The Chris Hinze Combination -

The Chris Hinze Combination was a Dutch revolving-door jazz-rock ensemble led by flutist Chris Hinze through a succession of European and American personnel. The group debuted in 1970 with Stoned Flute and followed with Live at Montreux, Who Can See the Shadow of the Sun, Mission Suite, and Sister Slick, with collaborators including Charlie Mariano, John Lee, Gerry Brown, Sigi Schwab, and Philip Catherine. Hinze continued the Combination through Bamboo Magic and later configurations as the project expanded beyond its early jazz-rock format.

Members: Chris Hinze (flute, alto flute, bass flute, bamboo flute, organ), Henk Alkema (piano), Wim van der Beek (castanets, guiro, cowbell), Roger Cooke (bass), Louis Debij (drums), Wim Stolwijk (electric piano, spinet), John Lee (bass), Gerry Brown (drums, percussion), Rob van den Broeck (piano, electric piano), Henny Vonk (vocals, percussion), Philip Catherine (guitar), Jan Huydts (piano, synthesizer), Jasper van ‘t Hof (electric piano, organ), Robert Jan Stips (organ), Bo Stief (bass), Chieli Minucci (guitar), Ramesh Shotham (percussion), Fodé Youla (percussion), Salimata Diabaté (vocals)

Background

The Chris Hinze Combination formed in 1969 in the Netherlands when flautist Chris Hinze assembled a group for his own jazz compositions. The first first-recorded lineup included pianist Henk Alkema, bassist Roger Cooke, drummer Louis Debij, and percussionists Wim van der Beek and Jorge Souto.

Christiaan Herbert Hinze was born June 30, 1938, in Hilversum and played piano professionally across Europe and aboard Holland-America Line ships. Hinze studied flute with Frans Vester for four years at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, then took an accelerated final exam to accept a Berklee College of Music scholarship in composition and arranging.

Hinze joined bassist Dick van der Capellen and drummer Cees See on the 1966 album The Present Is Past, billed to the Dick van der Capellen Trio. In Boy’s Big Band, Hinze also played beside Willem Breuker under bandleader Boy Edgar on the 1966 Artone release Finch Eye.

Hinze recorded “Bamboo Dick” in 1968–69 for Radio Nederland with pianist Henk Alkema, bassist Rob Langereis, and drummer Peter Ypma. Alkema, born in Harlingen in 1944, studied piano with Léon Orthel at the Royal Conservatory and worked in jazz, improvised music, radio, and television. CBS director John Vis offered Hinze a Combination album if he first recorded a Telemann adaptation, which became Telemann My Way. Vis then required Vivat Vivaldi, recorded with Alkema, Langereis, and Ypma in April 1970 at Nederhorst den Berg.

The Hinze quartet appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival in June 1970 with Alkema, Langereis, and Ypma at the Casino Kursaal. American bassist Roger Cooke entered the Combination by August after a June concert with a jazz trio and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Drummer Louis Debij came from the Down Town Jazz Band, the Riats, and Dutch studio sessions. The Combination recorded the two-part CBS single “Bamboo Feelings” in August at Nederhorst den Berg with Hinze, Alkema, Cooke, Debij, drummer Yvan Krill, and percussionist Wim van der Beek.

Hinze took Stoned Flute to EMI after the CBS delays, but a company director refused additional studio time on the first version. He tore up the unsigned contract and returned to CBS, where Vis authorized a complete remake. Hinze, Alkema, Cooke, and Debij returned to Nederhorst den Berg on Sept. 13–14 with percussionists Wim van der Beek and Jorge Souto for the CBS sessions that became Stoned Flute.

Discography: