biografy

Tetzepi was founded in 1997. In 1998, together with NINSK, Munzruh and Man Bites Dog, Tetzepi founded the Trytone Collective,. The same year, Tetzepi began performing at Zaal 100 in Amsterdam on a monthly basis. In 1999, Tetzepi was honoured as “Young VIP” together with Man Bites Dog and the group recorded its first album, entitled Tatenen.
In 2000, three Tetzepi muscians were commisoned by the SJU festival to compose music that the band later performed on a live radio broadcast. In 2001, Tetzepi released its second album, SHU. The group subsequently performed as opening act on the first-ever episode of the VPRO television programme Vrije Geluiden. Tetzepi had made a name for itself, and in the years that followed the band performed at various venues both at home and abroad.

In 2006, Tetzepi began offering educational programmes. While first aimed at amateur musicians only, the focus of these programmes later shifted decidedly towards secondary school students. Today Tetzepi is considered an educational specialist in jazz and improvised music circles.

Hans Leeuw’s invention of the electrumpet and Tetzepi guitarist Raphael Vanoli’s other band Knalpot pushed Tetzepi towards increasing use of electronics, while maintaining a delicate balance with its acoustic music.

In 2009, Tetzepi said goodbye to Wouter Hakhoff, and the band has been without a conductor ever since. From 2010 onward, Tetzepi participated in various collaborations. Those with Der Rote Bereich, the Robodock festival’s fire orchestras and the modern dancers of Crowded Place ranked among the most outstanding.