Through her compositional talent Stephanie Francke distinguishes herself in a striking way of her contemporaries. Her talent does not stop at writing only, also her improvisations can be described best as a fast way of composing. Averse to clichés, there’s not a note predictable or a solo too long. These facets make a concert of Stephanie Francke Quartet a unique experience. During the almost telepathic interplay with her fellow musicians Francke shows in a visual way, that not everything has been said in jazz. A poetic adventure on a high level.
With her quartet Stephanie already played at the North Sea Jazz festival in 2013 and the International Jazz Festival Middelburg and many other stages in Holland. She got to in the final of the European Jazz Competition and won the Erasmus Jazz price. In 2013 she released her debut album “Florigen” which she received favorable reactions.
In 2014 Guus Bakker joined the band and in december of that year Stephanie and her band, being Koen Schalkwijk (piano), Niek de Bruijn (drums) & Guus Bakker (bass) recorded her second “Ripples” album released on May 1, 2015.
Ripples
PRESS & REVIEWS
… While listening to Francke’s second album, everything falls into place. “Ripples” is a coherent entirety of secretive pieces, mysterious and surprising story-telling, performed by a tightly communicative and skilled quartet… The piano playing of Koen Schalkwijk is particularly imaginative, open and sparkling. Contrabassist Guus Bakker and drummer Niek de Bruijn are subtile rhythmic sculptors, who carefully gard the open character of the songs… (Erno Elsinga, JazzEnzo May 2015)
… Open, playful, daring, sometimes melancholic and poetic, that is the music of Stephanie Francke… (Coen de Jonge, Jazzism June2015)
…Enough variation on the thematic side on “Ripples”. Stephanie Francke and her friends prove quality and immersion does not come with age. They sound very mature… (Hans Invernizzi, Jazzflits May 2015)