Well-kept music secret in forgotten Amsterdam | Stan Huygens Journal

It was the setting of an enthusing evening, with artists such as Hermine Deurloo, flawless on her harmonica, the controlled accordionist André Vrolijk and singer Laura Fygi. “I mainly work in Asia,” she said, “but I can’t go there now!”

Laura Fygi swings away.

Ben Fitzpatrick, who won the first Prinsengracht Jazz Competition, shone on his saxophone, then jazz singer Mirjam van Dam moved with Over the rainbow, thoughtfully accompanied by Martien Oster on the guitar. He is a brother of actress and writer Annemarie Oster, who was also in the room, a son of actor Guus Oster. Martien has put together this musical evening in Ctone Amsterdam.

These sound studios, founded in 1933 by the Jewish Biederman brothers, grew into Dutch Hollywood. But they already sold it before the Second World War. Later on, some more classics like Soldier of Orange and Ciske de Rat and now the large studio is the playground of music fanatic and former marketing entrepreneur Arthur van Cadsand. “I’ve been working on it for eight years,” he said in the former film studio, “we stream everything for Watch Live Jazz. Do you want to hear it perfectly here. I want to keep the entrance fee low. It should be for everyone.”

Arthur van Cadsand (l.) and Erik ter Velde on the edge of the stage, with saxophonist Ben Fitzpatrick behind them.

Van Cadsand is not very business-like, laughs jazz lover and interim manager Erik ter Velde. Yet he is looking to financially support the jazz evenings and streams. “You only live once and you have to do what has your energy!”, he motivated his daring investments. “The live performances are actually recordings with an audience, that’s how you have to see it.”

Anyway, it’s a well-kept music secret.