Album Description:
Song for Lost Friends is a heartfelt live tribute by pianist and composer Edgar van Asselt, honoring the lyrical brilliance and legacy of the late Ack van Rooyen. At the center of this recording is van Rooyen’s deep musical connection to legends like Miles Davis and especially Clark Terry, who was the featured artist for this particular concert. The repertoire—consisting of originals and jazz standards like “C Jam Blues” and “Take the A Train”—was chosen as a direct nod to Terry, with whom Ack shared both a friendship and a melodic, joyful approach to phrasing.
Though Ack was known for his precision and taste in studio settings—including work with Peter Herbolzheimer and the Clarke/Boland Big Band—his playing truly flourished in live performance, especially in intimate spaces. At Huis Kernhem, in front of a mesmerized audience, Ack brought his full range of experience, honesty, and restraint into every phrase—embodying the “less is more” ethos that defined his musical voice.
Listen to the first Single “The Touch Of Your Lips”
English