Rene van Helsdingen

Rene Peter Onno Rubiono van Helsdingen (born 25 February 1957) is a Dutch pianist and composer. He studied classical music with Mrs. Komter Loeber in Blaricum, Holland from 1962–1972. Then he studied jazz music with Terry Trotter and Lazlo Cser in Los Angeles in 1979. His earliest influences include Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans. He is married to the violinist Luluk Purwanto.
Helsdingen has recorded and produced for many labels, including Virgin, Timeless, Turning Point Records, WEA, Dureco and his own label Helsdingen Music. Helsdingen writes most of his repertoire.

"A rewarding pianist who can play comfortably in the groove, or create more impressionistic patterns, or quiet, subtle musings. Perhaps the most notable quality of his solos is brevity. René allows himself a few extended workouts and avoids the trap of repeating himself or overstating his case." - The Age

During the last 35 years he has organized successful tours, projects and festivals sponsored by non-government and government institutions. René van Helsdingen has always been composing, performing and recording music. He has a copyright arrangement with BUMA STEMRA Netherlands.

1973–1976

Formation of his first trio featuring: Martijn Nesenberend, and Dick Pluim. Participated at the Singer Jazz Festival in 1973 and in 1975 the trio was accompanied by a string orchestra.

1978

Contract with Munich records. First recordings. ("Helsdingen Modern Jazz" Munich Records BM 150219) featuring: Wim Essed, Klaus Flenter, Börge Ring, Henk Zomer and a student orchestra formed during his studies of mining engineering at the Technical University of Delft, Holland.

1979

Departure to the United States for private Jazz studies. Introductions at several educational institutes for jazz.

Recording (LP: "One minute Willy " Munich Records, BM 150200) featuring: Willie Owens, Essiet Okon Essiet, Jimmy Roberts, Kent Brinkley, Henk Zomer.

First professional appearances with the Charles Owens quartet featuring: Leroy Vinnegar, Douglas Sides.

1980

Performances with Obie Jessie featuring: Charles Owens, Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley. Recording as a guest artist for singer Obie Jessie with Billy Higgins, Brian Batie and others.

During his two-year stay in Hollywood, California, René shared a house with several musicians including Steve Jacobs, Essiet Okon Essiet, Brian Batie, John Rigby, John Butler and others. All house members were involved in a recording at the Media Art Studio in Hermosa beach.

1981

'Italian Jazz' quartet featuring: Peter Guidi, Essiet Essiet, Don Mumford, - 20 concerts - Holland, including the Northsea Jazz festival.

The recording for LP "Motivation" was financed by the sale of 400 spaces on the record-cover. This project was supported and first mentioned in a television program of Mies Bouwman.

1982

'Superlights quintet' feat: Obie Jessie, Peter Guidi, Essiet Okon Essiet, Don Mumford, - 85 concerts - Holland, Belgium (sponsored by Phillip Morris). During this tour, 45 concerts were performed on René's first version of the Stage Bus (The Superlights Bus)

1983

Smirnoff Quintet' feat: John Butler, Dale Barlow, Rick Hollander, Brian batie, Henk Zomer, Evert hekkema, 85 concerts - Benelux (sponsored by Smirnoff) - 45 concerts on the Smirnoff Stage Bus. Including a performance at the Grand-Prix, Zandvoort. (sponsored by le Coq Sportif)

Contract signed with Turning Point records.

1984

World tour/ travels - in one year, René visited 150 record companies in 40 different cities worldwide. In Hong Kong a contract was signed with Pacific Music for the production of an LP with Chinese National Melodies converted into a western style, featuring: Brian Batie, Egbert van Gruythuyzen.

1985

Helsdingen music - 20 concerts - Holland drums/piano duo featuring: Egbert Van Gruythuyzen.

Contract with Timeless Records,: LP 'Helsdingen Jazz Trio' featuring: Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Brian Batie. Finance of this LP by the sale of advertising space on the record-cover.

1986

Helsdingen Trio - 15 concerts - Holland, featuring Brian Batie and Rodney Mecks.

Indonesian and Indian tour of 'the Quartet' featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Brian Batie, Rodney Mecks. A cultural exchange sponsored by the department of Welfare Health and Cultural Affairs. 30 concerts - Indonesia and India

Formation of private record label: Relukreul records. First release of this label: "Impressions of Indonesia" (LP: RLIxU000) featuring Brian Batie, Luluk Purwanto, Rodney Mecks. The later ones were sold as business gifts to several companies.

