Biography

RIK MOL
No sweeter caress than that of a lover’s lips. And love is all about heart and soul. That’s why musicians who work with their lips convey their emotions like no other artist can. Just listen to Dutch master musician Rik Mol, who caresses his trumpet like a lover would and in doing so produces the most heavenly sounds - whispering intimately, smooth and sultry, or bounding with joy, exuberant and alive.

Rick Mol has played the trumpet with heart and soul since his early youth. The young virtuoso displayed such talent, that he was allowed to enter the prestigious The Hague Conservatory when he was a mere teenager. At first he studied classical music, but after a couple of one-on-one lessons from Wynton Marsalis, he switched to jazz. However, Rik won’t be confined to any specific musical genre. Rooted in the classics and raised on jazz, he has played pop, rock, with artists like Steve Lukather, Michael Bolton, Candy Dulfer, Basement Jaxx, George Baker and Chaka Khan. And on his 2010 album Funk On Me he blew the roof off the recording studio rocking hard on irresistible, down and dirty funk – in the process proving that, indeed, love can get steamy… Lauded by colleagues, critics and music buffs alike, Rick Mol has amassed a veritable trophy room full of awards, amongst which the Yamaha Soloist Award and the Prins Bernhard Fonds Cultuurprijs 2008, the European Trumpet Contest and the Prinses Christina Concours. His debut album What’s On Tonight (2007) was nominated for an Edison (the Dutch Grammy Award) As Rick says: “It’s all for the love of music, for the love of playing my trumpet with all my heart and soul.” Soon this exciting young artist will come to a stage near you. You won’t be able to resist him, as his music is like a caress, from his lips to your heart…

RIK MOL - Funk On Me
(Release album Funk on Me August 2010)

Trumpet player, producer and band leader Rik Mol has it all - and more! Mol is only 25 years old; however, he already has a long musical life behind him. This ream began when he was eight years old and first came into contact with the trumpet. Ever since, Rik has played with top artists like Wynton Marsalis, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Steve Lukather and the Metropole Orchestra – just to mention a few.

Rik has won a wide variety of music awards. Some of these include the Berlin Yamaha Soloist Jazz Pop Award and The Princess Christina Concours. More recently, he's received the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Award, The Lion's Club Award and the Province of Zeeland Culture Prize. (This is a culture award from his home province in the Netherlands.) Mol comments on his awards, "The recognition that this brings is nice. However, those prizes helped me open doors.” He continues, “As a musician you are taken more seriously and come in contact with interesting people, such as the drummer from Jamiroquai, Derrick McKenzie, who plays on my latest release Funk On Me.”
As one of Europe’s most talented trumpet players, Rik already has had success with his 2007 debut release, What's On Tonight?! This musically diverse album was very well received, gleaning awards and airplay across the globe. However, in his latest project Funk On Me, the spotlight shines on Mol as one of the most versatile musicians in the Netherlands. With Funk On Me, He has added an exciting new chapter in his musical career. Mol describes Funk On Me as an album that he simply “had to make.”

Rik has evolved musically in the year 2010. Where his debut album contained a sultry jazz and grateful funk style, Funk On Me has a dose of pop added to funk and soul. "What can I say,” says Rik, “I love jazz, but I'm also from the TMF generation!" He continues, "My band members have very diverse musical backgrounds. This produces a stylistically varied project and this is rare." These facts have ensured that Funk On Me was an album with a wide appeal from a broad audience. Where his debut album was strictly instrumental - Rik has added more contrast in Funk on Me with the addition of vocal tracks. As executive producer of the album, Mol asked for the help of the acclaimed British soul singer Nate James. Mol explains, "Such cooperation is a real interaction. I've worked with him on his album, and he is also on mine. If we go on tour with the band later this year, he will also be there."

Later in 2010, Mol plans a tour with his band. "I've discovered I've grown into the role of bandleader. To listen only to a trumpet player throughout the concert can be somewhat a task for the audience. Because Nate James is taking care of the vocals, there is a whole different dynamic on stage. One in which my role has changed. It's not only about me but the whole band. However, I am the one who takes control, on the CD and also during the performances. My music is an extension of myself. It has to come out; my music is who I am." Indeed, Rik Mol’s music continues to evolve, become more eclectic, and create a large following from a wide audience across the globe. Rik has become much more than just a jazz trumpet player. In 2010 he is a producer, band leader, and composer of jazz, pop, soul and jazz.
by Edgar Kruize

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