TU Delft’s Groover is the best student Big Band in the Netherlands

Student big bands from Amsterdam, Delft, Enschede and Utrecht battle it out at the Big Battle every two years. Armed with instruments and sheet music, they fight for the title of best student big band in the Netherlands before a jury. This year the jury comprised drummer Cyriel Directie, bassist and big band leader Johan Plomp, and trumpetist Suzanne Veeneman.

When the jury chose them as the winner, the Groover musicians looked at each other incredulously. The members of the other big bands also looked on surprised, said Bart Kroese, trumpetist and Aerospace Engineering master student. “One jury member told us that all the sections sounded pure and balanced. This is one of the most difficult aspects for big bands.” Niels van Willegen, the conductor, adds that “One of the other big bands had Conservatory students. They are better individually, but that wasn’t relevant for the jury.” They both believe that they won because of their teamwork.

‘I stopped drinking so I could build up muscle mass’

To be able to accompany each other well, the big band practices at the X sports and cultural centre every week. They also practice with their sections and individually. “I call my individual practice power training,” says Kroese, “I need to play a lot of high notes, and need muscle power to do so. I stopped drinking a month before the Big Battle so I could build up muscle mass.”

A lot of times goes into practising. “At least an hour a day.” His housemates are not bothered by the noise as they too play or have played in the big band. The neighbours do not object either.

The trumpet section of the Groover Big Band with Bart Kroese in blue t-shirt. (Photo: Bas Koppe)

Turnover
It is not always easy to bring a student big band to that high level. “There is a high turnover,” says Van Willegen. “Luckily we have had a fixed core group for a few years. What also helps when practising is to have a goal to work towards.” The goal now was the Big Battle.

Sinatra and Disney
The band conductor says that the choice of repertoire is also important in making progress. The students played the more difficult and sophisticated jazz pieces at the start of their performance. “There was one mandatory piece that everyone had to play that was composed specially for the competition. We also played Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly With Me and Everybody Wants To Be A Cat from the Disney film The Aristocats. The jury loved it.”

Groover Big Band’s win means that the Big Battle trophy is back home. Not only figuratively, but literally as the trophy – adapted from a trombone – once hung on the wall of the house where Kroese lives. “For the first Big Battle, a couple of students took the trombone apart and pushed a couple of screws into it.”

Van Willegen hopes that they will be able to perform in the time to come. “We are currently working on arranging performances. We will play everywhere, from festivals to student parties. And hopefully winning this title will make it a lot easier.”