This same year two more LPs were released on Relukreul records: "Onix" (production for Witteveen Fashion - relation gifts) (LP: RLIxU002) featuring: Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Stefan Lievestro and "Protection" (pre-release of "Spirit of Spring" (production for Markgraaf - relation gifts for Chinese business partners) (LP: RLIxU003) Original Chinese music transferred in a western style, featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Ben van den Dungen, Evert Hekkema, Stefan Lievestro, E. van Gruythuyzen, Broer Giesing, Jan ten Brug.

1987

A new release in China on which Chinese national tunes were converted into New Age Music. "Spirit Of Spring" (LP/CD Pacific Music; Tao Label') featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Ben v/d Dungen, Evert Hekkema, Stefan Lievestro, E. van Gruythuyzen.

Two-month Fusion project: recording in Jakarta with mainly Indonesian musicians playing compositions of René and Luluk Purwanto featuring: Udin Zach, John Phillips, Margie Seegers, Happy Pretty, Embong Rahardjo, Kiboud Maulana, Ireng Maulana, and others; the latter has never been completed.

Arrangements and recordings for Asai Harum. A project at the Farmsound studios featuring: Ben van den Dungen, Jarmo Hoogendijk, Collin Scott, Peter Guidi, Marcel Schimscheimer, Egbert van Gruythuyzen, Leen Barbier, Ernst Reiziger, Stefan Lievestro, Mark Mommaas, Eddie Conard, Joost Timp, Jacques Koopmanschap, Janice Lakers and others. The recordings were never released.

1988

Formation of the group: 'Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio' featuring: Egbert Van Gruythuyzen, Trevor Ware, 10 concerts - Holland.

1988

The founding of THE STAGE - THE STAGE BUS - HELSDINGEN MUSIC BV

Company's objective in a general sense: The promotion of musicians and their work, in particular by means of the production, sale and distribution of the image and sound recording media of these musicians and their work. Director Helsdingen Music BV, an enterprise for the organization & promotion of concert tours and Music productions. Through the emission of music share certificates the company had over 350 shareholders.

1989

For promotion the quartet was engaged in a TV Film / CD production: - 'Live' Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio' (directed and produced by Theo Ordeman/ Frans Mijts) This production was financed by Helsdingen Music BV and released by Dureco (CD: 'The Walz', Dureco 1151512)

To celebrate their company's first year, a performance was organized with The Metropole Orchestra at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Conductor: Rob Pronk. Featuring: Ira Coleman and Gene Jackson (all songs for orchestra arranged by René and Luluk Purwanto)

1990

'Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio', 15 concerts - Holland, Denmark, Sweden, featuring: Marcel Serierse, Wiro Mahieu.

The TV Film production - 'Live' Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen trio - was purchased and broadcast by TV2, Denmark

'The Super Band', 7 concerts - Holland and Indonesia; featuring: Billy Cobham, Wolfgang Schmid, Luluk Purwanto, Steven Kelly, Deborah Robinson, Nippy & Shana Noya. (compositions of all individual members were performed)

1991

25 concerts - Holland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Belgium, including live broadcast Denmark TV 1; featuring: Don Mumford, Wiro Mahieu

Recording of 'Ojongono' (CD. Helsdingen Music, HM001) featuring Wiro Mahieu and Egbert van Gruythuyzen (released in 1992.)

Performance at the Jakarta International Festival (JakJazz'91) featuring Benny Mustafa van Diest and Yance Manusama.

1992

25 concerts - Scandinavië, Benelux. featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Wiro Mahieu, Agenda tour, 40 concerts - Europe. feat: Belinda Moody, Donald Dean.

1993

Release of CD/Cassette : 'Ojongono' , South East Asia, WEA Hong Kong

Contracted by Yayasan Pro Seni to Set up a cultural program at a restaurant in Jakarta: 'The Stage' Restaurant. Combinations of different art-forms were scheduled in a weekly program.

10 concerts - Los Angeles area. featuring: Henry Franklin, Donald Dean

1994

In co-operation with The Stage, Jakarta, a bus was purchased and rebuild by visual artist: Aart Marcus. The side of the Stage Bus can be lowered to form a stage. (equipped with grand piano, sound system etc.) for outdoor performances. During the rebuilding of the bus a CD was recorded : 'The Stage' (CD, Helsdingen Music HM 002) featuring: Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley, Erik Visser.

