Johan Plomp's Optophobia

In the 25 years Johan Plomp has been working as a professional musician, there has never been a small line-up under his own name and that revolved around his music. Where there were a number of big band or ‘small’ big band projects and CDs have been released, Plomp was only present as a sideman in small ensembles that often featured his compositions, but finally it is time for a project that is mainly revolving around his small line-up compositions …

With the project “Johan Plomp’s Optophobia”, the moment has finally come for his own band. Ever since Plomp started composing jazz music, it has been his goal to create different points of reference for the audience within every composition, so that everyone can connect with the music. From someone who has never listened to jazz, to the most seasoned academically trained theorist, there must be something for everyone to enjoy, something that confirms expectations and something that surprises.

Where it seems obvious that a musician makes his music with the audience in mind (not to be confused with making something that the audience wants to hear), this repertoire is a commentary on Plomp’s observation that within (jazz)music there seems to be a tendency that some musicians mainly play for themselves, wanting to make their own point and thus lose sight of the audience. In irony, optophobia, literally “the fear of opening one’s eyes” is an encouragement, for the musicians and the audience, to open their eyes, to literally look each other in the eye and search for the connection.

The music of Johan Plomp’s Optophobia is in the classical jazz 5tet line-up, groove based with a contemporary looking back on tradition. Koen’s Wurlitzer mixes an electric sound with the acoustic sounds of the horns, drums and double bass.

Line up:
Bart Wirtz – alto sax
Ian Cleaver – trumpet
Koen Schalkwijk – Wurlitzer/keys
Pim Dros – drums
Johan Plomp – double bass