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BOI AKIH
the voice is a beautiful instrument and the guitar has a beautiful voice
From and to Infinity
From and To Infinity, a composition by Niels Brouwer, comprises four movements. Pieces originally composed for Ambon City’s bamboo flute orchestra Molucca Bamboowind Orchestra – from piccolo to double bass bamboo flute – are now performed by Nora Mulder on pipe organ. Brouwer has made new arrangements for a unique line-up that includes organs, recorders, kora, guitar and vocals.
In From and to Infinity, let yourself be carried on the waves to the Moluccan Island of Ambon. The sea, portrayed by the organ, forms the connection to the rest of the world. Prepare yourself for a journey of contrasts and parallel universes. You will experience singing in an ancient language, the ferocious breath of the organ, the microtonal keys of Balinese gender, bright strumming on guitar and West African kora, an unleashed recorder, and a gritty e-guitar with percussion. It is acoustic versus electronic, mechanical versus organic, free versus rhythmic.
In these new arrangements Monica and Niels play together with pianist Nora Mulder, Hungarian recorder player Dodó Kis, kora player Sekou Dioubate and percussionist Bintou Kouyate, both from Guinea. Together, the musicians explore the possibilities of sound, with plenty of room for improvisation. From and to Infinity consists of four parts, each representing an important aspect of the island of Ambon for Brouwer: The Sea, Dryland, The City, and Joy.
Monica Akihary: vocals, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer: guitars
Sekou Dioubate: 35-string kora, slit drum, gendèr
Dodó Kis: soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder: pipe organ, analogue synth
Bintou Kouyate: percussion
Press about From and To Infinity
“but more importantly the multifarious suite with its many surprising improvisational moments can be enjoyed in different ways. It’s a unique listening experience because it ventures beyond the conventional boundaries.” Jazzism Aug 2023
“Together, they have created original music over the years that few others can match today. And their latest release shows that this is an extremely creative and exciting band, combining contemporary improvisational music with Akihary’s homeland music in an outstanding way.” Salt Peanuts Oct 2023
interview New Music Now The organ as flute orchestra
concerts
14 May 25, The Sea Entirely, Paviljoen Ongehoord Muziek, Eindhoven
The Sea Entirely – BOI AKIH with Ruben Kieftenbelt & Nora Mulder,
Ruben Kieftenbelt: modulair synthesizer
Nora Mulder: piano, organ, analog, synthesizer
Monica Akihary voice
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
time 20:00
11 June 25, DUO, Bühne, Breda
BOI AKIH DUO
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
time 20:00
13 June 25, DUO, Classical Now! Theater De Vaillant, Den Haag
BOI AKIH DUO
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
time 20:15
09 July 25, BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed, Brebl, Nijmegen
BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed
Monica Akihary: vocals
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah – trumpet
Fanny Meteier – tuba
Joshua Herwig – cello
Mike Reed – drums
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah – trumpet
Fanny Meteier – tuba
Joshua Herwig – cello
Mike Reed – drums
time 20:00
10 July 25, BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed
Monica Akihary: vocals
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah: trumpet
Fanny Meteier: tuba
Joshua Herwig: cello
Mike Reed: drums
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah: trumpet
Fanny Meteier: tuba
Joshua Herwig: cello
Mike Reed: drums
time 20:00
12 July 25, BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed, NSJF, Rotterdam
BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed
Monica Akihary: vocals
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah: trumpet
Fanny Meteier: tuba
Joshua Herwig: cello
Mike Reed: drums
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah: trumpet
Fanny Meteier: tuba
Joshua Herwig: cello
Mike Reed: drums
North Sea Jazz Festival
Stage: Missouri
time 21:45
13 July 25, BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed, BIMHUIS, Amsterdam
