Margriet Sjoerdsma and Dan Cassidy
Singer Margriet Sjoerdsma put together a theatre programme about Eva Cassidy. For the book launch of Behind the Rainbow in the attractive theater of book store Selexyz / Donner in Rotterdam I asked Margriet Sjoerdsma to sing a few Eva Cassidy songs. Margriet had just presented her album Drawing Circles and the way she kept the audience quiet at the noisy LantaarnVenster reminded me of the stories people who had witnessed Eva Cassidy perform had told me. Margriet started working on Eva’s repertoire and she became so involved in Eva’s music that she decided to put together a complete theatre programme around the legendary singer. I introduced Dan Cassidy to Margriet and the two performed together with guitarist Arie Storm and bassist Cord Heineking at the launch of Eva Cassidy, de biografie at Selexyz / Scheltema in Amsterdam.
As a foretaste of the 2014 tour Margriet, Dan , Arie and Cord will play in Ahoy Rotterdam at the North Sea Jazz festival on July 13th 2013. In the meantime they recorded the cd A Tribute to Eva Cassidy. Margriet sings nine beautiful songs that Eva Cassidy interpreted, like In The Early Morning Rain, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore and Time After Time. Margriet, Arie, Cord and Dan will tour in the Netherlands in February, March and April 2014.
Dan Cassidy and Margriet Sjoerdsma
The group played in the Dutch tv programme Vrije Geluiden in February 2013. As a result of their stunning performance the cd The best of Eva Cassidy entered the Dutch album charts again! This is what one the many viewers said about it: “An era ago I was introduced to Eva Cassidy. Her singing was intensely beautiful and mesmerizing. Only later I found out she had died way, way too early, only 33, taken by aggressive melanoma. Fast forward to this morning. I hardly ever watch any TV, but on Sunday morning, I occasionally watch an interesting live music program called “Vrije Geluiden” (free sounds), broadcasted from the music theater in Amsterdam.
Today one of the guests was Dutch singer Margriet Sjoerdsma. She told us that she was taken by Eva’s sound and was later asked by author Johan Bakker to sing a few of Eva’s song on the presentation event of his book about Eva, which in turn inspired her to do a tribute CD. What was really touching and special was that Eva’s brother Dan was one of the band members, playing the violin. He was also interviewed.”
2 responses to “Margriet Sjoerdsma and Dan Cassidy”
Leave a Reply to johan Cancel reply
Great Idea. It might introduce Eva’s music to even more people.
I’d love a CD, where can I get one from.
Will there be a tour in the UK ?
Very good luck to all involved.
Blue Skies
Chris
Hi Chris,
You can order the cd ‘A Tribute to Eva Cassidy’ at: margrietsjoerdsma@me.com
The tour will take place in the Netherlands, but who knows what will happen afterwards!
All the best,
Johan