THE STAGE BUS 94', 100 concerts- Europe featuring: Donald Dean, Kent Brinkley, Wiro Mahieu, including: Festival Jazz Lugano, North Sea jazz Fest., Kristianstad Jazz - fest., Århus Int. Jazz Fest, Couleur Café Brussels, Festival de Musique du Touquet.

1995

THE STAGE BUS 95, 60 concerts - Europe feat: Donald Dean, Henry Franklin, Kent Brinkley, Henk Zomer, including: Nice Jazz fest., Jazz à Vienne, Warsaw Jazz Days, Marlborough Int. Jazz Fest., JVC Jazz Fest. Torino, Festival des Cropettes/Geneva. Local visual artists were invited to perform Life-Action painting on the roof Stage of the Stage Bus.

Performance at the Jakarta Int. Jazz festival, featuring Luluk Purwanto, Henk Zomer, Jos Machtel.

1996

'THE STAGE BUS' 96, 100 Concerts tour - Europe featuring: Donald Dean, Marcello Pellitteri, Henry Franklin, Kent Brinkley, including: Jazz Fest. Vienna, Impuls Fest. Bregenz (Austria), 400 Days of Gorzow (Poland), Kristianstad Jazz Fest., Falkenberg Jazz Dahar (Sweden), Jazz Fest.Antibes Juan-les-pins, Jazz à Nice (France), Jazz no Jazz Zürich, Wintherthurermusikwochen (Suisse), Natt Jazz Fest. Bergen (Norway), Voices Kassel, Worms Jazz Fest. (Germany), Chard Fest. of Women in Music (UK), Aalborg Jazz & Blues Fest. (Denmark) etc. Including a performance for His Majesty King Harald V of Norway (for the opening of the Bergen International Fest.). These performances also included Life-Action Painting. (In October 96 the Stage Bus was shipped from Rotterdam to Melbourne.)

THE STAGE BUS' Australia, 25 Concerts tour - with the Stage Bus featuring: 1997 Victor de Boo, Belinda Moody: Australian - Dutch - Indonesian Cultural- Promotion tour incl. Melbourne Art Festival, Adelaide, Albury, Canberra, The Rocks - Sydney Brisbane, Kuranda, Mount Isa, Tunarama Art Fest. - Port Lincoln, Darwin. This tour was organized in Co-operation with Australia Northern Europe Liaisons, Henk van Leeuwen.

1997

'THE STAGE BUS' Indonesia 97, (LA Lights Tour) 35 Concert tour Java and Bali, Indonesia, with The Stage Bus: Australian - Dutch - Indonesian Cultural Promotion tour sponsored by PT. Djarum, Co-sponsored by National TV and Radio and Press (Jakarta-Jakarta). featuring: Victor de Boo, Belinda Moody. Including concerts at Universities, Art Centers,a performance at the Borobudur Temple, The Sultan's Palace in Yogyakarta, Denpasar Art Centre, Solo Art Centre, Bandung, Cirebon, Bogor, Jakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Purwokerto, Salatiga, Semarang, Nusa Dua etc.

1998

Recording for new release: 'Born Free' featuring Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri. Recorded in New York and Holland. The recording includes an 8 minute music video.

1999

Official release of the CD: Born Free. (Munich records, BMMCD296)

BORN FREE' 99 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', ( Donald Dean, Henry Franklin) 120 Concerts tour - Europe: including Jazz à Ramatuelle (France) Montreux Jazz Fest. (Suisse), Copenhagen Jazz Fest. (Denmark), Arhus Jazz Fest. (Denmark), Ålandia Jazz Fest. (Finland), Edinburg Jazz Fest. (Scotland), Sandviken Jazz Fest. (Sweden), Rotweil Jazz Fest. (Germany), and Django Reindhardt Jazz Fest. (France), Jazz a Mulhouse (France), A-Trane Jazz Club in Berlin, Domicil Jazz Club in Dortmund.

'BORN FREE' Australia 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', ( Victor de Boo, Belinda Moody) 20 Concerts tour - Australia: including The Basement in Sydney, Adelaide Jazz Fest., Darwin, Katherine, Port Hedland, Perth, Albany, Melbourne, Euroa, Canberra, Kiama, Tamworth, Toowooba. (Australia tour organized by Australia Northern Europe Liaisons, Henk van Leeuwen) Supported by the Dutch Fonds voor Podiumkunsten.

