• Track 2: “No Way Out” – Duet performed by Eckart D. Graf and Rene van Helsdingen during a brunch at his home in Voorhout, The Netherlands, 26th of July, 2009..
• Tracks 3, 4, 5: Variations – Solo performances from the same day, featuring excerpts from the album Water All of It.

Letter from his daughter, Claudia Graf

My parents really enjoyed life. In 1973, because of a new job for my father with the European Space Agency (ESA), they moved from the big city of Berlin to the Netherlands, settling in the small village of Voorhout. My almost six-year-older brother, Robert, was born in Berlin; I was born in the Netherlands.

My father, Eckart, was a passionate man who, besides working as a spacecraft engineer, had a deep interest in literature, art, dance, and music. He loved bringing people together. He often sat at his grand piano, a beautiful Steinway & Sons, playing classical pieces for hours on end. In my memory, the house was often filled with his piano music.

My mother, Tina, was a caring, kind, and gentle person, with a welcoming character. She loved engaging in conversations and always treated people with respect. They complemented each other well. Our door was always open, and everyone was welcome.

My parents always valued bringing people together in their home, young and old, each with their own story and background. And that is when I met René and Luluk Purwanto. I remember the many, many brunches at my parents’ home. By seven o’clock in the morning, they would already be in the kitchen preparing the most delicious dishes, both wearing white aprons that read: “Chez Eckart & Tina.”

My parents discovered the jazz music of René and Luluk, I believe, at the North Sea Jazz Festival, probably in the late 1980s, when it was still held in The Hague. Very much impressed by their music, they immediately invited them to a brunch at their home. They gladly accepted. And so it happened that René and Luluk (with her violin and amazing voice) joined my parents and their guests; not always on time, though! More than once, they had to be woken up with a phone call, but it never spoiled the fun!

There was great food, there was laughter, and above all, there was music! Eckart and René had found each other. Jam sessions lasting late into the night were no exception; sometimes with other musicians, local heroes, or famous international concert pianists. From the dining table to the grand piano and back again, everything felt natural and unforced. It was fantastic, and at times almost surreal, that it all came together so well and fit into everyone’s schedule. I still find it remarkable. They were happy moments, and friendships were strengthened.

Sadly, my father fell ill in 2008 and passed away in November 2009. My mother passed away in April 2016. The grand piano now stands gracefully in my home, carrying many beautiful memories.

I am deeply grateful to René for now bringing a small musical tribute to my father, Eckart D.Graf. In this way, the memory remains tangible, felt, and heard.

Thank you very much, René. And I am very happy that our paths have crossed again.

Love,
Claudia Graf