Johan van Gelder was
born in Holland in 1965 and has been a
resident in Australia for over 10 years.
He studied fine arts at the University
in Breda, Holland, Jazz Saxophone and
Jazz Vocals at Griffith Conservatorium
and has worked extensively in Europe,
South East Asia and Australia as actor, musician and physical theatre performer.
Over the last 20 years he has refined
his Saxophone playing techniques under
the guidance of well known and respected
Australian and Dutch musicians.
He has developed his own style both in
the classical and jazz idioms, influenced
by legendary
sax men such as Stan Getz, Ben Webster
and Sonny Rollins and great vocalists
like Kurt Elling and Mel Torme.
Johan is passionate about music. From
the Classical repertoire of Claude Debussy,
Franz Shubert and J.S.Bach to the many
Jazz styles he loves to perform.
Johan believes that
'no other art form than the great Jazz,
reflects life with words and music through
a broader range of emotions. He loves
its diversity: hip, funny, melancholic,
sexy and sad. The Jazz message is clear
- to enjoy, relax, reflect, not to take
it all to seriously, and be honest with
yourself.'
Having traveled throughout Africa, Asia
and Australia Johan had a wonderful opportunity
to meet the people who made him look at
their Art and listen to the way they sing
of Love, Compassion, Dreams, and Hardship.
He feels honored to be able to enjoy his
audience with this global story through
the wonderful sounds of Jazz'.
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