Hong Kong a contract was signed with pacific Music for the production of an LP with Chinese National Melodies converted into a western style (LP/ CD and singel: 'Impressions of China' Virgin Records, Pacific Music Hong Kong. Virgin 611327) featuring: Brian Batie, Egbert van Gruythuyzen. |
| 1985 | '- Helsdingen
music' 20 concerts- Holland drums/piano duo featuring: Egbert Van
Gruythuyzen. - Contract with Timeless Records,: LP 'Helsdingen Jazz Trio' featuring: Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Brian Batie. Finance of this LP by the sale of advertising space on the record-cover. (LP: "Helsdingen Music" SJP222) |
| 1986 |
- '
Helsdingen Trio' , 15 concerts- Holland, featuring Brian Batie and
Rodney Mecks. - Indonesian and Indian tour of 'the Quartet' featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Brian Batie, Rodney Mecks. A cultural Exchange sponsored by the departement of Welfare Health and Culture Affairs. 30 concerts- Indonesia, (sponsored by Filtra, Djarum Kretek) and India. (JazzYatra, Bombay, New Dehli - sponsored by Air India). - Formation of private record label: Relekreul records. First release of this label: "Impressions of Indonesia" (LP: RLIxU000) featuring Brian Batie, Luluk Purwanto, Rodney Mecks. The latter ones were sold as business gifts to several companies. - This same year 2 more LP's where released: "Onix" (production for Witteveen Fashion - relation gifts) (LP: RLIxU002) feat: Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Stefan lievestro and " Protection" (pre-release of "Spirit of Spring" (production for Markgraaf - relation gifts for Chinese Business partners) (LP: RLIxU003) featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Ben van den Dungen, Evert Hekkema, Stefan Lievestro, E. van Gruythuyzen, Broer Giesing, Jan ten Brug. |
| 1987 |
- A
new release in China on which Chinese national tunes were converted
into New Age Music. " Spirit Of Spring" (LP/CD Pacific Music; Tao
Label') featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Ben v/d Dungen, Evert Hekkema,
Stefan Lievestro, E. van Gruythuyzen. - 2-months Fusion project : recording in Jakarta with mainly Indonesian musicians playing compositions of René and Luluk Purwanto featuring: Udin Zach, John Phillips, Margie Seegers, Happy Pretty, Embong Rahardjo, Kiboud Maulana, Ireng Maulana, and others. - the latter has never been completed. On the 11th of July René and Luluk got married in Yogyakarta. - Arrangements and recordings for Asai Harum. A project at the Farmsound studio's featuring: Ben van den Dungen, Jarmo Hoogendijk, Collin Scott, Peter Guidi, Marcel Schimscheimer, Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Leen Barbier, Ernst Reiziger, Stefan Lievestro, Mark Mommaas, Eddie Conard, Joost Timp, Jacques Koopmanschap, Janice Lakers and others. The recordings where never released. |
| 1988 |
- 1988
Formation of the goup: 'Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio' featuring:
Egbert Van Gruythuyzen, Trevor Ware, 10 concerts- Holland. René and Luluk started their own company : Helsdingen Music BV. Through the emission of certificate of shares the company presently has over 350 Share- holders. |
| 1989 |
- For
promotion the quartet was engaged in a TV Film / CD production:
-'Live' Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio'. (directed and produced
by Theo Ordeman/ Frans Mijts) This production was financed by Helsdingen
Music BV and released by Dureco (CD: 'The Walz' , Dureco 1151512) - To celibrate their company's first year, a performance was organized with The Metropole Orchestra at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Conductor: Rob Pronk. Featuring: Ira Coleman and Gene Jackson. (all songs for orchestra arranged by Luluk Purwanto & René) |
| 1990 |
- 'Luluk
Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio', 15 concerts- Holland, Denmark,
Sweden, featuring: Marcel Serierse, Wiro Mahieu. The TV Film production, -'Live' Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen trio- was purchased and broadcasted by TV2, Denmark - 'The Super Band', 7 concerts - Holland Indonesia. featuring: Billy Cobham, Wolfgang Schmid, Luluk Purwanto, Steven Kelly, Deborah Robinson, Nippy & Shana Noya. During this tour, compositions of all individual members were performed. |
| SELECTED
TOURS , perfomances and recordings Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen trio |
|
| 1991 |
- 25
concerts- Holland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Belgium, including live
