ADRIAAN MEES

 

Intro

 

What sound comes out of a guy who has, at heart, always been a passionate musician, but has only at a later stage in his life  chucked the straightjacket of a career in law and business ? Well, listen to Adriaan Mees from The Netherlands.

Adriaan covers a broad spectrum from hard-swinging scat-improvisations, via intimate ballads, to the warm sounds of the portuguese language, when he sings his brazilian material, accompanying himself on acousic guitar. Although he sometimes calls himself a jazz singer, that’s not all there is, as in fact  he spreads his musical passion over jazz, funk and brazilian music as a versatile singer / guitarist / bass-guitarist, while he also loves to play piano and percussion.

 

Experience

 

In 2001, Adriaan brought together the 5-piece formation “The Q Club”, which he fronts as its singer/guitarist/percussionist (for other  members of this band – all established names in the Australian jazz scene – see separate bio-sheet). He further performs as a solo-artist, is part of up-and-coming vocal acappella quartet “Sway”, and occasionally plays with avant-garde/experimental duo “Caravan”.

 

Before coming to Sydney, Adriaan worked in Hamburg, Germany as a singer/guitarist in the late ‘90’s, in various combinations, including his own quartet, with which he performed in the premier jazz-venues such as Birdland and Dennis‘ Swing Club. Prior to his stay in Germany, he has lived in Korea and The Philippines for several years. He has played and sung in many places, among which The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Saudi-Arabia, Syria, Malaysia, Brunei, Korea, The Philippines, and has been involved in various musical events, such as the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands.

 

Other highlights:

‘60’s: guitar in pop/rock band “The Problem”;

‘70’s: various musical & show productions

‘70’s – ‘80’s: bass, backing and occasional lead vocals in, and co-leadership of, 7-piece jazz/funk/latin/disco formation “Point” (total 13 years; approx. 700 gigs; international touring)

early ‘90’s: electric bass in Makati Jazz Quartet.

 

Training

 

Adriaan is mainly self-taught.  Bits of formal training taken later: Classical double-bass teaching from Ahn Dong-Hyuck, 1^st bassist of the Seoul Symphony Orchestra (1991), occasional voice training from Karin Ploog in Hamburg (1996-1998), occasional conga lessons from well known Hamburg percussionist Thomas Altmann (1998-1999). Currently studying Contemporary Music & Worship Leading at the School of Creative Arts of Christian City Church, Oxford Falls.

 

Contact details:

 mobile: 0403 038 427

email: adriaanmees@gmail.com