Gino Vannelli sings with perfect ease and true emotions and hit our hearts with His classical : "Parole Per Mio Padre". The Metropole Orchestra plays : "Lacrimae Luna" with such beauty and we could hear the violins really cry. The sounds went thru our bones and hearts like an emotional fire and this musical work of art : " I Die A Little More Each Day" shows us the big talents of Gino in the lyrical way, Gino Vannelli has so many wonderful talents in His heart, mind, spirit and in His brains (After brains we stop !!??) that it is really unbelievable but sooooooo impressive that He writes and creates all the music, the words and lyrics and that He can play many musical instruments and His most superb instrument is His voice, His voice is so fascinating and mysterious and our ears cannot be big enough to take in all the superb and tremendous tunes...
We fed our hearts and souls with good and pure music : Gino Vannelli's music !!!

The greatness of Gino Vannelli and also the greatness of David Goldblatt, Gino Vannelli's personal piano-player, the man with the the golden fingers...... and ofcourse also the greatness of the Metropole Orchestra which had 2 conductors now (NOT Gino!)
The first half of the Gino Vannelli concert the great conductor Arjan Tien was leading the musicians to :

Than the BIG standing ovation and the applause was so loud that Gino came back twice.
We are so thankful that the people in the audience were so loyal and supportive and full of praise towards Gino's life's work and Gino felt that and everybody could see His keenness and glorious grin and that certain twinkle was in His eyes for sure. He had the time of His life...

We think nothing can ever be greater than a Gino Vannelli live concert and there was music for everybody for all the fans and music lovers, the second half of the show made Amsterdam shake and when Dick Bakker conducted the Metropole Orchestra into : "King For A Day" the roof of the concert hall cooked and trembled. Yessss the Metropole kicked some ass and Gino warned us already before the song started that the Metropole was ready to explode during "King for A day".
And they did !!! WOW !!!

The end of "Wild horses", the last song in the first part made us smile and feel so happy, WOW !!! Super enjoyable and great BIG band kinda sound, Gino's musical ambitions came out very superb... WOW !!! All the enjoyments, pleasures, delights and satisfaction in 2 hours is too much, much too much and we still cannot get enough of it and listen to Gino's voice and music everyday, call it an addiction, we do not care because it feels so good and well !!!

Gino's appearance, Gino's humour, sometimes black humour... Gino's dancing and moves made many people ask us questions about Gino's age and shape... A lot of people asked us what Gino's age really is and the main question of that Friday evening was :
" How can He look so super good at 51 ??? "
Some people have the guts to ask anything which comes up in their minds... Face-lift ?? Nose job ?? etc......... Nooooo, we said a great loving Wife and Son, who take very good care of Gino, a happy Family to go home to.... A home is very important for Gino and they live a very healthy life, sports, good, very good food etc....... and the most important thing is LOVE, they love eachother very, very much and that keeps all people young and healthy... Real and true LOVE...

Gino's stories made many people laugh like crazy, He was in the mood for good humour. Gino's humour is brilliant but also black humour with a lot of self-mockery.

We know and heard a lot of people only liked the second half of the concert but you all have to admit that Gino gave you goose-bumps with His voice and music during CANTO and PAROLE PER MIO PADRE. Gino Vannelli is GOOD, very GOOD and nobody can ever beat Gino Vannelli's talents, voice and music !!! That's for sure !!!

A Great and super nice guest in the Metropole Orchestra was Jeroen de Rijk again, together with Eddy Koopman he played the percussion in a way we will never ever forget. They really hit the percussion during "PERSONA NON GRATA" and "KING FOR A DAY", they both had big smiles from ear to ear with lots of joy in their eyes.

And than there was the duet : "All The Things You Are", my, oh my....... What a surprise and what a voices !!! How sensitive !!! A Broadway song !!! We think this is the very first time that Gino sang a song live on stage from another composer, a real broadway song. This Gino Vannelli / Janet mooney duet is released on Janet's first solo album : "Secret Love", we will make a web page for this project...
We hope people from the audience will e-mail us their reactions and feelings about this duet and we mean their honest opinions. We both were impressed and Janet's Mooney voice
is heavy goose-bumps material. And about Gino's voice ?? What can we say ?? We can only say SUPERB and AWESOME !!!
The Musician who made the arrangements and scores for this song and who worked together with Gino on this duet is Martin Fondse. He was so proud to talk with Gino and to work with Gino, we met Martin in the hotel while he was working on his laptop computer with Gino... and we met Martin again during the rehearsals. Martin knew a lot about Gino Vannelli's 70's albums and was a big fan at that time. Martin was very happy with the results of "All The Things You Are". He showed us the cd SECRET LOVE and the same evening we found this cd at the Free Record Shop, we already ordered this cd at BOL.com but after 2 weeks we still did not receive it.....