broadcast Denmark TV 1. featuring: Don Mumford, Wiro Mahieu - Recording of 'Ojongono' (CD. Helsdingen Music, HM001) featuring Wiro Mahieu and Egbert van Gruythuyzen (released in 1992.) Performance at the Jakarta International Festival (JakJazz'91) featuring Benny Mustafa van Diest and Yance Manusama. |
| 1992 | - 25 concerts- Scandinavië, Benelux. featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Wiro Mahieu, Agenda tour, 40 concerts- Europe.feat: Belinda Moody, Donald Dean. |
| 1993 |
- 1993
Release of CD/Cassette : 'Ojongono' , South East Asia, WEA Hong
Kong - contracted by Yayasan Pro Seni to Set up a cultural program at a restaurant in Jakarta: 'The Stage' Combinations of different art-forms in a daily program. - 10 concerts- Los Angeles area. featuring: Henry Franklin, Donald Dean. |
| 1994 |
- In
co-operation with The Stage, Jakarta, a bus was purchased and rebuild
by visual artist: Aart Marcus. The side of the Stage Bus can be
lowered to form a stage. (equiped with grand piano, sound system
etc.) for outdoor performances. - During the rebuilding of the bus a CD was recorded : 'The Stage' (CD, Helsdingen Music HM 002) featuring: Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley, Erik Visser. - THE STAGE BUS 94', 100 concerts- Europe featuring: Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley, Wiro Mahieu, including: Estival Jazz Lugano, North Sea jazz Fest., Kristianstad Jazz - fest., Århus Int. Jazz Fest., Couleur Café Brussels, Festival de Musique du Touquet. |
| 1995 |
- 1995 THE STAGE BUS 95, 60 concerts- Europe feat: Donald Dean,
Henry Franklin, Kent Brinkley, Henk Zomer, including: Nice Jazz
fest., Jazz à Vienne, Warsaw Jazz Days, Marlborough Int. Jazz Fest.,
JVC Jazz Fest. Torino, Festival des Cropettes/Geneva. Local visual
artists were invited to perform Life-Action painting on the roof
Stage of the Stage Bus. - Performance at the Jakarta Int. Jazz festival, featuring Henk Zomer, Jos Machtel. |
| 1996 |
- 'THE
STAGE BUS' 96, 100 Concerts tour - Europe featuring: Donald Dean,
Marcello Pellitteri, Henry Franklin, Kent Brinkley, including: Jazz
Fest. Vienna, Impuls Fest. Bregenz (Austria), 400 Days of Gorzow
(Poland), Kristianstad Jazz Fest., Falkenberg Jazz Dahar (Sweden),
Jazz Fest.Antibes Juan-les-pins, Jazz à Nice (France), Jazz no Jazz
Zürich, Wintherthurermusikwochen (Suisse), Natt Jazz Fest. Bergen
(Norway), Voices Kassel, Worms Jazz Fest. (Germany), Chard Fest.
Of Women in Music (UK), Aalborg Jazz & Blues Fest. (Denmark) etc.
Including a performance for His Majesty King Harald the Vth of Norway
(for the opening of the Bergen International Fest.). These
performances also included Life-Action Painting. - In Oktober 96 the Stage Bus was shipped from Rotterdam to Melbourne. |
| 1996-1997 | - 1996 THE STAGE BUS' Australia, 25 Concerts tour - with the Stage Bus featuring: 1997 Victor de Boo, Belinda Moody: Australian - Dutch - Indonesian Cultural- Promotion tour incl. Melbourne Art Festival, Adelaide, Albury, Canberra, The Rocks - Sydney Brisbane, Kuranda, Mount Isa, Tunarama Art Fest. - Port Lincoln, Darwin. This tour was organized in Co-operation with Australia Northern Europe Liaisons, Henk van Leeuwen. |
| 1997 | - 1997 'THE STAGE BUS' Indonesia, (LA Lights Tour) 35 Concert tour Java and Bali, Indonesia, with The Stage Bus: Australian - Dutch - Indonesian Cultural Promotion tour sponsored by PT. Djarum, Co- sponsored by National TV and Radio and Press (Jakarta-Jakarta). featuring: Victor de Boo, Belinda Moody. Including Concerts at Universities, Art Centers,a performance at the Borobudur Temple, The Sultan's - Palace in Yogyakarta, Denpasar Art Centre, Solo Art Centre, Bandung,Cirebon, Bogor, Jakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Purwokerto, Salatiga, Semarang, Nusa Dua etc. |
| 1998 | - Recording for new release: 'Born Free' (CD/ with CD-Rom Bonus track, Munich Records BMMCD296) featuring Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri. Recorded in New York and Holland. The recording includes an 8 minutes music video. |
| 1999 |
-
Official release of the CD: Born Free. (Munich records, BMMCD296)
