The Don Bosco Hatrans community has enjoyed very much the gift of art and friendship provided by the Biggles Big Band from Amsterdam on 21st February 2024 and thanks also to Mr. Gerard van Hal, our benefactor. The Biggles led a first meeting with all our students and teachers on the afternoon of 21, where they youth could know the musicians and their talents, sharing also some Cambodian music. The night was the concert that attracts even our neighbors of Kep Province.
The Biggles Big Band is a 25-piece jazz orchestra from Amsterdam conducted by Mr Adrie Braat. The orchestra consists of 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 saxophones, guitar, piano, acoustic bass, drums and vocalist Clara Bakker. An extra string quartet consisting of 2 violins, viola and cello adds a sensational musical experience.
Between 2009 and 2016, Biggles Big Band Amsterdam gave performances all over Thailand. The orchestra had projects like Jazz de Chang and Jazz for Kids in Kanchanaburi, gave workshops for children in Nakhon Phanom, Dansai-Loei, Tak and Chiang Rai, had Thai guest singers and Thai instrumentalists at their concerts and played new arrangements of the jazz compositions of His Royal Highness King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Due to the great success of their 5 previous tours, the jazz orchestra from Holland has been invited back again for another Thailand Tour in March 2017.
Conductor Mr Adrie Braat founded the orchestra in 1985. From the day of its foundation until today, Biggles Big Band is a smash-hit. The band is based in Amsterdam and performs every Monday night at the famous café Casablanca, located right in the heart of Amsterdam. Nowadays, there are only few big bands playing jazz music from the swing era, therefore there is a big demand from all over the world to listen and dance to this kind of jazz music. Thanks to the high standard of musicianship and spontaneity of Biggles Big Band’s musicians, their energy floats off the stage to mix with the audience. Wherever Biggles performs they get a tremendous response from the audience, not a single concert is without clapping, dancing or stamping feet!
