Benjamin Herman

A photo essay by Peter van Breukelen. Words and poem by J.A. Deelder

“hAPPy mAn” BenjAmin HermAn

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azz was. Jazz is. Jazz happens. Lives. Jazz shakes. Jazz breaks. Jazz gives. Jazz takes. Jazz wants. Jazz gets. Jazz more. Jazz next.

Unique. Music. Of flesh and blood. Jazz matters. Minds. Renews. Revives. Incites. Ignites. Defies. Delights. Jazz bothers. Cares.

Enlightens. Shares. Jazz hooks. Jazz nails. Jazz stuns. Jazz strikes. Jazz here. Jazz now. Jazz up. Jazz down. Jazz over.

Under. Sideways. Round. Jazz razzles. Dazzles. Rattles. Rolls. Jazz cooks. Jazz steams. Jazz burns. Jazz boils.

Jazz hoots. Jazz hollers. Whispers. Moans. Jazz feeds. Jazz fuels. Body. Soul. Jazz rocks. Jazz rides. Jazz jumps.

Jazz jives. Jazz dances. Bounces. Triggers. Drives. Jazz rips. Jazz roars. Jazz hits. Jazz scores. Jazz slams.

Jazz bangs. Jazz kicks. Jazz balls. Jazz counts. Jazz acts. Jazz right. Jazz left. Jazz raises. Rouses.

Rises. Romps. Jazz honks. Jazz stomps. Erupts. Explodes. Infects. Inflames. Beguiles. Elates.

Jazz swings. Jazz sways. Jazz boots. Jazz wails. Jazz revels. Rebels. Riots. Raves. Jazz gambles.

Calls. Jazz battles. Brawls. Enraptures. Captures. Quarters. Draws. Jazz moves.

Jazz grooves. Jazz foams. Jazz fumes. Jazz smokes. Jazz blows. Jazz thinks.

Jazz knows. Jazz grabs. Jazz holds. Jazz skins. Jazz bones. Jazz cracks.

Jazz whips. Jazz shouts. Jazz riffs. Jazz haunts. Jazz taunts. Bedevils. Daunts.

Enchants. Enthralls. Compels. Confronts. Jazz scats. Jazz sings.

Jazz bets. Jazz wins. Jazz links. Jazz lifts. Jazz fits. Jazz flips.

Jazz be. Jazz bops. Jazz rags. Jazz mops. Jazz doodles.

Fiddles. Needles. Socks. Jazz ears. Jazz eyes. Jazz laughs.

Jazz cries. Jazz hustles. Bustles. Shuffles. Flies.

Jazz frees. Jazz fights. Jazz runs. Jazz rights.

Jazz cleans. Jazz clears. Jazz cures. Jazz heals.

Jazz charms. Jazz flirts. Jazz thrills.

Jazz stirs. Aloof. Alight. Alive.

Alert. Jazz hot. Jazz cool.

Jazz black. Jazz blue.

Jazz works. Jazz reigns.

Jazz rules.