'BORN FREE' 99 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', ( Donald Dean, Henry Franklin) 120 Concerts tour - Europe : including Jazz à Ramatuelle (France) Montreux Jazz Fest. (Suisse), Copenhagen Jazz Fest. (Denmark), Arhus Jazz Fest. (Denmark), Ålandia Jazz Fest. (Finland), Edinburg Jazz Fest. (Scotland), Sandviken Jazz Fest. (Sweden), Rotweil Jazz Fest. (Germany), and Django Reindhardt Jazz Fest. (France), Jazz a Mulhouse (France), A-Trane Jazz Club in Berlin, Domicil Jazz Club in Dortmund. - 'BORN FREE' Australia 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', ( Victor de Boo, Belinda Moody) 20 Concerts tour - Australia: including The Basement in Sydney, Adelaide Jazz Fest., Darwin, Katherine, Port Hedland, Perth, Albany, Melbourne, Euroa, Canberra, Kiama, Tamworth, Toowooba. (Australia tour organized by Australia Northern Europe Liaisons, Henk van Leeuwen) Supported by the Dutch Fonds voor Podiumkunsten. |
| 2000 |
- Building
of the New Stage Bus by visual artist Aart Marcus. - For the promotion of the CD, Born Free, and the new Stage Bus a music video was produced on CD-Rom ( Film 2000 - 4 Musicians in Paris, Spring 2000 and Lir-ilir video-clip, Munich Records BMWCD296) featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet. Camera: Martijn van Beenen. |
| 2001 |
- LULUK.COM
tour 2001, 'Luluk
Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', 24 concerts- Europe featuring:
Luluk Purwanto, Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet, Billy
Cobham and Luluk Purwanto, including Germany, Holland, Suisse,
Poland. - Festival Management, JakArt @ 2001 , International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival in commemoration of the birthday of Jakarta. |
| 2002 |
- BORN
FREE USA tour 2002, Indonesian American Dutch Cross cultural
promotion tour, 'Luluk
Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', 70 concerts- USA featuring:
Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet and Luluk Purwanto.
Performances at 45 Universities in 24 States of America. Supported
by JakArt @2002, UNESCO, US Embassy Jakarta, NL EMbassy Jakarta,
Indonesian Embassy, to the Holy See Rome. - Organisation and performance: Life TV Production for JakArt @2002 on June 22nd - from the Brooklyn Bridge in New York: Birthday wishes to the city of Jakarta / in cooperation with the Voice of America. - World release by ZEBRA ACOUSTIC RECORDS, 'Luluk' - Born Free Distributed by Warner/ Elektra/ Atlantic Corporation, an AOL-Time Warner Company |
| 2002/ 2003 | - Recordings for new release and production of a Video Clip: 'Brushes' (CD/ and CD- Brushes The Clip, Munich Records BMECD368) featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri. Recorded in New York and the Netherlands. The recording includes an 6 minute music video (CDRom, Brushes the Clip) |
| 2003 |
-
February 1: the spirit of peace / Performance at the Prambanan
Temple, Yogyakarta with the Indonesian Art Orchestra, conducted by
Dwiki Dharmawan and Singgih Sanjaya featuring vocalists Anggun, Trie
Utami, Edo Kondolit, Luluk Purwanto, the Paduan Suara Mahasiswa
Universitas Gajahmada choire, ISI Ethnic Ensemble -gamelan
orchestra. - Festival Management, JakArt @ 2003 , International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival in commemoration of the birthday of Jakarta. 600 events at over 200 locations in Jakarta, Indonesia. - MAHABHARATA JAZZ AND WAYANG tour 2003, Indonesian American Dutch Cross cultural promotion tour, 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', 20 concerts in Jawa and Bali in combination with Indonesian Shadow Puppets featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet and Luluk Purwanto, Nanang HaPe, Kiki Dunung, Soled Saryanto, I ketut Budiyasa, Aart Marcus, Martijn van Beenen. Performances at Universities, Cultural Heritage Sites and Village centers. Sponsored by Djarum Super and Supported by ,US Embassy Jakarta, NL EMbassy Jakarta, Indonesian Embassy, The Hague. and JakArt @2003 - Production and Editing of a Film and DVD, Mahabharata Jazz and Wayang. Camera: Martijn van Beenen. Duration 150 Minutes. for Indonesian Television sponsored by Djarum Super. |
| 2004 |
- March 19: Performances at the Pattaya Music Festival,
Thailand: Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring, Benny
Mustafa van Diest and Benny Likumahuwa - Production of DVD 'Impressions of a Tour' / Mahabharata Jazz & Wayang (editing / mixing/ production) released by Munich Records: MRDVD6002 - Festival à la Carte / May 20 – June 20, 2004 (150 events throughout 14 cities in Java and Bali – Indonesia) Management, coordination of The Stage Bus I, and performances. Organized by JakArt @ 2004 International Arts Cultural and Educational Festival - Aug 14 - 25 Jazz from Holland / The Stage Bus at the Olympics. Luluk Purwanto _ the Helsdingen Trio featuring Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri and Jesse van Ruller . 14 concerts during the Olympic games in Athens, Greece - Aug 11 - Sept 11: The Stage Bus from Indonesia - Festival à la Carte - 40 artists, 110 performances, touring 13 cities in the Peloponese in the framework of the Cultural Olympiad / Greece 2004 - Sep 19-26 Jazz from Holland / The Stage Bus in Greenwich. /4 performances at the Riverfront Jazz Festival: Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring Essiet Okon Essiet and Marcello Pellitteri. a Dutch Cultural Presentation |
