Aria Tineke Postma

• 1Sankalpa04:59
• 2Frede05:13
• 3The Sky Is Everywhere04:12
• 4Still Another Day04:36
• 5Lion's Roar03:48
• 6Vibe Shift06:10
• 7Idyll for Ellemis04:11
• 8Hymn for Hestia06:13
• 9Mysterious Duty05:35
• 10Leaning Into The Afternoon06:17
• 11Loft03:11
• Total Runtime54:25

Info for Aria

Tineke Postma, the highly acclaimed bandleader, composer, and saxophonist, is set to release her eagerly awaited 8th album Aria in May 2023 via Edition Records. Aria reflects Tineke’s personal musical journey since the release of her “Freya” album in February 2020, featuring new compositions, including pieces inspired by the Bimhuis Composition Assignment 2021. The title “Aria” represents Tineke’s passion for incorporating breath and space in her music, which, she feels, is more important than ever in today’s world. It also signifies melody, and is a musical form central to opera, an influence on Tineke and one she holds dear: in particular the expressive and lyrical singing of Maria Callas.

The appeal of the word Aria lies in its versatility. It means “song” or “melody” in Italian, and literally translates to “air,” a musical term used for an elaborate vocal solo in opera. Tineke holds a fond memory of hearing legendary opera singer Maria Callas for the first time at age 10, which left a lasting impression on her and shaped her love for strong lyrical melodies. The lyricism, drama, and intensity in Callas’ singing has stayed with Tineke ever since and remains a foundation of her musical style. As Tineke explains; “My saxophone playing style, as an instrumental expression closest to the human voice, has always been influenced by the melodic vocal lyricism in the music of greats like MAria Callas. The word “Aria,” meaning “air,” also inspires me to allow my music to breathe, whether it’s intense or serene. One of the things we as musicians can do for the community and humanity as a whole is to let peace, awareness and the beauty of music and life resonate through our compositions and playing.” There is so much going on in our world right now; we all can use some space, breath and air when we create and deal with life.”“Through the years I’ve come to realise that AIR is the most important element I need as a horn player and human being. I try to always ask myself before I pick up my horn; how am I feeling right now? Do I feel grounded? Breathing properly gets me into a zone of focus and relaxation in order to be as creative and play as well as possible.

This album is a mix of instant composed ensemble improvisations and composed music by Tineke. Besides lyrical melodies and adventurous rhythms, she focuses on musical elements such as sound, space, textures, ambience and orchestration inspired by the music of Ben Monder, Bill Frisell, Paul Motion, electric music from the 1970s by Miles Davis and the full oeuvre of her hero Wayne Shorter.

For some of her “compositions” Tineke used clear musical forms based on certain Aria forms, with a clear beginning and end, some shorter and longer or through composed Aria forms. Until 1400 the Aria signified a style of singing, after 1700 it referred to an instrumental form. Back then the Aria consisted of three parts. One of Tineke’s compositions, called The Sky Is Everywhere is influenced by this. After 1850 a concert Aria was a song which stood alone without being part of a larger work with one mood and one tempo. Leaning Into the Afternoons, Those Who Are Closely and Ballad are good examples of this concept. The Aria part of an opera is the moment of reflection and expression of the story. As Tineke always says; “I like to tell stories with my work and playing”.

Tineke Postma, alto and soprano saxophone
Ben Monder, guitar
Robert Landfermann, double bass
Tristan Renfrow, drums

Tineke Postma
is a musician of inventiveness and creativity, not afraid to explore the unknown, who revels in the inspiration of the master, Wayne Shorter, who once told her, before going on stage to perform together, “Let’s start composing”.

Saxophonist and composer Tineke Postma tours internationally as a leader and featured guest. She has released six albums as a leader, which have been received with great critical international acclaim. Tineke appears on numerous albums as a guest soloist. Tineke’s next album, which she recorded December 2018 in NYC with Ralph Alessi, Kris Davis, Matt Brewer and Dan Weiss, will be released in 2020.

The album contains all new compositions by Tineke. Tineke has received various awards such as the Jazz Juan Revelations Award, 2009 (Antibes Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival), an Edison National Category, 2011 (the Dutch equivalent of a Grammy) for the Tineke Postma Quartet album “The Dawn of Light” and the prestigious Buma Boy Edgar Award, 2015.

The 2019 Downbeat Poll listed Tineke as a Rising Star in the soprano and alto saxophone categories. Tineke has appears on two Grammy winning albums by Terri Lyne Carrington (Mosaic Project) and Dianne Reeves (Beautiful Life). Tineke’s previous albums are First Song (Munich Records 2003), For the Rhythm featuring Terri Lyne Carrington (Munich Records, 2005), A Journey That Matters (Foreign Media, 2007), The Traveller (Etcetera Now, 2010), The Dawn of Light (Challenge Records, 2010) and Sonic Halo (Challenge Records, 2014). Sonic Halo featured NYC musicians

Matt Mitchell, Linda Oh, Dan Weiss and Greg Osby; who was co-leader and one of Tineke’s mentors. Tineke has worked with prominent artists and groups such as Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen, Jimmy Cobb, the Metropole Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Nathalie Loriers and Tutu Pouane. On April 30, 2012 Tineke performed for International Jazz Day at the Assembly Hall of the United Nations in New York with Wayne Shorter, Richard Bona, Vinnie Collaiuta and Zakir Hussain. In December 2018 Tineke performed with Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding and the Wayne Shorter Quartet during the Kennedy Honors Gala in Washington. On April 30th 2019, she was invited by Herbie Hancock to perform with him on International Jazz Day in Melbourne, Australia.

Current projects led by Tineke include the Tineke Postma Group “Freya” (Ralph Alessi, Matt Brewer and Dan Weiss), Sonic Halo, Bloom Trio (Marc van Roon, piano and Tristan Renfrow, drums), The Tineke Postma Quartet (Marc van Roon, piano, Clemens van der Feen; bass, Tristan Renfrow, drums) and the Tineke Postma/Reinier Baas Duo (guitar).

Tineke graduated with honors from the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Manhattan School of Music (2002) and was resident in NYC from 2009-2013. She is part of the saxophone faculty of the Codarts Conservatory Rotterdam and the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

This album contains no booklet.