2000

Building of the New Stage Bus by visual artist Aart Marcus.

For the promotion of the CD, Born Free, and the new Stage Bus, a music video was produced on CD-Rom featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet. Camera: Martijn van Beenen.

2001

LULUK.COM tour 2001, 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', 24 concerts- Europe featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet, Billy Cobham and Luluk Purwanto, including Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Poland.

Festival Management, JakArt@2001 , International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival in commemoration of the birthday of Jakarta. Over 350 events, ranging from world-class international performances and exhibitions to public art and spontaneous expression, in 150 venues, ranging from the conventional to the alternative, all within the frame of one month.

2002

BORN FREE USA tour 2002, Indonesian American Dutch Cross cultural promotion tour, 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', 70 concerts - US featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet and Luluk Purwanto. Performances at 45 universities in 24 States of America. Supported by JakArt@2002, UNESCO, US Embassy Jakarta, NL Embassy Jakarta, Indonesian Embassy, to the Holy See Rome.

Organisation and performance: Life TV Production for JakArt @2002 on June 22 – Performance of Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen trio, life from the Brooklyn Bridge in New York: Birthday wishes to the city of Jakarta were broadcast by TVRI Jakarta / in cooperation with the Voice of America.

World release by ZEBRA ACOUSTIC RECORDS, 'Luluk' - Born Free. Distributed by Warner/ Elektra/ Atlantic Corporation, an AOL-Time Warner Company

Recordings for new release and production of a Video Clip: 'Brushes' (CD/ and CD- Brushes The Clip, Munich Records BMECD368) featuring: Luluk Purwanto, Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri. Recorded in New York and the Netherlands. The recording includes an life 6 minute music video with rotating drum stage designed by Aart Marcus and filmed by Martijn van Beenen. (CDRom, Brushes the Clip)

2003

February 1: the spirit of peace / Performance at the Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta with the Indonesian Art Orchestra, conducted by Dwiki Dharmawan and Singgih Sanjaya featuring vocalists Anggun, Trie Utami, Edo Kondologit, Luluk Purwanto, the Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Universitas Gajahmada choire, ISI Ethnic Ensemble -gamelan orchestra.

Festival Management, JakArt @ 2003, International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival in commemoration of the birthday of Jakarta. 600 events at over 200 locations in Jakarta, Indonesia. The festival program included an exhibition at the National Museum Jakarta entitled: Homage to the Eternal Creativity of the Human Race. A comprehensive chronological Educational Exposition of the most important examples of art produced throughout human history around the world, from the cave dweller to the present, in the form of museum replicas in an “atmospheric” context. The exhibition was opened by Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director General Unesco 2003. Rene was in charge of research and development in cooperation with students and lecturers at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia, Depok, Jakarta.

MAHABHARATA JAZZ AND WAYANG tour 2003, Indonesian American Dutch Cross cultural promotion tour, 'Luluk Purwanto & The Helsdingen Trio', 20 concerts in Jawa and Bali in combination with Indonesian Shadow Puppets featuring: Marcello Pellitteri, Essiet Okon Essiet and Luluk Purwanto, Nanang HaPe, Kiki Dunung, Soled Saryanto, I ketut Budiyasa, Aart Marcus, Martijn van Beenen. Performances at Universities, Cultural Heritage Sites and Village centers. Sponsored by Djarum Super and Supported by, US Embassy Jakarta, NL Embassy Jakarta, Indonesian Embassy, The Hague. and JakArt@2003

Production and Editing of a Film and DVD, Mahabharata Jazz and Wayang. Camera: Martijn van Beenen. Duration 150 Minutes. for Indonesian Television sponsored by Djarum Super. (see 2004 Production of a DVD) The performances were filmed life on several different locations in Java and Bali Indonesia.

