Rob Madna

Toleh John Nedricus "Rob" Madna (* 8. June 1931 in The Hague , † 5. April 2003 in Berkel en Rodenrijs ) was a Dutch jazz - pianist of modern jazz .

Madna was the son of an Indonesian (immigrated from Java in 1916, he was also musical and played the violin and piano) and a Dutch woman. He first played the guitar and then switched to the piano. He taught himself jazz by listening to records and visiting dance orchestras such as the “Ramblers” (often together with the van Rooyen brothers from his neighborhood in The Hague). At the age of 16 he began playing professionally in a military club, sponsored by Jerry van Rooyen and Rob Pronk . But he also studied mathematics with the aim of becoming a teacher. Even after he worked full-time as a teacher in Rotterdam (he even became vice principal of his school), he continued to play jazz and also taught himself trumpet and arranging himself. From 1951 he played cool jazz with his own sextet (influenced by Lennie Tristano and Miles Davis Birth of the Cool ). 1955 recorded his quartet for the series "Jazz behind the Dikes" (his debut album). At the same time he can be heard on "Jazz from Holland" at Columbia, together with Wessel Ilcken .

In the 1960s he received an offer from Thad Jones , who had heard him at the "Skymasters", to work for the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra as arranger and pianist on their European tour, which he turned down, as did similar offers by Lucky Thompson and Freddie Hubbard . From 1983 he was musical director and pianist in the newly founded "Dutch Jazz Orchestra", which is in the tradition of the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. Madna also arranged for other Dutch orchestras such as the Metropole Orchestra . From 1985 he taught at the Hilversum Conservatory . Most recently he played with his own trio (with Marius Beets , Eric Ineke ), with whom he also made a few recordings, together with saxophonist Ferdinand Povel : "The Rob Madna Trio featuring Ferdinand Povel - Broadcast Business 76" on Daybreak / Challenge Records ( Live from Nick Vollebregt's Cafe in Laren), “Rob Madna” in the series “Blanc et Noir” by Daybreak (live recordings of his trio) and “Live at Cafe Hopper” (2000) at Daybreak. In 1996 he released the CD "Update" with his trio and the Dutch Jazz Orchestra.

As a musician he played a. a. with Art Farmer (in the 1950s), Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon , Quincy Jones , Phil Woods , Bob Brookmeyer , Don Byas , Ack van Rooyen , Piet Noordijk and Lucky Thompson. He accompanied the singer Ann Burton .

In 2003 he posthumously received the Bird Award for Lifetime Achievement at the North Sea Jazz Festival .

Web links

• extensive Dutch biography at Jazzmasters in the Netherlands
• English short bio on Challenge Records
• Entry with discography (Muziekencyclopedie)
• Rob Madna at Discogs (English)