JJ.A. Deelder


2 HismanHisman


2 HismanHisman


3 SaxmanSaxman


3 SaxmanSaxman


4 WorkmanWorkman


4 WorkmanWorkman


5 NextmanNextman


5 NextmanNextman


6 FlatmanFlatman


6 FlatmanFlatman


7 ChairmanChairman


7 ChairmanChairman


8 KeymanKeyman


8 KeymanKeyman


9 NowmanNowman


9 NowmanNowman


10 DoormanDoorman


10 DoormanDoorman


11 StrongmanStrongman


11 StrongmanStrongman


12 BossmanBossman


12 BossmanBossman


13 SoundmanSoundman


13 SoundmanSoundman


14 DeadmanDeadman


14 DeadmanDeadman


15 StreetmanStreetman


15 StreetmanStreetman


16 SpeedmanSpeedman


16 SpeedmanSpeedman


17HeadmanHeadman


17HeadmanHeadman


18 DressmanDressman


18 DressmanDressman


19 JazzmanJazzman


19 JazzmanJazzman


20 FunmanFunman


20 FunmanFunman


21HenkmanHenkman


21HenkmanHenkman


22BandmanBandman


22BandmanBandman


23SongmanSongman


23SongmanSongman


24SidemanSideman


24SidemanSideman


25 SoulmanSoulman


25 SoulmanSoulman


26DubmanDubman


26DubmanDubman


27BuzzmanBuzzman


27BuzzmanBuzzman


28 WellmanWellman


28 WellmanWellman


29 LeadmanLeadman


29 LeadmanLeadman


30LookmanLookman


30LookmanLookman


31 EatmanEatman


31 EatmanEatman


32 FrontmanFrontman


32 FrontmanFrontman


33 FagmanFagman


33 FagmanFagman


34BirdmanBirdman


34BirdmanBirdman


35 WalkmanWalkman


35 WalkmanWalkman


36HornmanHornman


36HornmanHornman


37HitmanHitman


37HitmanHitman


38AirmanAirman


38AirmanAirman


39 SuremanSureman


39 SuremanSureman


40 OilmanOilman


40 OilmanOilman


41WisemanWiseman


41WisemanWiseman


42 CampmanCampman


42 CampmanCampman


43 JoemanJoeman


43 JoemanJoeman


44 FootmanFootman


44 FootmanFootman


45 DancemanDanceman


45 DancemanDanceman


46 WhitemanWhiteman


46 WhitemanWhiteman


47 BlackmanBlackman


47 BlackmanBlackman


48 SwingmanSwingman


48 SwingmanSwingman


49 MadmanMadman


49 MadmanMadman


50 T-manT-man


50 T-manT-man


51 HermanHerman


51 HermanHerman


52 FreemanFreeman


52 FreemanFreeman


53 JivemanJiveman


53 JivemanJiveman


54 FanmanFanman


54 FanmanFanman


55 BenmanBenman


55 BenmanBenman


1 - April 3, 2007

Apartment, Amsterdam

2 - Hisman - April 3, 2007


3 - Saxman - April 3, 2007


4 - Workman - April 3, 2007


5 - Nextman - April 3, 2007


6 - Flatman - April 3, 2007


7 - Chairman - April 3, 2007


8 - Keyman - March 1, 2007

Waterfront, Rotterdam

9 - Nowman - March 1, 2007


10 - Doorman - March 1, 2007


11 - Strongman - March 1, 2007


12 - Bossman - March 1, 2007


13 - Soundman - February 14, 2007

Studio 150, Amsterdam

14 - Deadman - February 14, 2007


15 - Streetman - March 11, 2008

Street, Amsterdam

16 - Speedman - May 14, 2007

Rotown, Rotterdam

17 - Headman - August 24, 2007

Uitmarkt, Amsterdam

18 - Dressman - August 24, 2007

Uitmarkt, Amsterdam

19 - Jazzman - September 19, 2007

De Wereld Draait Door, Amsterdam

20 - Funman - September 19, 2007

De Wereld Draait Door, Amsterdam

21 - Henkman - March 11, 2008

Hotel Americain, Amsterdam

22 - Bandman - May 14, 2007

Rotown, Rotterdam

23 - Songman - May 14, 2007

Rotown, Rotterdam

24 - Sideman - October 11, 2007

Isala Theater, Capelle a/d Ijssel

25 - Soulman - May 15, 2007

Demonfuzz Records, Rotterdam

26 - Dubman - May 15, 2007

Demonfuzz Records, Rotterdam

27 - Buzzman - May 18, 2007

Paradiso, Amsterdam

28 - Wellman - May 18, 2007

Paradiso, Amsterdam


29 - Leadman - May 18, 2007

Paradiso, Amsterdam

30 - Lookman - January 29, 2008

Studio Zeezicht, Spaarwoude

31 - Eatman - January 29, 2008

Studio Zeezicht, Spaarwoude

32 - Frontman - May 19, 2007

The Hague Jazz Festival, The Hague The Hague Jazz Festival, The Hague

33 - Fagman - May 19, 2007 34 - Birdman - March 1, 2007


35 - Walkman - March 11, 2008

Alley, Amsterdam

36 - Hornman - June 10, 2007


37- Hitman - June 10, 2007


38 - Airman - June 6, 2007

Arrow Jazz FM

39 - Sureman - July 8, 2007


40 - Oilman - July 8, 2007


41 - Wiseman - July 8, 2007


42 - Campman - July 8, 2007


43 - Joeman - December 13, 2007

NuMoon Festival, Rotterdam

44 - Footman - July 15, 2007

North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam

45 - Danceman - July 15, 2007


46 - Whiteman - July 15, 2007


47 - Blackman - March 31, 2008

Cruise Terminal, Rotterdam

48 - Swingman - March 31, 2008


49 - Madman - March 31, 2008


50 - T-man - May 15, 2007

Home, Rotterdam

51 - Herman - April 6, 2007

Rotown, Rotterdam

52 - Freeman - April 6, 2007


53 - Jiveman - April 6, 2007


54 - Fanman - April 6, 2007


55 - Benman - February 14, 2007

Lauriersgracht, Amsterdam

BenjaminHerman


Peter van Breukelen J.A. Deelder *

Benjamin Herman


Epilogue or a year he was ‘invisible’. Searching for the best moments

to capture contemporary jazz. Searching for the emotion on

stage, the introspective moments at home and the tension in the

recording studio. Following each step of alto saxophone player

Benjamin Herman, the Dutch photographer created a work of art

which was instantly recognized as a master piece. He won the Silver

Camera Award (Art-Culture Category/Series) with a selection of the

images that can be found in this book.

The portraits in Happy Man not only give an inside view of a top level jazz

musician performing, they also show the man behind the music. By patiently

observing his subject, Peter van Breukelen was able to prove that for

Benjamin jazz is ‘a way of life’. Peter became invisible for his subject. Stayed

on the background, and that’s what great photographers do. That is why the

photographs show no interventions. No disturbances. The photos show

the diversity in the work of Benjamin Herman: collaborating with his band

New Cool Collective, with other musicians and working on a special project

with poet Remco Campert. They show nervous preparations backstage,

or hanging out with friends.