BOI AKIH with Hélène Duret, Peter Somuah, Fanny Meteier, Joshua Herwig, Mike Reed
Monica Akihary: vocals
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah: trumpet
Fanny Meteier: tuba
Joshua Herwig: cello
Mike Reed: drums
Niels Brouwer: seven- string classical guitar, electric guitar
Hélène Duret:clarinets
Peter Somuah: trumpet
Fanny Meteier: tuba
Joshua Herwig: cello
Mike Reed: drums
time 20:30
19 Sep 25, DUO, Jazz Maastricht- Kumulus, Maastricht
BOI AKIH DUO
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
time 20:30
09 Nov 25, DUO, Salon de IJzerstaven, Amsterdam
BOI AKIH DUO
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
Niels Brouwer seven-string classical guitar
time 16:00
30 Nov 25, BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, Grote Kerk, Wageningen
BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah
Monica Akihary – vocals
Niels Brouwer – seven-string classical guitar
Sekou Dioubate – kora
Saskia Meijs – viola
time 15:30
12 Dec 25, BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, Hillegonda Kerk, Rotterdam
BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah
Monica Akihary – vocals
Niels Brouwer – seven-string classical guitar
Sekou Dioubate – kora
Saskia Meijs – viola
time 20:00
previous concerts
02 March 25, The Sea Entirely, De Machinist, Rotterdam
22 Feb 25, DUO, Wanderlust- Pleinkamer, Amsterdam
19 Dec 24 BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, De Roode Bioscoop
15 Dec 24 BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, Buiksloterkerk, Amsterdam
14 Dec 24 BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, Heemstede
08 Dec 24 BOI AKIH From and To Infinity & Michael Vatcher, Jazz in Feerwerd, Boi Akih From and to Infinity ft. Michael Vatcher
01 Dec 24BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, Lochem
30 Nov 24 BOI AKIH From and To Infinity & Michael Vatcher, MahoganyHall, Edam Boi Akih From and to Infinity ft. Michael Vatcher
23 Nov 24 BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah, Spaarndam
16 Nov 24 BOI AKIH GROUP Festival JazzDor ,Strasbourg
10 Nov 24 BOI AKIH plays Handel’s Messiah – Oude Kerk, Oosterbeek
08 Nov 24 BOI AKIH DUO – HIllegonda Crossover Festival, Rotterdam
14 Oct -01 Nov 24 : Boi Akih Duo, Indonesia tour Ambon – Bali
13 Oct 24 BOI AKIH DUO – Rund um Hausen #6, muziekwandeling, Tilburg
12 Oct 24 BOI AKIH & Ruben Kieftenbelt – Huiskamerfest Blauwe Zand, Amsterdam
03 Oct 24 BOI AKIH From and to Infinity – Thiemeloods JIN, Nijmegen
08 Sept 24 From and to Infinity – Jazz Inverdan, Zaandam
17 Aug 24 BOI AKIH DUO – Amersfoort World jazz Festival, Amersfoort
07 July 24 From and to Infinity – Jazz at the Castle, Amerongen
06 July 24 BOI AKIH DUO – North Sea Round Town, Rotterdam
16 Jun 24 From and To Infinity – Groen Geheim Festival, Almere
15 June 24 BOI AKIH DUO – Dag van de Componist, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
09 June 24 BOI AKIH DUO – Red Light Jazz Festival, Amsterdam
7 June 24 From and to Infinity – OFFestival / Skopje Jazzfestival, Skopje
25 May 24 BOI AKIH DUO – Keluarga 3, Amsterdam
17 May 24 BOI AKIH with Ruben Kieftenbelt & Nora Mulder – De Tor, Enschede
27 Apr 24 Broadcast Dutch TV NTR ,Kingsday concert – From and to Infinity special edition
22 Apr 24 Kingsday concert, Atlas Theater Emmen (private event) – From and to Infinity special edition
12 Apr 24 From and to Infinity Showcase – Jazzahead Bremen
24 March 24, Storyteller, Zeeuwse Concertzaal, Middelburg
23 March 24, BOI AKIH DUO, Vossa Jazz Festival, Norway
17 March 24, From and To Infinity, Paradox, Tilburg
16 March 24, From and to Infinity, Jazz Fest Amsterdam
05 March 24, From and to Infinity, Huis van Puck, Arnhem
03 Feb 24, From and to Infinity, Hot House Jazz, Leiden
12 Jan 24, From and to Infinity, De Doelen, Rotterdam
23 Dec 23, Messiah, Amstelkerk, Amsterdam
21 Dec 23, Messiah, Grote Kerk, Goes
17 Dec 23, Messiah, Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht
13 Dec 23 Messiah, Witte Kerkje, Heiloo
10 Dec 23, Messiah, Cultuurpodium Dorpskerk Huizum, Leeuwarden
09 Dec 23, Messiah, Deventer Schouwburg, Deventer
06 Dec 23, Winner Boy Edgar Prize 2023, Bimhuis, Amsterdam
15 Oct 23, From and to Infinity, Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
14 Oct 23, BOI AKIH DUO, DAT! School, Keluarga
