recorded july 12 & 13, 1993 and digital edited in studio "Abma geluidstechniek C.V.", Amsterdam, Holland DDD Disckus DC-06*
thanks to: VvK, Feldmann & Heuwekemeyer, Laurens de Boef, Nynke Hoogstins & Els de Bildt.

Theo Hoogstins chose the title "Ear-Opener" for this CD because he wanted to show that the use of modern composition methods in jazz can produce surprising results, without eliminating the emotional character of the music. Seven of the tunes are based on a 12 tone sequence, harmonized with the Tone clock (Peter Schat).  The opening tune is an impression on an underground river in France; a lonely trumpet grows in orchestration and dynamic to an explosion of sound, that is reflected and fading away in the caves. The sky was in my eyes is a song about saying goodbye in the rain. 2soon2die is dedicated to all people with AIDS, and expresses sorrow and grief in the first part, while the second part symbolizes the vitality to overcome setbacks in life. Tuba or not tuba is a special feature for tuba player Larry Fishkind, followed by an impression on an approaching thunderstorm. Alarm is based on a poem by Rob Schuil, and the CD concludes with the music he wrote for Dana Nechushtan’s  short movie "In Kille Sferen". This music was his first experiment with the octet formula; a section of four horns to which a voice is added to secure the emotional character of the sometimes capricious melodies.

Lyrics