Long Distance Call

Biography

Every band has its history, ours began many years before…

Muddy Water (born 4. April 1913, Rolling Fork, Mississippi, † 30. April 1983 Westmont, Illinois, real name Mckinley Morganfield) was one of the most meaningfull american blues musicians. In 1953 he published the song «Long Distance Call».
The reason was, he missed his girlfriend. He tried and tried again to get in touch with her over the phone, in the mean while she was cheating on him.

Our interpretation is slightly differrent; distances can also bring opportunities... Proof is taken from our history as a band from Dutchmen, Swissmen and an American.
The digital world and its infrastructur is nowadays a big help. Communication these years is somewhat easier than the methods Muddy practised.

After years of driving back and forth between Switzerland and Holland, many long distance calls and loads of e-mails, drummer Maarten Graaskamp decided to go on a journey ending in Entlebuch, Switzerland.
Consequence of it all was that at home a few musical projects needed to have a forced break.

The years go bye.. Maarten lives and works in Switzerland as a physiotherapist. Around Lucerne he got to know a few music-pals. Derrick Feole on sax, Heinz Arnold a.k.a «Moby» on Keyboard und Ruedi Blattmann on bluesharp to name a few. On different occasions and gigs these people play together. Like this he tries to intergrate but in the back of his mind he didn`t forget his dutch buddies.

Frequently he travels to Holland to visit his family and friends.. Why not a «Long Distance Call» to bandbuddys Stef on the guitar and Han on the bass to play a gig somewhere? The last gigs in Holland often Derrick with saxophone travelled along to play.
When the Dutch guys travel to a gig in Swizerland the band gets completed with saxophone or bluesharp.

This «Long Distance Call» principle and the different origins make it even more exciting, Dutch-blues mixes with Swiss-blues trimmed with American saxophone.
Spontaneity and creativity are the keywords, every time these men can convince the audience that the language in music is a universal one.

Lately Henk Buitink on the keyboard joined the band, next to the warm Hammond sound and playfull pianotunes he also produces a clear harmony voice.
Because of the distance and engagement in other musical projects it is impossable to always play with the same cast. Sometimes you find six people on the stage, sometimes four. But you'll always find joy and creativity! Every gig is an exclusive one…