GEERT VERBEKE ON CD

  
as sound designer 
             and frolicsome composer
causing surprises
 

RECENSIE-EXEMPLAREN ZIJN NIET MEER BESCHIKBAAR

SORRY, NO MORE REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE 

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SINGLE 45 RPM: JOHHNY TURBO (1989): KVK, U beste doen: backing vocals.

CD: LIEVER KORT RIJK DAN LANG ARM (1994):  Vrede, Vrede (poem track 10).

CD: BLINDFOLD - ASTEROÏD 164 (1995):  Track 1: Ritual of the Rainmaker 

CD: EMPTY SKY (1996) with Kees Kort & Yanto van den Heuvel.

CD: ANIMAL TRUTH BENEFIT SAMPLER (1997): Track 20: Yoda, Friend of the Earth.

CD: FINGERPRINTS ON A RAINBOW (1998) solo cd

CD: NECTAR CD  JUULTJE TATRAI (1998): Producer & gongs track 6, bowls track 10. 

CD: RIA DAEMS CD ZEEBRIEF (1999):   Producer:  bowls&  JP-8000 synthesiser.

CD: NOSTRADAMUS (1999) duo cd with Roger Vanhaverbeke (bass).

CD: TWINS (1999): duo cd with guitarist Gilbert Isbin.

CD: CLUSTERS FOR DAYLIGHT (1999). solo cd

CD:  BAGATELLES FOR GRAMPS (2000). solo cd

CD: MIDEM CD SABAM (2000):  Amphora in track 15, CD 2  in duo with Gilbert Isbin.

CD: SINGING BOWLS, CALLING FROM INSIDE (2001)East Meets West Music Nepal

CD: ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC VOL.VII (June 2002): track 5, Moscow Russia.  

CD: SINGING BOWLS, TO REMEMBER YOUR MIND: East Meets West Music Nepal. 

 

        A FEW REACTIONS & REFLECTIONS:

CD: EMPTY SKY 1996:

  • transports the listener on a journey in an inner and outer sence, a jouney detached from concepts of time and space, in te vacuum of Now.   Henk Werkhoven, The International Guide to New Age Music, Bilboard Books New York 1998, USA.
  • ...the music is a mystical fusion of classical guitar, and prepared guitar soundscapes, complemented beautifully by a variety of exotic percussive textures and effects. The sound is simple, spatial and organic with emphasis shifting from a traditional guitar sound to experimental passages with ease. Highly recommended... Marcos Cardozo de Oliveira, METAMUSICA, N° 71, December 1999, Brasil &  EUROCK.COM , Aug.1999, USA .
CD: TWINS 1999:

  • There is not a shadow of arrogance in the music of Isbin and Verbeke.  Leonid Auskern, Russia. Translation: Alexander Petrov.  

  • Their sound in TWINS compares favorably to  the wonderful ECM Records sound, particularly the solo recordings of Oregon leader Ralph Towner (especially his Diary). Excellently recorded and endlessly evocative, this CD comes highly recommended, especially to Towner/Oregon fans...  Steve Robey, EXPOSE, 2000, USA.
  • El guitarrista Gilbert Isbin y el percusionista Geert Verbeke decidieron unir sus talentos y susinquietudes artísticas para confeccionar un álbum de experimentación, misticismo y meditación. Empujados por su facilidad para improvisar, consiguieron crear una colección de piezas pausadas,hipnóticas, con ciertos toques de Jazz. Alejandro Hinojosa.
  • Geert Verbeke generates hypnotic soundscapes using a kaleisdoscope of exotic instruments. Isbin's guitar hovers and darts percussively over this heady brew. Using jazz and blues ornamentations and figures, flamenco hits and beautiful fingerstyle technique, Gilbert Isbin gets his guitar to improvise a kind of dance which weaves and darts in and out of Vebeke's mystifying soundscapes. This has a hypnotic and entrancing effect on the listener. Twin is 'avantgarde' in the best sense, in that goes right 90% of the time. Acoustic Guitar Review.  
  •  On sait le guitariste Gilbert Isbin amateur de son étranges obtenus au moyen de guitares acoustiques préparées et son disque précédent, qui en faisait un usage assez radical, aura dû déconcerter plus d'un auditeur. Ce compact, en soi beaucoup plus abordable, n'en continue pas moins l'exploration de paysages sonores inédits. La différence est qu'il le fait ici avec plus de lyrisme, diluant son propos en une forme d'incantation, allant parfois jusqu'à le noyer dans une langueur méditative à l'opposé des combats qu'il se plaît à livrer avec son instrument. Grâce à son alliance avec le percussionniste Geert Verbeke, dont les Berimbau, cloches, amphores et autres gongs renforcent le côté ethnique de la musique, Isbin obtient des sonorités puissantes aux timbres soignés. A la croisée des chemins entre les ambiances ECM de Stephan Micus et celles du guitariste Ralph Towner, Twins apparaît certes beaucoup moins provocateur que Solo Works mais personne ne reprochera au guitariste brugeois d'avoir tempéré son originalité par quelques joliesses. Il donne ainsi l'occasion à une audience élargie de découvrir plus sereinement sa vision. Quand la recherche se pare d'une certaine sagesse, elle n'est pas loin d'aboutir ! Dragon Jazz

CD: CLUSTERS FOR DAYLIGHT 1999:

  • Opgenomen in de USA. Nieuwe pittige en harmonische creatie van Geert Verbeke. Deze vlot schrijvende en sprekende klankschaalspecialist bewijst nogmaals dat hij niet alleen over een spits en snedig gevoel voor humor beschikt maar ook als gevoelsmens rijk begaafd is. Een sprankelende CD! D.D'Hondt, Nieuwsbrief D’Hoogpoorte, mei 1999.
  • Thanks for the beautiful gift of your music. I particulary enjoy the bells+stones sounds and the harmonic voice. We are kindred spirits!  Colin Offord, Katoomba Australia.

