Management & Booking
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BOI AKIH is supported by
the voice is a beautiful instrument and the guitar has a beautiful voice
𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 is a composition by Niels Brouwer, originally written in 2019 for the 70-piece bamboo flute orchestra Molucca Bamboowind Orchestra from Ambon City.
For the performance at the Orgelpark, Brouwer has written new arrangements for a unique line-up of organs, recorders, kora, guitar and voice.
In these new arrangements, Monica Akihary and Niels Brouwer, who together form Boi Akih, play together with Hungarian recorder player Dodó Kis, kora player Sekou Dioubate from Guinea and pianist Nora Mulder.
𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 comprises four movements: The Sea, Dryland, The City and Joy. Pieces originally composed for the bamboo orchestra – from piccolo to bass bamboo flute – are now performed by Nora Mulder on a variety of organs, including the Utopa Baroque organ and the Sauer organ. The arrangements make optimal use of the Orgelpark’s wide range of organs. Together, the musicians explore all sound possibilities, leaving plenty of room for improvisation.
Monica Akihary, voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer, guitars
Sekou Dioubate, 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó kis , soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder, organs
Matthieu Landweer
Matthieu Landweer
Matthieu Landweer
An innovative, swinging and up-to-date performance of the Messiah!
This performance of Georg Friedrich Händel’s famous oratorio from 1741 is totally non-conformist but shows great respect for the original composition and is entirely in accordance with Händel’s own working methods. With an ensemble and sound presentation in mind, this versatile baroque composer was inspired by the craftsmanship and expression of the soloists. He often rewrote his own works if the performance called for it, and he was open to change, new ideas and styles.
BOI AKIH performs a completely unique version of this masterpiece, with their personal musical idiom and an unusual line-up of guitar, viola, kora and vocals. The idiosyncratic combination of stringed instruments forms a wonderful entity. Over this Monica Akihary’s flexible and warm voice infuses the classical lyrics with new eloquence.
Maarten Mooijman
Maarten Mooijman
Storyteller is a story in colours and sounds, a story of a journey full of unexpected encounters. BOI AKIH effortlessly weaves modern jazz and improvised music with folk traditions from all over the world, creating a unique sound that is unconventional, yet totally recognisable and accessible. Acoustic sounds and electronic soundscapes merge with the versatile, warm voice of Monica Akihary, who sings in both English and Haruku, the language of her father’s island. In Storyteller Akihary and guitarist and composer Niels Brouwer, who form BOI AKIH, are joined by recorder player Dodó Kis and kora player Sekou Dioubate. Together, these four evoke a world where boundaries dissolve and the distances between places, time and traditions don’t seem to exist.
For Storyteller Brouwer and kora player Zoumana Diarra developed a striking and unique kora. With an ingenious extension they rendered the originally diatonic instrument suitable for Boi Akih’s eclectic pieces. But in July of this year, in the middle of preparations for the first Storyteller concert, BOI AKIH’s musical soulmate and dear friend died.
Storyteller could only continue after BOI AKIH found in Sekou Dioubate a kora player who, like ‘Zou’, combines a thorough knowledge of the West African musical tradition with an inquiring mind and the desire to integrate various musical influences into his playing. With the same musical curiosity, recorder player Dodó Kis moves nomadically between styles and traditions, from improvised to early music and Hungarian folk music. These two young musicians give BOI AKIH a whole new character with their musical energy and ideas.
Monica Akihary vocals,bass kalimba
Niels Brouwer acoustic nylon seven string guitar, harp guitar
Sekou Dioubate 35 string kora
Dodó Kis soprano,alto, tenor and paetzold bass recorder
Special quests:
Vernon Chatlein percussion and vocals
Nippy Noya percussion
“Storyteller is a wonderfully resonant blend of cultures and textures which hails traditions and innovations alike. Akihary and Brouwer have always shown deep respect for tradition but know, too, that without evolution there is stagnation.”
All About Jazz feb 2021
“..balance, daring, new musical insights and an intriguing mix of composed and, especially, improvised music.”
JazzNu jan 2021
“Storyteller” is another great album from Boi Akih, and if you get the opportunity to hear the two, three or the whole “hurven” (band) live nearby, sometime after corona has left us, then you should grab the chance. I can guarantee you a delightful concert.”
Salt Peanuts dec 2020
17 June 23, From and to Infinity, Bimhuis, Amsterdam
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Sekou Dioubate 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó Kis sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder portative organ
concert time: 20:30
02 July 23, BOI AKIH DUO & Miri Lee, een Bunder Kunst, ’s Heer Arendskerke
Monica Akihary voice, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Miri Lee dance
concert time 15:00
08 July 23, From and to Infinity, NN North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam
special guest I Made Subandi gendèr , percussion
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Sekou Dioubate 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó Kis sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder portative organ
concert time 20:15 Missouri
09 July 23, From and to Infinity, Buiksloterkerk, Amsterdam
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Sekou Dioubate 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó Kis sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder portative organ
special guest I Made Subandi gendèr , percussion
16 July 23, From and to Infinity, Een Bunder Kunst, ’s Heer Arendskerke
special guest I Made Subandi gendèr , percussion
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Sekou Dioubate 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó Kis sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder portative organ
30 July 23, BOI AKIH DUO, Museum Catharijne Convent, Utrecht
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
concert time 15:00 and 16:00
22-30 Aug, Tour South Korea
09 Sep 23, Storyteller, Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, Geervliet
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Sekou Dioubate 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó Kis sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
concert time 14.30-15.15
15 Oct 23, From and to Infinity,Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
Monica Akihary voice, bass kalimba, live sequencer
Niels Brouwer guitars, prepared guitar, analog synth
Sekou Dioubate 35-string kora, slitdrum
Dodó Kis sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and great bass recorder
Nora Mulder portative organ
concert time 15:00
09 Dec 23, Messiah, Deventer Schouwburg, Deventer
Monica Akihary vocals
Niels Brouwer guitar
Sekou Dioubate kora
Saskia Meys viola
concert time 20:30 Kleine Zaal
17 Dec 23, Messiah, Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht
Monica Akihary vocals
Niels Brouwer guitar
Sekou Dioubate kora
Saskia Meys viola
concert time 11:30 Boven Zaal , Zondagsklassiekers
23 Dec 23, Messiah, Amstelkerk, Amsterdam
Monica Akihary vocals
Niels Brouwer guitar
Sekou Dioubate kora
Saskia Meys viola
previous concerts
04 Feb 23 Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam
Jan 21 2023, Storyteller, Mahogany Hall, Edam
Jan 29 2023, Boi Akih, from and to infinity, Orgelpark, Amsterdam
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 2020 BOI AKIH Duo, Theater Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht
August 12, Storytteller, ESTAM Festival ,Kragujevac Serbia
July 10 2022, Storyteller, On The Roof, Amsterdam
June 30, 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
Februari 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
Februari 18 2020 Brakke Grond Amsterdam
Guitarist and composer Niels Brouwer and vocalist and lyricist Monica Akihary 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 new 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.
Management & Booking
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BOI AKIH is supported by