Liberation concert with V.S.O.P. BigBand

In the context of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Oosterhout, the form of a ‘Liberation Concert’ with music and lyrics from the period of the Second World War and the period that followed was chosen in consultation and in collaboration with the performers below. Well-known songs such as: ‘We’ll meet again’ and ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ will be performed. The concert will be performed by the V.S.O.P. BigBand with the cooperation of vocalists Maartje van Bijnen and Robert Brekelmans.

The band is led by composer and arranger Frits Bayens. What is special about the band is that Frits himself wrote the very varied arrangements tailored to the band and the soloists, which gives the band a unique sound with this concert.

The V.S.O.P. (Very Special Old People) BigBand consists, how appropriate, of sixteen very experienced older musicians who have more than earned their spurs in the music world. Together, the band members have been making music for over 800 years. The band plays accessible ‘big band jazz’ in the style of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, American jazz composers from the period around the Second World War.

Maartje van Bijnen gives vocal coaching in Oosterhout and Tilburg. As a young girl, she became familiar with singing and acting. From a young age, she played in theaters and from the age of 20 she was on stage as a lead singer with a regional rock and cover band. She climbed the larger pop stages with this and performed at several festivals.

Robert Brekelmans is a singer in the style of Frank Sinatra. He is praised for his performance, diction, purity and timing. Songs such as “The summerwind”, “I’ve got you under my skin” and “One for my baby” are in his repertoire. He sang in the musical “Pietje Bell”.