07 Oct 23, BOI AKIH DUO, Blauwe Zand Huiskamerfestival, Amsterdam
09 Sep 23, Storyteller, Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, Geervliet
07 Sep 23, From and to Infinity Tong Tong Fair, Den Haag
22-30 Aug 23, BOI AKIH Tour South Korea
30 July 23, BOI AKIH DUO, Museum Catharijne Convent, Utrecht
16 July 23, From and to Infinity, Een Bunder Kunst, ’s Heer Arendskerke
11 July 23, BOI AKIH DUO & I Made Subandi, Een Bunder Kunst, ’s Heer Arendskerke
09 July 23, From and to Infinity, Buiksloterkerk, Amsterdam
08 July 23, From and to Infinity, NN North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam
02 July 23, BOI AKIH & Miri Lee, een Bunder Kunst, ’s Heer Arendskerke
17 June 23, From and to Infinity, Bimhuis, Amsterdam
07 June 23, BOI AKIH DUO & Miri Lee, De Tanker in Noord, Amsterdam
04 Feb 23, Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam
29 Jan 23, From and to Infinity, Orgelpark, Amsterdam
21 Jan 23, Storyteller, Mahogany Hall, Edam
Dec 17 2022 Messiah Roode Bioscoop, Amsterdam
Dec 12 2022 Messiah Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk, Haarlem
Dec 11 2022 Messiah Luther Museum , Amsterdam
Dec 4 2022 Messiah Vredeskerkje, Bergen aan Zee
Dec 2 2022 Storyteller, Willem Twee de Toonzaal, Den Bosch
Nov 27 2022 Messiah, Open Hof, Veenendaal
Nov 20 2022 BOI AKIH DUO , De Machinist Rotterdam
Oct 16 2022 Storyteller, De Nieuwe Regentes, Den Haag
Sept 25 2022 Storyteller, ’s Heer Arendskerke
Sep 16 2022 Storyteller, Musica Sacra, Maastricht
Sep 4 2022 BOI AKIH DUO, Theater Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht
August 12 2022 Storytteller, ESTAM Festival ,Kragujevac Serbia
July 10 2022 Storyteller, On The Roof, Amsterdam
June 30 2022 BOI AKIH DUO & Sandip Bhattacharya, Ghandi Center Den Haag
June 26 2022 Storyteller, Paterskerk, Weert
May 23 2022 Amsterdam Klezmer Band & BOI AKIH DUO
May 11 2022, Storyteller, Bethlehemkerk/ Studio150 , Amsterdam
May 7 2022 Niels Brouwer & Sekou Dioubate, Dutch Harp Festival, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht.
April 29 – May 1 2022 Festival Jazz Weekender, 1 AQ, New Delhi
April 9 2022 Storyteller, Budapest Ritmo Festival , Akvarium Klub
April 4 2022 BOI AKIH DUO, Lockdown Max Havelaar,Vrije Universiteit
Feb 20 – March 15 2022 Ambon Indonesia collaboration with MBO
Feb 02 2022 Boi Akih Trio with Marcos Baggiani
Dec 23 2021, Festival Stranger Than Paranoia, Paradox, Tilburg Canceled
Dec 22 2021,Messiah, Roode Bioscoop, Amsterdam Canceled
Dec 19 2021, Messiah, Luther Museum, Amsterdam canceled
Dec 12 2021,Storyteller Jazz Inverdan Zaandam
Dec 04 2021, Messiah, Concert Gemaal, Amsterdam Noord
Nov 28 2021, Messiah, Open Hof, Veenendaal
Nov 21 2021,Vredeskerkje, Bergen aan Zee
Nov 16-19 2021, Mundial Montréal, Canada
Oct 29 2021, Womex 21, Porto Jury Selected Showcase
Oct 24 2021, Storyteller, Qbus, Leiden (Matinee)
Oct 17 2021, Storyteller De Meervaart, Amsterdam matinee
Oct 16 2021, Storyteller, Festival Sounds of Europe, Breda
Oct 15 2021, Storyteller, Deventer Schouwburg, Deventer
Oct 8 2021, Old Roots New Routes, Amstelkerk, Amsterdam
Sep 29 2021, Storyteller, Paard, Den Haag
Sep 12 2021, Kinder Muziek Festival, Tolhuistuin Amsterdam
Sep 11 2021 Kinder Muziek Festival, Tolhuistuin Amsterdam
Sep 3 2021, Storyteller – Goede Rede Concerten, Almere
July 31 2021, TivoliVredenburg Jazz Vocals – Walk the Line, Utrecht
July 17 2021, Festival Wonderfeel, ‘s Graveland
June 18 2021, Storyteller Grounds, Rotterdam
April 24 2021, Storyteller livestream Concordia Enschede
March 19 2021, De Nieuwe Maan NTR Amsterdam 19-03-2021
February 14 2021, Podium Witteman NTR Amsterdam
December 27 2020 Vrije Geluiden VPRO Pension Homeland Amsterdam
November 27 2020 Storyteller cd presentation Bimhuis Amsterdam
October 16 2020 Roode Bioscoop Amsterdam
October 12 2020 De Pletterij Haarlem
September 15 2020 Jeonju internat. Sori Festival, South Korea
August 29 2020 Festival Boulevard Den Bosch
Juli 2 2020 Roode Bioscoop Amsterdam
February 18 2020 Brakke Grond Amsterdam
about
Vocalist and lyricist Monica Akihary, the winner of the Boy Edgarprize 2023, and guitarist and composer Niels Brouwer, have formed a duo under the name of BOI AKIH since 1997. BOI AKIH forms the solid and inseparable core of collaborations with a wide range of musicians and poets.
