In September 2002, two young, adventurous musicians decided that they wanted to explore the new and exciting possibilities of a unique combination: the saxophone and percussion.
They continue this challenging road of discoveries today, and they have developed an original and refreshing repertoire on the way. Their programs are both appealing and unorthodox. They perform not only pieces what were written for them by others, but they also arrange pieces themselves. Their repertoire now encompasses a great variety of musical styles.
This unique repertoire in combination with their passionate performances ensures dazzling concerts, where a new world of music is explored. Communication with each other and their audience is an important and valuable part of each performance.
Sax & Stix has been invited to play at many important chamber music events both in the Netherlands and abroad. In february 2013 they played at the Hermitage in St. Petersbourg (Russia) and in 2011 Sax & Stix performed in a festival for "Dutch music" in Paris. A selection of the places they have played at includes the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, the Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Vredenburg and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, as well as at festivals such as the Grachtenfestival, the Uitgast festival and Kamermuziek in het Groen.
They shared a stage with classical top musicians such as Liza Ferschtmann, Emily Beynon, Bart Schneemann and Johan van Iersel. Their music has been broadcast by Dutch Radio 4 and in the television program Vrije Geluiden. They were coached by Reinbert de Leeuw, Walter van Hauwe, Louis Andriessen, Peter Prommel and Arno Bornkamp, among others.
Moreover, their enthusiastic and expressive collaboration was rewarded with the Grachtefestival prize 2012, first place by both the jury and the audience at the Internationaal Kamermuziekconcours Almere 2007. They also received a first prize at the Vriendenkransconcours of the Concertgebouw 2008.
Sax & Stix drew on inspiration from the cosmopolitic city of Amsterdam, where they both live and matured musically. “Beautiful but with a rough edge; a mixture of cultures and styles”.
On 'New Amsterdam' the Dutch 'Sax & Stix' combined pieces by Dutch composers linked to the city of Amsterdam and pieces from American composers who are related to New York, formerly known as New Amsterdam. Both musicians of the duo, as well as the Dutch and American composers are inspired by this blend of cultures and music, of which different aspects are highlighted in each composition. Ned McGowan drew on influences from Indian music for his composition ‘Urban Turban’, whereas Wim Henderickx wrote his composition starting from African rhythms. Louis Andriessen highlights a softer and more soothing side of the duo in “Plain-chant’. Sax & Stix’s own arrangements of the Three Preludes by Gershwin and Children's Songs by Chick Corea bring jazz and flamenco influences to the classical chamber music setting. Throughout all these different styles, the duo manages to individually color the compositions and manages to let their own voice shine.
Imagine for a young, lively ensemble ... in the square! Sax & Stix and Toeac challenge each other to a dizzying pirouettes with playful ballet music from "Les group des Six" at the root of their sizzling performance: "Pas de Deux"
Together with Toeac (accordeon duo), acrobatic circus duo Tom & Ayla and Sax & Stix we did a project with French music from the ‘20s of the last century. A roaring time with a massive load of ideas for new collaborations, art, specially music.
For this project a newly designed Circus Marimba by Ramon was built at Adams Musical Instruments. Constructed on a field frame, an extra framework is added so the acrobats can use the complete marimba as their object to play with, and drive Ramon’s instrument around in the fields.
As part of Sax & Stix, Eva and Ramon developed together with mezzo-soprano Karin Strobos a new program around Spanish songs. Ramon arranged all the music for this program and some originals were added, written for Sax & Stix and Karin: African Suite by Wim Henderickx and Danse Macabre by Willem-Wander van Nieuwkerk.
Appassionado: Languorous flamenco melodies and rousing Castagnet rhythms of Falla and Granados, melancholy and fiery South American music of Piazzolla and Villa-Lobos and cheerful but subdued songs of the Catalan Montsalvatge. Who other than the versatile mezzo-soprano Karin Strobos may Sax & Stix all these spheres drop?