How Town

(picture above by Akvilė Jodkauskaitė)

How Town is a Belgian-Latvian band led by bass player/composer Lennart Heyndels. Their music is not easily classified, jumping from the more experimental corner of improvisation to a spontaneity and flexibility clearly rooted in jazz, they bring well worked out compositions taking inspiration from a pop, folk and singer-songwriter tradition. Since its beginnings in 2012, the band has released three albums: How Town (2013), a suite based on the E.E. Cummings poem ‘Anyone lived in a pretty how town’, No marvel (that I mistake my view) (2014) and I dare you sea (2016).

I want to watch a tree grow (2018) is How Town’s fourth album and definitely their most eclectic one. Consisting of compositions by all members of the band, the album has lyrics in four different languages (Russian, English, Latvian and French). Choral harmonies meet twisted bass grooves and sharp guitar sounds, before unnoticeably transforming into folk songs you might as well be whistling on your bike. Before you know it you find yourself in the middle of a compelling ballad with the rhythmic pulse of a ping pong ball and you may ask yourself: “How did I get here?”. A question which will become more and more irrelevant as you join How Town in watching their tree grow.

How Town has performed all over Europe including The Netherlands, France, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Belgium. They played at major festivals like Jazz International Rotterdam, Match & Fuse London and Theater Aan Zee and at concert venues like Bimhuis, Porgy & Bess and Stadtgarten. The band has won several prizes among which the Keep An Eye ‘The Records’ award (2017) and the Jong Muziek prize at Theater Aan Zee (2014).

“{…} How Town’s short tight compositions full of clear harmonies and unconventional vocal sounds were played with a sort of magical purity {…}” (BERGSAGEL, D., London Jazz News)

“Décidément, le “jazz” vocal a encore beaucoup de choses à délivrer.” (PROUVOST, J., Jazzques)

“{…} voor wie een jazzy sensibiliteit wil horen in combinatie met pittige folk en speelse pop.” (PETERS, G., Enola)

“{…} allerlei klankdetails en het gebruik van de instrumentatie maken de muziek interessant voor wie het avontuur waardeert.” (VOS, K., Jazzism)

“De ene keer gaat het de etnische toer op, de keer erop hoor je klassiek of jazz, vermengd met flarden Paul Simon of Laurie Anderson.” (Juryverslag TAZ Jong Muziek 2014)

“{…} een subtiel samenspel dat het vooral van detail en nuance moet hebben. {…}De noodzaak die hier van uitgaat dwingt de luisteraar om steeds dieper en dieper mee te gaan in dit abstracte web.” (VERMOTE, E., Tazette)

“het geheel {…} maakte een erg sterke indruk.” (VAN COILLIE, A., Jazzflits)

“’Claustrophobia’ heeft dan weer iets van The Andrew Sisters die per abuis beland zijn in de wereld van Roald Dahl {…}” (PETERS, G., Enola)

 

DOWNLOADS:

HOW TOWN – Technical Rider

Press kit (english)

Press kit (nederlands)