On May 10, Randal Corsen releases his new album Symbiosis on Challenge Records. This record contains Corsen's own compositions where he incorporated elements from his Antillian roots. He will introduce this project to the public with a release concert in Bimhuis, Amsterdam on May 26.

New Album
Symbiosis, The newest project from Randal Corsen, with a line-up consisting of some of the most talented young musicians from the Netherlands. With Symbiosis, he aims to achieve a far-reaching fusion of contemporary jazz and Latin, funk and pop, leaving plenty of room for the contributions and interpretations of his fellow musicians Mark Schilders, Glenn Gaddum jr. and Vernon Chatlein. ‘This recording not only represents the Symbiosis between my playing and that of my fellow musicians, it also reflects my own musical symbiosis, which is a result of my musical journey till now.’

The music is primarily jazz, but there are still traces of Antillean, Latin, Caribbean, classical, funk, rock and every other music stule that he has encountered along the way. The music is more contemporary and more experimental then his debut 'Evolushón' (2004) album where he won an Edison Jazz Award with. 'Evolushón' includes both standards and originals.

Randal Corsen is the composer of the first opera to be sung completely in Papiamento, with a libretto by Carel de Haseth, based on his short novel Katibu di Shon. The opera, produced by its initiator Tania Kross and the Nationale Reisopera, will premiere on July 1 in Stadschouwburg Amsterdam, during the commemoration of abolition 150 years slavery. The try out of this opera will be held on the 30th of June.
Conductor: Ed Spanjaard
Director: Monique Wagemakers
Featuring: mezzo soprano Tania Kross, baritone Peter Brathwaite, tenor Jeroen de Vaal, the Matangi Ensemble, Stichting Nationaal Opera en Concert Koor.

More info
Tickets for the premiere and the try out

On March 30 and 31 Randal will perform in Curaçao with his new quartet Symbiosis, to celebrate the launch of his new cd! The concerts will take place at Avila Hotel.
The cd will be released in the Netherlands in May, release for the USA and the rest of the world is set for a couple of months after that.

This is Randal’s newest project, with a line-up consisting of some of the most talented young musicians from the Netherlands. With Symbiosis, he aims to achieve a far-reaching fusion of contemporary jazz and Latin, funk and pop, leaving plenty of room for the contributions and interpretations of his fellow musicians Mark Schilders, Glenn Gaddum jr. and Vernon Chatlein. The cd Randal Corsen Symbiosis will be released on Challenge Records Int. in May 2013.

Randal Corsen spent the last few days in Paul Pouwer's recording studio (Power Sound Studio) with his band Symbiosis recording the tracks for his new cd.
The musicians working on this new cd, next to Randal, are Mark Schilders on drums, Glenn Gaddum jr on electric bass, and Vernon Chatlein on percussion.

Stay tuned for more information on the expected release of the cd.

I’m happy to announce that I have a new project, with a new line-up. In this project, called Symbiosis, I will be working with some of the most talented young musicians of this moment in the Netherlands: Mark Schilders on drums, Glenn Gaddum jr on electric bass, and Vernon Chatlein on percussion.
This line-up will debut during the
Robeco Zomerconcerten at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with two concerts. Both concerts will take place on
August 17, 2012. (Info | Tickets)

I’m also preparing a repertoire of all new compositions, and I hope to record a new cd with these guys as soon as possible.
This will be my first cd in 4 years time. The last CD released was ‘Dulsura di Korsou’ by Randal Corsen & friends, which was a tribute to Curaçao folklore.
With Symbiosis I will be going back to my first and main passion:
jazz! (with a touch of Latin/Caribbean, of course)
Stay tuned for more info!

It’s been a long time since the last update of my website. (Almost 2 year). The reason for 'absence' is that I took a ‘semi-sabbatical’ for my own projects, to have more focus on a number of other projects in wich I'm involved.
One of the most important projects I’ve been really busy with, is the composition of an opera! I’ve been composing the opera ‘Katibu di Shon’ (Slave and Master) which will premiere in 2013.

I was invited to do this composition by famous mezzo soprano Tania Kross, who is also the producer. It will be the first opera written and sung in the language Papiamentu (my native language). The libretto was written by Carel de Haseth, based on his acclaimed short novel with the same title.
At this moment Carel and I are ‘fine-tuning’ the libretto and composition, and I hope to start the orchestration very soon.

Stay tuned for more info, or visit www.slaafenmeester.nl. You can also follow the developments on facebook.

One other important project I was a part of, was the
‘Tribute to Doble R’ concert and documentary, organised by the IKO foundation, featuring the Metropole Orchestra.

For at least 4 decenniums Rignald Recordino ‘Doble R’ has been one of the most, if not the most important composer/arranger/bandleader of popular music in Curaçao. In this project, the Metropole Orchestra was joined by some guest soloists like Karin Bloemen, Giovanca, Pete Philly, Gilbert Doran, to perform some compositions of Doble R. I was the musical leader and wrote some of the arrangements and the overture for this project. I also appeared in the documentary about Doble R, which was aired on Dutch TV.

More info on www.doble-rconcert.nl
You can also purchase the DVD of the whole concert in Concertgebouw, and the documentary on Doble R at the IKO foundation online shop.