Just unconditional observations of a busy man. A Jazz Man. And a happy man,

because Benjamin is living a happy life, as he often says himself. ‘Way back,

I set myself to be a happy man, and I made it’, originally a remark of

Louis Armstrong, was found by Peter on a tiny cut-out piece of paper

in Benjamin’s home.

Jules Deelder closes the triangle. A jazz fanatic pur sang, and a poet and

jazz DJ. He wrote the poetic words for this book. In 2006 the documentary

Jazz is my religion about Jules was released and -coincidence doesn’t exist!-

Jules Deelder toured successfully with Benjamin Herman’s band New Cool

Collective in fall 2007. Mutual respect and friendship characterize their

relationship.

The three leading figures of this book have more in common than their love

for a jazz life. They are all bound to Rotterdam, hometown of the North

Sea Jazz Festival, and they like the no-nonsense atmosphere of the city.

And all three love the night life. Jules as ‘Night Mayor’ of the city, Benjamin

to perform till late at night, and Peter to check out the hot places with

his camera. The more abstract similarity is diversity. Each in his own

specialism, they all seek they seek for crossings, co-operations through both

experimental and classic approaches.

The three artists are brought together in this book, though, by their one

great passion: jazz! The three lines from Deelder’s poem -Jazz Was. Jazz Is.

Jazz Happens- absolutely apply to this book. A unique and striking document

which shows jazz in terms of visual beauty.

Peter van Breukelen has created a book that shows: Jazz Rules!

FAngelique van Os

Peter van Breukelen J.A. Deelder *

Benjamin Herman


PhotomanPhotoman


Acknowledgm

ents

started this project January 2007 to create a series of photographs

that would make the viewer experience the intensity of the life of

a remarkable musician, Benjamin Herman. Originally the photos would

just be used for the yearly Jazz Art Rotterdam exhibitions at the North

Sea Jazz Festival and on gallery locations in Rotterdam. Finishing

the project much later in March 2008, it ended up with this book and

the prestigious Silver Camera Award 2007 for best Cultural Series.

Creating this book was a New ‘Hot’ Collective experience.

I thank the following people for unconditionally helping me to realize

this book: Wim van Zon (Music Inspired Art Foundation) and Henk Bothof

(Pure Creatives) for their energy and patience in producing this book and

without whom this book would never have become a reality, Klaartje van

den Boogaard (BowPrint), Angelique van Os, Maarten Walraven (cmotion.nl)

for his fine artwork and patience, Jules & Ari Deelder, New Cool Collective,

Remco Campert, DOX Records, Photex, Jan Willem Luyken, Claudia Goossen,

Victor van Breukelen, Vincent Mentzel, Eric van ‘t Groenewout, all those

talented musicians that crossed my path while following Benjamin, and

all friends that supported me. And, of course, Benjamin Herman and his wife

Cathelijne who were always there to help me make the story complete.

I dedicate this book to my late father Peter van Breukelen sr. without whom

I would never have become a photographer, and my late mother Helene

Boezeman-van Breukelen.

IPeter van Breukelen

PhotomanPhotoman


ColophonAll Photographs copyright © 2008 by Peter van Breukelen.Words & Poem copyright © 2008 by Jules Deelder.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Printed & bound by:BowPrint International BV www.bowprint.com

Publisher:Veenman PublishersSevillaweg 1403047 AL Rotterdam - [email protected]

ISBN/EAN: 978-90-8690-1760 Photography: Peter van BreukelenWords & Poem: J.A. DeelderVisual concept & design: Maarten Walraven www.cmotion.nlEpilogue: Angelique van Os

Peter van Breukelen is represented by:Music Inspired Art [email protected]

Distributed in the Netherlands by:PersellPO Box 230483001 KA Rotterdam - [email protected]

Distributed outside the Netherlands by:D.A.P.155, Sixth Avenue, 2nd floorNew York, NY 10013, [email protected]

Exhibitions InternationalArt & illustrated booksKol. Begaultlaan 17B-3012 Leuven, Belgiumorders@exhibitionsinternational.bewww.exhibitionsinternational.be

Vice Versa Vertrieb Immanuelkirchstr. 12 D-10405 Berlin, Germany [email protected]


Jazz Is. Jazz Was.Take a look from the inside at the day-to-day life of jazzman Benjamin Herman. Never before the life of a musician was captured in the intense way master photographer Peter van Breukelen did. The poetic words by Rotterdam night mayor Jules Deelder say it all: Jazz happens.

Happy Man is a book that’s bringing together the best in jazz music, jazz poetry and jazz photography.

Pete

r va

n Br

euke

len

J.A

. Dee

lder

omslag.indd 2 24-04-2008 23:30:14

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Benjamin Herman