Robbert Arris Jules Agerbeek (28 September 1937 – 5 July 2023) was an Indo Dutch

boogie-woogie Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...

and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

pianist and winner of several jazz concourses in the Netherlands in the late 1950s. He was regarded as one of Europe's finest jazz pianists, covering the full spectrum of jazz styles from his early days of

Boogie-Woogie Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...

to Chicago traditional Jazz, swing and contemporary jazz. Agerbeek gained recognition as a highly regarded accompanist for numerous renowned American jazz musicians who toured and resided in Europe during the 1960s and 1970s. Notable collaborations included performances with

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and R ...

Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...

Don Byas Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas (October 21, 1912 – August 24, 1972) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, associated with swing and bebop. He played with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others, and also l ...

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians. Gordon's height was , so he was also known as "Long Tall Dexter" an ...

Hank Mobley Henry Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to describe his tone, that was neithe ...

and

Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor Saxophone, saxophonist. He performed in the United States and Europe and made many recordings with Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Johnny Hodges, a ...

. Agerbeek's ability to adapt to different musical styles impressed audiences and critics alike. In the 1980s, he surprised many by transitioning to traditional jazz and joining the

Dutch Swing College Band The Dutch Swing College Band (DSCB) is a traditional dixieland band founded on 5 May 1945 by bandleader and clarinettist/ saxophonist Peter Schilperoort. Highly successful in their native home of the Netherlands, the band quickly found an in ...

Early life and career

In 1954 Agerbeek and his family arrived in the Netherlands. He started playing the piano at the age of 17 or 18. Except for one piano lesson from his mother he was completely self-taught; he learned the piano by listening to records of

Albert Ammons Albert Clifton Ammons (March 1, 1907 – December 2, 1949) was an American pianist and player of boogie-woogie, a blues style popular from the late 1930s to the mid-1940s. Life and career Ammons was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were ...

, Johnny Maddox,

Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or 27 April 1910 or 1914There is some uncertainty over her date and year of birth. Many sources suggest 27 February 1914, but there is a strong suggestion that her birthday was 27 April. Most sources give her ye ...

, Pete Johnson and

Meade Lux Lewis Anderson Meade "Lux" Lewis (September 4, 1905 – June 7, 1964) was an American pianist and composer, remembered for his playing in the boogie-woogie style. His best-known work, " Honky Tonk Train Blues", has been recorded by many artists. Biog ...

. In the first years of his career Agerbeek was mainly into

Boogie-woogie Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...

and later in his career he expanded his playing styles with bebop, hardbop and dixieland. He accompanied more than hundred, mainly American, Jazz musicians such as

George Coleman George Edward Coleman (born March 8, 1935) is an American jazz saxophonist known for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. In 2015, he was named an NEA Jazz Master. Early life Coleman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was ...

and

. Agerbeek performed at international jazzfestivals as the Paris Jazz Festival, Hammerveld Jazz Festival,

North Sea Jazz Festival The North Sea Jazz Festival is a festival held annually on the second weekend of July in the Netherlands at the Ahoy venue. The festival moved to Rotterdam in 2006 after the demolition of the Statenhal in The Hague where it was originally held. ...

, Kongsberg Jazz Festival and the

Berlin Jazz Festival JazzFest Berlin (also known as the Berlin Jazz Festival) is a jazz festival in Berlin, Germany. Originally called the "Berliner Jazztage" (''Berlin Jazz Days''), it was founded in 1964 in West Berlin by the Berliner Festspiele. Venues included B ...

Later career

On 17 November 1996 Agerbeek celebrated his 40 years jubilee as an allround jazz pianist when he was presented with the membership of honour of the Hague Jazz Club. in the 1990s Agerbeek performed with The Grand Piano Boogie Train featuring Dutch pianists Rob Hoeke and Jaap Dekker and recorded two albums with the group. As of 2022, Agerbeek still occasionally performed with his trio consisting of himself on piano and Ben Schröder on drums and Alex Milo on bass. Joining in on vocals on several performances were Jazz singer Mirjam van Dam, Susanne de Rooij and Brigitte Soffner. Rob Agerbeek's last public performance was on 18 May 2023.

Death

Agerbeek died on 5 July 2023, at the age of 85.