| 2005 | - May 1 - Sept 25: “TULIPS 2005” …. 60TH ANNIVERSARY FRIENDSHIP TOUR - 100 performances in 76 cities throughout 10 provinces and 3 territories of Canada, offered in the spirit of peace and international friendship as a tribute to Canadian veterans on the sixtieth anniversary of the Netherlands’ liberation. Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring Essiet Okon Essiet , Marcello Pellitteri and Sylvia Cuenca. Organized in cooperation with the Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa, The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ottawa and JakArt @ 2005 International Arts Cultural and Educational Festival |
| SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY AS A LEADER The Helsdingen trio | |
| 1978 | 'Helsdingen Modern Jazz' featuring Wim Essed, Klaus Flenter, Börge Ring, Henk Zomer, Münich Records. (BM150219) |
| 1979 | 'One Minute Willie' featuring: Willie Owens, Essiet Okon Essiet, Jimmy Roberts, Kent Brinkley Henk Zomer Münich Records.(BM150200) |
| 1980 | 'After the third window' featuring: John Bolivar, Obie Jessie, Felix Ramos, Rick Hannah, Essiet Okon Essiet, Clifford Howard, Rodney Mecks, Brian Batie. Münich Records. (BM250241) |
| 1981 | 'Motivation' The Helsdingen Quartet featuring: Don Mumford, Peter Guidi, Essiet Okon Essiet, Münich Records.(BM150232) |
| 1982 | 'Superlight Quintet' featuring Obie Jessie,Peter Guidi, Kent Brinkley, Don Mumford, Münich Records. (BM150245) |
| 1983 | 'Smirnoff Quintet' featuring: John Butler, Brian Batie, Evert Hekkema, Henk Zomer, Turning Point Records. (TPR010683) |
| 1984 | 'Helsdingen Jazz' featuring Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Brian Batie. Timeless Records. (SJP222) |
| 1985 | 'Impressions of China' featuring: Brian Batie, Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Virgin Records, Pacific Music Hong Kong. (Virgin 611327) |
| 1986 | 'Impressions of Indonesia' René van Helsdingen & Luluk Purwanto featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Brian batie, Rodney Mecks, Relukreul Rec.(RLIxU001) |
| 1986 - 1987 | 'Onix' feat: Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Stefan lievestro, Relukreul Rec. .(RLIxU002) |
| 1987 | 'Protection' featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Ben v/d Dungen, Evert Hekkema, Stefan Lievestro, Egbert van Gruythuyzen Relukreul Records .(RLIxU003) |
| 1987 | 'Spirit of Spring' Rene van Helsdingen & Luluk Purwanto, Yin-Yang, featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Ben v/d Dungen, Evert Hekkema, Stefan Lievestro, Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Tao Label, Pacific Music Hong Kong.(TAO8.260448) |
| 'Luluk Purwanto and The Helsdingen Trio' | |
| 1989 | 'The Walz' featuring: E. van Gruythuyzen, Trevor Ware, Dureco 1151512/ Helsdingen Music, Wea Hong Kong. |
| 1992 | 'Ojongono' featuring: E. van Gruythuyzen, W. Mahieu, E. Visser, Helsdingen. Music (HM001)/ Wea Hong Kong. |
| 1994 | 'The Stage Bus' featuring: Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley, Helsdingen Music. (HM002) |
| 1998 | 'Born Free' featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet, Munich Records.(BMMCD296) |
| 2000 | 'Film2000' CD-Rom, featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet, Munich Records. (BMWCD296) |
| 2002 | 'Brushes' The Clip, CD-Rom featuring: Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri.(Munich Records BMWCD368) Camera: Martijn van Beenen. Visuals: Aart Marcus |
| 2002 | Luluk
featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet. World release
by ZEBRA ACOUSTIC RECORDS,
'Luluk' - Born Free
Distributed by Warner/ Elektra/ Atlantic Corporation, an
AOL-Time Warner Company (ZA 44412-2) |
| 2003 | LULUK 'Brushes' The CD and The Clip (CD/ and CD-Rom featuring: Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri. Job Zomer. ( Munich Records BMECD368) |
| 2004 | 'Impressions of a
Tour' - Mahabharata Jazz & Wayang (DVD featuring:
Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet and Luluk Purwanto, Nanang
HaPe, Kiki Dunung, Soled Saryanto, I ketut Budiyasa, Aart Marcus,
Martijn van Beenen (Munich Records: MRDVD6002) |