Rob Agerbeek

Biography

Robbert Arris Jules Agerbeek (28 September 1937 – 5 July 2023) was an Indo Dutch boogie-woogie and jazz pianist and winner of several jazz concourses in the Netherlands in the late 1950s. He was regarded as one of Europe's finest jazz pianists, covering the full spectrum of jazz styles from his early days of Boogie-Woogie to Chicago traditional Jazz, swing and contemporary jazz. Agerbeek gained recognition as a highly regarded accompanist for numerous renowned American jazz musicians who toured and resided in Europe during the 1960s and 1970s. Notable collaborations included performances with Gene Ammons, Art Blakey, Don Byas, Johnny Griffin, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley and Ben Webster. Agerbeek's ability to adapt to different musical styles impressed audiences and critics alike. In the 1980s, he surprised many by transitioning to traditional jazz and joining the Dutch Swing College Band.

Early life and career

In 1954 Agerbeek and his family arrived in the Netherlands. He started playing the piano at the age of 17 or 18. Except for one piano lesson from his mother he was completely self-taught; he learned the piano by listening to records of Albert Ammons, Johnny Maddox, Winifred Atwell, Pete Johnson and Meade Lux Lewis. In the first years of his career Agerbeek was mainly into Boogie-woogie and later in his career he expanded his playing styles with bebop, hardbop and dixieland. He accompanied more than hundred, mainly American, Jazz musicians such as Ben Webster, Hank Mobley, Dexter Gordon, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, George Coleman and Gene Ammons.
Agerbeek performed at international jazzfestivals as the Paris Jazz Festival, Hammerveld Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Kongsberg Jazz Festival and the Berlin Jazz Festival.

Later career

On 17 November 1996 Agerbeek celebrated his 40 years jubilee as an allround jazz pianist when he was presented with the membership of honour of the Hague Jazz Club.
in the 1990s Agerbeek performed with The Grand Piano Boogie Train featuring Dutch pianists Rob Hoeke and Jaap Dekker and recorded two albums with the group.
As of 2022, Agerbeek still occasionally performed with his trio consisting of himself on piano and Ben Schröder on drums and Alex Milo on bass. Joining in on vocals on several performances were Jazz singer Mirjam van Dam, Susanne de Rooij and Brigitte Soffner.
Rob Agerbeek's last public performance was on 18 May 2023.

Death

Agerbeek died on 5 July 2023, at the age of 85.

Studio albums as Rob Agerbeek, Rob Agerbeek Trio and Rob Agerbeek Quintet

Boogie Woogie Party, as Rob Agerbeek Quintet, CBS, 1971
Homerun, as Rob Agerbeek Quintet, Polydor, 1971
Beatles' Boogies, as Rob Agerbeek, CBS, 1971
All Souls, as The Rob Agerbeek Trio featuring Dexter Gordon, Dexterity, 1972
Keep the Change, as The Rob Agerbeek Quintet, Munich, 1976
The Boogie Rocks, as Rob Agerbeek, Oldie Blues, 1975
Miss Dee, as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Lime Tree, 1981 (released on CD, 2023)
Swing Gift, as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Jazzz '91, 1991
Second Opinion, as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Jazzz '91, 1992
Full House, as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Nuts Ziektekosten Verzekering, 1994 (re-release on CD 2023)
The Boogie Rocks, as Rob Agerbeek, Oldie Blues, 1997 (expanded re-issue of 1975 album)
Three of a Kind, as Rob Agerbeek, Oldie Blues, 1998
Homerun – volume 2', as Rob Agerbeek Quintet, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2006
The Very Thought of You, as Rob Agerbeek Trio, Venus, 2007 (Japan)

Collaboration albums

Gibraltar, as Harry Verbeke/Rob Agerbeek Quartet, Timeless, 1980
Seven Steps, as Harry Verbeke/Rob Agerbeek Quartet, Timeless, 1983
Stardust, as Harry Verbeke/Rob Agerbeek, Timeless, 1992
Boogie on the Move as The Grand Piano Boogie Train: Jaap Dekker, Rob Hoeke and Rob Agerbeek, Rodero Records, 1996
Blues & Boogie Movin' On as The Grand Piano Boogie Train: Jaap Dekker, Rob Hoeke and Rob Agerbeek, Rodero Records, 1997
That's all, as Ann Burton & Mark Murphy meet the Rob Agerbeek Trio, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2004
Pardon My Bop, as Rob Agerbeek/Ruud Brink Quartet, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2004
Almost Blue, as John Marshall & The Rob Agerbeek Trio, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2008
On Green Dolphin Street, as George Coleman and The Rob Agerbeek Trio, Blue Jack Jazz Records, 2010

As member of The Dutch Swing College Band

The Best Of Dixie, The Dutch Swing College Band (Rob Agerbeek piano), MasterTone, 1999
We Double Dare You, The Dutch Swing College Band (Rob Agerbeek piano), Timeless Records, 2004

Albums featuring Rob Agerbeek

Everything Happens, Ann Burton (Rob Agerbeek piano), Burtone, 1998
Hank Mobley in Holland : To one so sweet stay that way, Hank Mobley (Rob Agerbeek piano), Nederlands Jazz Archief, 2016
To One So Sweet Stay That Way: Hank Mobley in Holland, Hank Mobley (Rob Agerbeek piano), Nederlands Jazz Archief, 2017 (recorded in 1968)