CD:  BAGATELLES FOR GRAMPS 2000:

  • New Acoustic Music for singing bowls, prepared grand piano & various percussive instruments. The sound is spatial, organic and simple. The utilization of Himalayan bowls & prepared piano emits intriguing meditative music & mystical qualities purveyed by a dreamily sense.
  • Het gebruik van ‘prepared’ piano accentueert het bevreemdende karakter van sommige songs die hierdoor de functie krijgen van vensters op werelden en situaties die lichtjaren van hier verwijderd liggen. Jempie Sameyn, STAGE MAGAZINE, VL.
  • Geert Verbeke componeert niemendalletjes voor opa's. In een huis in Nederland (Bilthoven) en een klooster in Nepal bracht hij de intrigerende dans van notenbalken tot leven met een grand piano en Himalaya klankschalen. Geluiden van een onweer in Amerika en de 'Last post' van de Ieperse brandweer vullen de opnames aan. Dat alles maakt van het beluisteren een unieke ervaring.Philippe Moerman, HET LAATSTE NIEUWS 27 juli 2000,VL.

CD: SINGING BOWLS, CALLING FROM INSIDE 2001:

  • Thank you for your CD's! I listened to them and appreciate your investigation into new sounds.I guess that is what also you feel we have in common...Stephan Micus, Mallorca.
  • I have already listened to your track & must say that it is superb! I have no doubt to include it in our volume VII. Artemiy Artemiev, ELECTROSHOCK RECORDS, 20 December 2000,  Moscow Russia 
  • It was good talking with you. Got the new CD from you: bowl heaven!  Alexander McFee, 4 December 2001, Sedona Arizona, USA.
  • Great, including the cover.Congratulations! When I'll be able, I'll broadcasting parts of your CD during my "radio show". Vlastimil Marek, Oktober 2001, Prague  Tsjechie.
  • I have been swimming deliriously whitin all your amazing sounds these past few days! I love all the sounds. I find the "Calling from inside" most soothing, and enjoy all the variety on your other CD's. I am delighted for you that you have such a fine collection of bowls and other instruments! I admire the freedom you have given yourself to travel and explore. It is nice to meet someone who follows a dream to wherever it takes him globally, spiritually and artistically. YATRI (Kathryn Taussig), Lennox Ma, USA, October 2001.
  • Geert Verbeke  is another old hand in the field of singing bowls, and among other things he's written a book on the subject. "Calling from Inside" is the most uniform of the four overtone records reviewed here, where "uniform" should not be understood as "boring". On the contrary, the relatively homogeneous carpet of tones very effectively allows one to be absorbed by the sound, and by the tonal interplay of the instruments – instead of being taken up by the musician's compositional talents. Powerful stuff! Jack Donen, Djembé Magazine number 41, Danmark sept. 2002

CD: SINGING BOWLS, TO REMEMBER YOUR MIND, 2001: 

  • Dank je voor het gebruik van mijn stem, het klinkt zeer indrukwekkend moet ik zeggen. Je bent een meester in wat je doet, en ik voel me vereerd om deel te hebben genomen aan je schepping. Arjen van den Eerenbeemt, Tucson Arizona, USA.
  • Thank you very much for your new CD. A very nice production, indeed! Today I've sent another one to you. Till soon. Peter Frohmader, jan. 2002,Germany.
  • Greetings!  I received your gorgeous CD!  Very relaxing an meditational. Lovely. Suzanne Ciani, jan. 2002, USA.
  • The empty sounds of your bells were resonating clearly in my home today, reminding me to still my thoughts... Martin Posen feb.2002, Toronto, Canada.
  • I've been sharing some of your CDs, via loan, with my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (whom I see weekly), and he loves them too, sometimes plays one in his waiting room for patients to enjoy. So your music is reaching out to other folks here, too... William Bill Higginson, feb.2002, Santa Fe, USA.
  • Remember Your Mind is lovely! So very grounding and at the same time it takes you to such wondrous places. I was like a huge calming force that took hold of my Being and aligned me with the heart of Mother Earth. I am in awe! Your singing bowls make such unique and beautiful tones. I haven't ever heard anything quite like it. You have a gift Geert that speaks though you in the music. Elivia Melodey.
  • In een vorig leven was Geert Verbeke ongetwijfeld een hippe boeddhistische monnik die, omwille van zijn onconventioneel en experimenteel gebruik van de offerschalen uit de tempel, in aanvaring kwam met zijn oversten. Het is goed deze CD te beluisteren in een geest van openheid en ontvankelijkheid. Dirk D'Hondt, Nieuwsbrief D' Hoogpoorte, Gent juli 2002.

  • Most of "Remember your Mind" is very different. For example on a few of the numbers, Geert Verbeke is accompanied by guest musicians, one who sings in a deep overtone, another who plays the didgeridoo at one point, and tanpura at another. Geert Verbeke himself uses besides the bowls, cymbals, berimbau and prepared piano. Powerful sounds and mostly interesting combinations of instruments, but unfortunately on a couple of the last, shortest numbers, it sounds like purely on-the-spot, uncensored experimentation... Jack Donen, Djembé Magazine number 41, Danmark sept. 2002.

  • Ondertussen heb ik al bijzonder genoten van jouw CD's en mijn voorkeur gaat voornamelijk uit naar de minimale, meditatieve en ijle klankstructuren die je maakt met de klankschalen.  Buiten een zeer degelijke opnamekwaliteit straalt elke compositie met klankschalen een duidelijke structuur uit die alleen maar het meditatief maar sterk minimalistisch karakter accentueert. Vidna Obmana, 2002.