2004

March 19: Performances at the Pattaya Music Festival, Thailand: Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring, Benny Mustafa van Diest and Benny Likumahuwa

Production of a DVD: 'Impressions of a Tour' / Mahabharata Jazz & Wayang

(editing / mixing/ production) released by Munich Records: MRDVD6002. The Mahabharata, the largest epic ever written, elegantly depicts Hindu ideals and philosophies and has provided a wealth of inspiration for many cultures. The Balinese and Javanese, who accepted these verses long ago, combined the Hindu stories with Buddhist philosophy and their own folk lore. (Javanese philosophy). This video contains a 12 chapter version of the epic performed in the Javanese language, subtitled in English and Dutch. The DVD was presented by Mr. Matthew Isaac Cohen, Ph.D. during a Puppets, Masks and performing objects seminar to students of the Theatre, Film and Television Studies, University of Glasgow, UK

Festival à la Carte / May 20 – June 20, 2004 (150 events throughout 14 cities in Java and Bali – Indonesia) Management, coordination of The Stage Bus I, and performances. Organized by JakArt@2004 International Arts Cultural and Educational Festival

Aug 14-25: Jazz from Holland / The Stage Bus at the Olympics. Luluk Purwanto _ the Helsdingen Trio featuring Essiet Okon Essiet, Marcello Pellitteri and Jesse van Ruller. 14 concerts during the Olympic games in Athens, Greece

Aug 11 - Sept 11: The Stage Bus from Indonesia - Festival à la Carte - 40 artists from Indonesia, West Africa, Denmark, Holland, America and Greece, 110 performances, touring 13 cities, seven districts of the region of Peloponese, in southern mainland Greece on the occasion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Athens 2004, and in the framework of the Cultural Olympiad and in the spirit of the educational agreement between Indonesia and Greece, the Government of Indonesia presents The Stage Bus. Supported and organized by JakArt @ 2004 International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival.

Sep 19-26: Jazz from Holland / The Stage Bus in Greenwich. /4 performances at the Riverfront Jazz Festival: Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring Essiet Okon Essiet and Marcello Pellitteri - a Dutch Cultural Presentation

2005

Celebrations of the Birthday of Henry - the skipper - Franklin / Oct 1–8

4 concerts in California, USA, featuring Henry Franklin, Donald Dean and Trevor Ware.

May 1 - Sept 25: “TULIPS 2005” …. 60TH ANNIVERSARY FRIENDSHIP TOUR - 100 performances in 76 cities throughout 10 provinces and 3 territories of Canada, offered in the spirit of peace and international friendship as a tribute to Canadian veterans on the sixtieth anniversary of the Netherlands’ liberation. Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring Essiet Okon Essiet , Marcello Pellitteri and Sylvia Cuenca. Initiated, designed and organized by Rene in cooperation with the Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa, The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Ottawa and JakArt @ 2005 International Arts Cultural and Educational Festival. Supported by the Canadian Ministry of Veteran Affairs. The tour was documented and published in an internet book on line.

2006

Luluk Purwanto & the New Generation. Jazz Competition - Concert series, Aug 24 - Sep 11

16 concerts in and around Jakarta ( Jabotabek.) with the STAGE BUS I featuring Marcello Pellitteri and Essiet Okon Essiet. A non-profit tour to promote Jazz in Indonesia, presenting the New Generation MEZZO Jazz Award to identify talented young Indonesian jazz musicians. The Mezzo Jazz Award was designed, set-up and executed by Rene van Helsdingen and sponsored by PT Djarum Indonesia.

Performance at the Java Jazz Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia - March 4 / featuring Benny Mustafa van Diest, Benny Likumahuwa and special guest Praful (sax)

2007

Recordings and Production of “Aysha” the Double CD: Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio featuring: Marcello Pellitteri and Essiet Okon Essiet/ recorded and mixed at the Farmsound Studio, Heelsum, The Netherlands / Released by Munich Records BMECD501 - dedicated to our Mothers and to the Mothers of all the children in the world.

2008

Festival Management / program direction: JakArt@2008 , International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival/ 1 - 30 Aug; forbidden forgotten forsaken - Reality begins where Fantasy ends/ IF Imaginary Festival.

Jakarta was transformed into the ‘cultural city’ of the world featuring real imaginary, real, and imaginary real events.

Discussions, interviews, commentaries, write-ups, critiques etc of these imaginary events were published on the radio, television and in the printed and electronic media. A special imaginary news paper, DAILY IF, was created by local artists and a 500 page program consisting of hundreds of posters of imaginary events designed by Rene was printed as a limited edition on the first day of the festival.

