The Caravan

The Caravan is a kind of fusion band from the Netherlands. We play many kinds of fusion, e.g. John Scofield, Steps Ahead, Booker T. and the MG's, but also 'real' jazz as Dave Brubeck and Joe Henderson. We play also music from Focus - in fact also a kind of fusion. The styles we play are: funk (John Scofield), fusion (Steps Ahead), blues (Booker T. and the MG's), jazz (Dave Brubeck) and progressive rock (Focus).

We started when Tom and Pim wanted to show their guitar talents at an cultural show at our school, and they asked Leon and Tony. They said 'yes' and the Caravan was born.

Most of our live concerts are at our school, the Dr. Nassau College in Assen. 4 times a year is there a lunch concert, called 'Podium 3000'. We've played many times there and it is real nice to play for about 500 people! We like playing live, but we're also real studio freaks and we like to record our songs as well.

Joe Henderson, Dave Brubeck, Steps Ahead, Steely Dan/Donald Fagen, Funkallisto, The Prefunktery Sniff, John Scofield & Martin & Medeski & Wood, Booker T & the MG's, The Meters, Miles Davis, Focus, Jan Akkerman and for Pim: Van Halen ;)

Tony: Premier drumkit Bekkens: Paiste 300 crash (becomes an Istanbul Mel Lewis signature crashride), Istanbul Agop Mel Lewis signature jazz ride and Zildjian K splash Stokken: my main sticks are Vic Firth Steve Gadd signatures. I use them for everything. When I specialise myself in jazz I ues Ayotte Jazz Masters, for soft rock Regal Tip Jeff Porcaro signatures and for heavier rock Vic Firth SD9 Drivers. For rock I use a Paiste 300 ride. Vancore PSV 2001 vibraphone Malletech MM13 and MM17 (signature Mike Mainieri) mallets and for marimba and also vibrafoon Mike Balter 23. My outer sticks from that set are wound with tennistape from Perry sport. Yamaha Clavinova CVP-203 Verhoog upright piano M-AUDIO ProKeys 88SX performance piano. But I want: Clavia Nord Electro 73... Caravan transistor organ Studiogear: Fostex MR8-HD multitrackrecorder; Soundcraft Spirit mixer. For recording the vibraphone and my hi-hat I use a Behringer C-3 condensermic; chorus a Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble stompbox. Computer is an iMac 17' met 2,13 GHz processor (Intel) en 1 GB RAM. Tom: Ibanez Artcore AG85TRD Fender Standard Stratocaster MiM Stagg Stratocaster (with Carvin pickups en Grover tuning mechaniques) Washburn D10N Amp: Vox AD50VT Effects (stompboxes): Visual Sound Jekyll&Hyde overdrive/distortion Danelectro Wasabi AC-1 Chorus Tremolo Tech 21 Sansamp Pim: Charvel Charvette Morgen Legend Series Stratocaster Valencia something, classical guitar Cruiser, by Crafter, semi-acoustic western guitar Some cheap Richwood bass And last but not least: Ibanez RG350DX! Stereo with two speakers Boss Gt-8 Korg A4 Guitar Behringer DM100 Laney L30R Linebacker Crate BX-15 Leon: Roland RD-300SX stage piano and is buying a Viscount D9 Hammond 'clonewheelorgan'. Wants: Clavia Nord Electro 61... Roland Cube monitor Roland HP old home piano with bad keys

Music was our first love, and it will be our last. HAFO John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess are the best. Poep is ook lekker. Arie!!