For more than twenty years, boundless curiosity has driven BOI AKIH to ever nw experiments and discoveries. As a result they are now at home in musical traditions from all corners of the world – from modern jazz to classical Indian music and from Melanesian, African and European folk to improvised music. For the musicians, all these different traditions and influences are not the final destination, but an inspiration and a starting point for musical development. They can be heard in the colour and texture of their music, in complex compositions and free improvisation, in their use of voice and playing techniques, in daring line-ups and also in the unusual collection of instruments they use – often self-built and tailored to their own individual musical ideas.
BOI AKIH’s unique sound emerges in the constant interaction between the musicians and the sources they draw from. This sound, at once unconventional and accessible, always surprisingly new and yet completely recognizable, mixes acoustic sounds and electronic soundscapes with the versatile, warm voice of Monica Akihary, who sometimes sings in English and sometimes in Haruku, the language of her father’s island.
In BOI AKIH’s musical projects, their deep, personal musical explorations result in a harmonious blending of seemingly incompatible sounds, rhythms and tonalities. Examples include the symbiosis of European, Indian and Indonesian traditions in Uwa I (2004) and eclectic musical reinterpretations of Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell (Circles in a Square Society 2012). In the award-winning Controlling the Swing (premiere Holland Festival 2017), Boi Akih brought together a whole range of musical extremes in one dazzling composition. BOI AKIH’s latest project, Storyteller (2020), further dissolves the boundaries: between old and modern, between music, story and poetry, and between east, west, north and south.
Concerts
BOI AKIH has worked with such musicians as Ernst Reijseger (cello), Eric Calmes (bass), Ernst Glerum (bass), Sean Bergin (sax), Sandip Bhattacharya (tabla), I Made Subandi (gamelan), Onno Govaert (drums), Tobias Klein (reeds) Ryoko Imai (marimba, perc.) and has toured in Europe, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, China, Canada, Brazil, South-Korea.
Club appearances include Bimhuis (Amsterdam), Sunset (Paris), Unterfahrt (Munich), Schloss Elmau, Das Konzerthaus (Vienna), Theater Musee Quai de Branly , Salle Gaveau (Paris), Indian Habitat Centre (New Delhi), Blue Frog (Mumbai).
The group has played at such festivals as North Sea Jazz, Berlin Jazzfest, Elbjazz (G), Jazzkaar (EST), Awesome Africa Festival (SA), European Jazz Nights Oslo (N), Bray Jazz (IRL), Fest.GlattundVerkehrt (A), Festival Radio France et Montpelier, Jazz D’OR, Jazz Sous Les Pommiers, Jazz Grenoble, Djazz Nevers (F) SunFest, TD Ottawa Jazz Fest, TD Vancouver Jazz Fest (CA,) World Expo Shanghai , Guangzhou Jazz Festival (PRC), EFG London Jazz Fest (UK), Vossa Jazz (N), JAKJazz ( RI), Penang Island Jazz Festival (MY) , Festival FFM Sines (Portugal), Holland Festival 2017, Jarasum Intern. Jazz Festival 2017 , Korean Music Festival of Bukchon, Jeonju Intern. SORI Festivan 2020 (South-Korea), LIFE Salihara Jakarta 2019 (RI) and worked together with Bobby McFerrin & Philip Glass.
BOI AKIH has also appeared on diverse radio and TV programs such as NTR Podium Witteman , VPRO – Reiziger in Muziek, Vrije Geluiden, France2 – Des mots de minuit, Radio France- Equinox, BBC – Charlie Gillet Show.