Pim Jacobs

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Pim Jacobs (1934 to 1996) was a Dutch jazz pianist, composer and television presenter, born in Hilversum. He began playing the piano at the age of six. His brother Ruud, born in 1938, became a jazz bassist. In 1954 they formed a trio with the drummer Wessel Ilcken. Later the guitarist Wim Overgaauw and Ilcken's wife, the singer Rita Reys, joined them. In 1956 they recorded with Herbie Mann. After Ilcken's death in 1957 Pim Jacobs played with Reys as a duo or with Overgaauw as a trio. In 1960 Jacobs and Reys married.

Music and breakthrough

The Pim Jacobs Trio became famous and performed at festivals in many European cities and in New Orleans. The programme consisted of arrangements of vocal standards and bebop numbers. The trio also accompanied singers such as Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald. Jacobs worked with Louis van Dijk and recorded with his trio with Bob Cooper. He also wrote film music. From 1964 he worked in radio and television, and presented the music programme Music for All on television. In the 1970s and 1980s he gave concerts in schools. For charity he played with Louis van Dijk and Pieter van Vollenhoven under the name Gevleugelde vrienden (Winged Friends).

Influence

Jacobs brought modern jazz to a wide Dutch audience, with accessible arrangements and a friendly presentation. The Pim Jacobs Theater in Maarssen is named after him. His cousin Bobby Jacobs became a member of the rock band Focus.

Listening

• 
  Summertime · Rita Reys & Pim Jacobs Trio, 1960
• 
  Have You Met Miss Jones · Rita Reys & Pim Jacobs Trio, 1960
• 
  Willow Weep for Me · Rita Reys & Pim Jacobs Trio, 1960

Discography

Studio albums

• 1961Jazz Pictures at an Exibition
• 1974Music-All-In
• 1976Music-All-In 2
• 1985Face To Face
• 1990Just Friends
• 1991Christmas Party
• 1994Collage
• 1995Swinging Favourites of ’45
• 1998Hommage aan Rogier van Otterloo

Other work

• 1960Marriage in Modern Jazz · with Rita Reys
• 1961Jazz Pictures at an Exhibition · with Kenny Clarke
• 1965Congratulations in Jazz

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• Jazz Map^NL Map
• After Hours: Session 2^NL Reader

Mentioned in other articles

• Jazz in the Netherlands GenreIn the 1950s the singer Rita Reys became internationally known as 'Europe's First Lady of Jazz', later often with the pianist Pim Jacobs.

See also

• Jazz in the Netherlands