Bo van de Graaf
bandleader I Compani
I Compani began playing their own arrangements to scenes from Fellini films in 1985. The music of Nino Rota turned out to be very suitable for interpretation by jazz musicians. Gradually more of its own repertoire emerged, and the ensemble performed many different projects with different line-ups. Usually in combination with film, theatre, dance, poetry. But I Compani can also be heard as a mere concert group. Successful projects were: Fellini/Rota (in various editions) Gluteus Maximus, Aida, Divas, Mangiare, The Night has a 1000 eyes, Last Tango in Paris, Verdi 2.00, I Compani à Paris etc. The group led by Bo van de Graaf performed in many European countries and made 10-some CDs. Currently the “travel-group” consists of 7 musicians in which the rhythm section from the famous Willem Breuker Kollektief forms a solid basis. The timbres of oboe, violin, bandoneon and saxophone create a unique sound.
- I Compani is in search for venues and festivals, clubs and theatres. We like to present our mix of energetic and Mediterranean-spiced contemporary jazz with vaudeville influences to events that look beyond the average “13 in a dozen” programming.