Awards

* ''AVRO Jazzcompetitie'', winner as Het Rob Agerbeek Kwartet (1956) * ''Haags Jazzconcours'', winner as Het Rob Agerbeek Kwartet (1958) * ''Nationaal Jazzconcours'', winner as Het Rob Agerbeek Kwartet (1958) * ''Membership of honour'', the Hague Jazz Club (1996)

Discography

Rob Agerbeek's discography of over 40 albums including "Homerun," "Beatles' Boogies," "All Souls" (featuring Dexter Gordon), "Keep The Change," "Pardon My Bop" and "On Green Dolphin Street" (featuring George Coleman). Five albums with the

and 10 recordings with his own bands of which three on the

Oldie Blues Oldie Blues was a Dutch record label founded and owned by Martin van Olderen. History The label was founded in 1974 and focused primarily on piano blues, boogie-woogie and Delta blues, issuing 46 LPs and 13 CDs.Wynn, Neil, ''Cross the Water Blu ...

label.

Studio albums as Rob Agerbeek, Rob Agerbeek Trio and Rob Agerbeek Quintet

* ''Boogie Woogie Party'', as Rob Agerbeek Quintet, CBS, 1971 * ''Homerun'', as Rob Agerbeek Quintet, Polydor, 1971 * ''Beatles' Boogies'', as Rob Agerbeek, CBS, 1971 * ''All Souls'', as The Rob Agerbeek Trio featuring Dexter Gordon, Dexterity, 1972 * ''Keep the Change'', as The Rob Agerbeek Quintet, Munich, 1976 * ''The Boogie Rocks'', as Rob Agerbeek,

, 1975 * ''Miss Dee'', as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Lime Tree, 1981 (released on CD, 2023) * ''Swing Gift'', as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Jazzz '91, 1991 * ''Second Opinion'', as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Jazzz '91, 1992 * ''Full House'', as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Nuts Ziektekosten Verzekering, 1994 (re-release on CD 2023) * ''The Boogie Rocks'', as Rob Agerbeek,

, 1997 (expanded re-issue of 1975 album) * '' Three of a Kind'', as Rob Agerbeek, Oldie Blues, 1998 * ''Homerun – volume 2, as Rob Agerbeek Quintet, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2006 * ''The Very Thought of You'', as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Venus, 2007 (Japan)

Collaboration albums

* ''Gibraltar'', as Harry Verbeke/Rob Agerbeek Quartet, Timeless, 1980 * ''Seven Steps'', as Harry Verbeke/Rob Agerbeek Quartet, Timeless, 1983 * ''Stardust'', as Harry Verbeke/Rob Agerbeek, Timeless, 1992 * ''Boogie on the Move'' as The Grand Piano Boogie Train: Jaap Dekker, Rob Hoeke and Rob Agerbeek, Rodero Records, 1996 * ''Blues & Boogie Movin' On'' as The Grand Piano Boogie Train: Jaap Dekker, Rob Hoeke and Rob Agerbeek, Rodero Records, 1997 * ''That's all'', as Ann Burton & Mark Murphy meet the Rob Agerbeek Trio, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2004 * ''Pardon My Bop'', as Rob Agerbeek/Ruud Brink Quartet, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2004 * ''Almost Blue'', as John Marshall & The Rob Agerbeek Trio, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2008 * ''On Green Dolphin Street'', as George Coleman and The Rob Agerbeek Trio, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2010

As member of The Dutch Swing College Band

* ''The Best Of Dixie'', The Dutch Swing College Band (Rob Agerbeek piano), MasterTone, 1999 * ''We Double Dare You'', The Dutch Swing College Band (Rob Agerbeek piano), Timeless Records, 2004

Albums featuring Rob Agerbeek

* ''Everything Happens'', Ann Burton (Rob Agerbeek piano), Burtone, 1998 * ''Hank Mobley in Holland : To one so sweet stay that way'', Hank Mobley (Rob Agerbeek piano), Nederlands Jazz Archief, 2016 * ''To One So Sweet Stay That Way: Hank Mobley in Holland'', Hank Mobley (Rob Agerbeek piano), Nederlands Jazz Archief, 2017 (recorded in 1968)

References

External links

Rob Agerbeek
at Muziek Encyclopedie
Rob Agerbeek
at

Discogs Discogs ( ; short for " discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''T ...

Rob Agerbeek
at Muziekweb
Rob Agerbeek
at

Rate Your Music Rate Your Music (often abbreviated to RYM) is an online encyclopedia of music releases and films. Users can catalog items from their personal collection, review them, and assign ratings in a five-star rating system. The site also features comm ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agerbeek, Rob 1937 births 2023 deaths Boogie-woogie pianists Boogie-woogie musicians Dutch jazz pianists Dutch jazz composers Polydor Records artists Timeless Records artists Venus Records artists Dutch people of Indonesian descent Indo people Oldie Blues artists People from Batavia, Dutch East Indies 21st-century Dutch pianists Dutch Swing College Band members