ASAH Indonesian Tour II/ March 25 - May 19, ideas and concept by Mikhail Neocles David

Supported and co-organized by the JakArt Foundation (Jakarta, Indonesia) - Solo jazz piano performances in Larantuka - Kabupaten Flores Timur / Ledalero – Maumere, Flores (NTT) / Bajawa Flores NTT / Kupang, Timor NTT / Waingapu, Sumba Timur NTT / Waikabubak, Sumba Barat, NTT / Padang Panjang, Sumatra Barat / Ambon, Ambon Island / Sorong, Irian Jaya / Ternate, Ternate Island

2009

Festival Management/ program direction: JakArt@2009 , International Arts Cultural & Educational Festival/ 30 Oct - 8 Nov, JakArt Special Project: Young in 60 Cities, the embodiment of 2 disciplines: Photography and fashion. Exhibition, fashion shows, photo shoots, Italian Art rock, workshops (including a FORUM and DISCUSSION, Organized in collaboration with UNESCO Jakarta - highlighting the role of youth in establishing peace) and several performances of the mp3trio at the Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Jakarta, Indonesia, featuring Benny Mustafa van Diest, Yance Manusama. “Young in 60 Cities” is the result of a photo competition, ITFPC

Organization and coordination of the ITFPC (International Teen Fashion Photo Competition) April 1 - Oct 27.

The ITFPC was an internet based competition open to amateur and professional photographers of all nationalities, designed to identify and nurture talented photographers and to encourage them to follow their dreams and fulfill their talent and potential. Members of the Jury included: Peter Paul Huf, Lisa Sotilis, Alice Smeets, Paul Verhoeven, Gian Paolo Barbieri, Simon Xavier Guerrand-Hermès, Robert Polet, Kenji Terada, Piero Guidi, Christophe Agou, Stephen Hurst, Raúl de Chapeaurouge, John Moore, Andreas Darwis Triadi and Goh Ching Lee. The winning photos were exhibited in Jakarta, Indonesia, organized in cooperation with JakArt@2009 international Arts, Cultural and Educational Festival Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of: "Young in 60 Cities", the embodiment of 2 disciplines: Photography and fashion

a JakArt special project - an outstanding multi-disciplinary exhibition of images expressing the insight of photographers, investigating popular culture and fashion and its influence on youth and young adults. a compilation of artwork which explores the natural teenage impact on fashion to may be encourage a worldwide conversation about fashion.

Production of two video clips: Il Giro, and Nobios: jazz trio featuring: Donald Dean, drums; Henry -the Skipper-Franklin, bass. Live recording, Flower studio, Ojai California Friday May 8, 2009. Mixed at the Farmsound Studio, Heelsum, the Netherlands. Engineer: Wil Hesen. May 25, 2009. Video created for mp3trio.com website.

2010

Recording and production of the Mp3trio - Concept: / no names, no profiles, no biographies / For his latest CD & video series Rene teamed up with French photographer Christophe Agou (using Agfa b&w expired film and rangefinder cameras) and Dutch camera man Martijn van Beenen (using 3 x Canon DSLR 7dDFA Records). Rene set himself the challenge to radically make a change and to create a visual presentation for a new musical concept entitled: mp3trio. No names, no bios, no profiles, just a band, a treeo where roots and minds intertwine. The footage in all of the 14 clips doesn't show any faces or titles. The recordings were done at the Bennett Studios, Englewood, New Jersey and mixed at the Farmsound Studio, Heelsum, the Netherlands.

The title song "l’Eau" won the First prize in the jazz category of the 100% Music Songwriting Contest, an annual contest that awards songwriters from all over the World. The album features Essiet Okon Essiet on bass and Marcello Pellitteri on drums and a special appearance by bassist Ted Trimble.

Friendship, official release of a book online

Presented by Rene to Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven during their visit of Ottawa, May 2010, in the spirit of peace and international friendship as a tribute to Canadian veterans on the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. The book is a collection of war stories and emotional accounts of Canadian WWII Veterans transcribed from personal interviews during "TULIPS 2005" 60TH ANNIVERSARY FRIENDSHIP TOUR. The book also includes photographs of hundreds of WWII veterans and of Canada taken during their concert tour.

2012

MP3TRIO – l’Eau, CD/DVD combination released by Demajors in Jakarta – demajors Independent Music Industry (DIMI), Jakarta. Catalogue nr: DIMI 234. Release date: August 2012/. Cover printed in Jakarta.