Thanks to Dick Bakker, Arjan Tien, Jeroen de Rijk, Eddy koopman, David Goldblatt, Mr. DJ, Marcel Schimscheimer, Arno van Nieuwenhuize, Peter Tiehuis, Arlia de Ruiter, Simone Vierstra, Friederike Darius, Jeanine Abbas, Henk Heijink, Max Boeree and his Wife, Rosetty de Ruiter-Verwoerdt and thanks to all the Musicians of the Metropole Orchestra of which we do not know their names..... And ofcourse BIG THANKS to the Master of Music :

During the concert Gino said a few lines about the situation of the Metropole Orchestra, The Dutch government wants to cut off the money and save on the costs for orchestra's who work for the radio and tv, about 100 Musicians and people who work for the tv and radio music-centre have to be fired in the future................... So we feel the government is crazy and they cannot cut off people from music. And they cannot close down such a good, very good orchestra like the Metropole, this is the best orchestra on this planet !!! So Gino stick up for the Metropole and we hope alot of people in de audience read the letter which were on their seats and filled in the little coupons and mailed them to the FNV as a BIG protest to our government.
We helped the people of the Metropole Orchestra to put the letters and the little coupons on the seats at the Pepsi stage because every voice or action of protest to the government means a little hope for the musicians of the Metropole Orchestra...... It's even too crazy to talk or think about closing down the Metropole Orchestra.
So let's hear your voice or letter of protest like Gino did during this superb and absolute fabulous concert.

Our apologies for the English/American writing but this is the best we can and now many people on this planet can read our reactions...... Barend and Trees in Holland.

English :
Hi Barend and Trees, What a great evening we had, don't you think so ? Gino was in such a good mood and he was very happy and looked pleased. I was so happy that there was CANTO material in the concert but it was a pity that there was not much CANTO material... It should have been much more CANTO... A concert with the Metropole Orchestra is such an experience, and we can see that Gino experiences such great pleasure... I had to laugh like crazy when Gino tried to dance with Dick Bakker. The whole concert seems to be a little bit the same as at the North Sea Jazz in the Hague, but it keeps on surprising and amazing me. I also like that I finally met you two but I took it already for granted that you two should have seats on the first row. I was very lucky to shake hands with Gino and that made it all complete. I am glad that he will be back in the Netherlands with his own band in the Spring 2004 and than I am there again and that's for sure !!
Greetings from Ben Querido.

Ben erg onder de indruk geraakt van Gino Vanelli. Al tijdens de repetities in Hilversum viel mij zijn kalme, meditatieve persoonlijkheid op, zeer indrukwekkend. Toevallig stond ik helemaal alleen backstage gisteren met hem vlak voor het concert. ik heb niets tegen 'm gezegd, ben ik te verlegen voor, maar de energie en de rust die ik voelde waren heel mooi om te zien. Ik wist niet dat ie ook echt alles zelf geschreven had en echt elke noot die het orkest speelt kent, dat is dan ook voor mij weer het bewijs dat een grote ster niet aan toevalligheden overlaat en alles tot in de perfectie kent. Tijdens de repeteties was het prachtig om te zien hoe hij het orkest kon kneden en kon laten doen wat hij voor ogen had. Enfin, volgens mij ben ik een fan geworden! Trouwens ook van David Goldblatt, geweldig mens en pianist!

Vraagje: mijn foto's van gisteren zijn niet erg gelukt, mochten jullie foto's van gisteren hebben dan zou ik daar graag een paar van ontvangen! Kan dat?
Mooie site hebben jullie trouwens, wat een werk!!
Veel succes op jullie reis en ik hou de site in de gaten.
groetjes, Maurits.

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
You do not know me, I am Maurits Fondse, I was at the Gino Vannelli concert yesterday in the Pepsi stage. I am the Brother of Martin Fondse, one of the arrangers, I think you met Him (Martin) last Thursday 29 January 2004. Martin could not be at the concert Himself, that's why I went in stead of Martin. I saw the soundcheck and the first half of the concert from backstage. The second half of the concert from the concert-hall.

I am very impressed by Gino Vannelli and already during the rehearsals in Hilversum I noticed the calm, serene, meditative personality. Very impressive. Accidentally I was all alone backstage yesterday, just before the concert started. I did not talk to him because I am much too shy, but I felt the energy and peace and that was so beautiful to feel and to see. I did not know that He wrote and creates everything Himself and that He knows all the notes and tunes the orchestra plays and that is again the proof for me that a big star does not take all for granted and knows everything till complete perfection. It was so beautiful to see during the rehearsals how He managed and played with the orchestra so they did exactly what He wanted... Anyways... I think I became a fan ! And by the way also from David Goldblatt, Great human being and piano-player!

Question : ?? My pictures of yesterday are not very well, If you have any pictures of yesterday, I love to receive some... Is that possible ??
By the way, you have a very nice web site, what a lot of work!!!
Lots of success on your journey and I keep my eyes on your web site.
Greetings, Maurits.

Nou het werd geweldig, prachtig hoe hij met het metropole orkest samen werkten en dan de energie die hij weer had bij elk nummer, toppie !!! Ook vonden we de sfeer heel leuk dankzij Gino's praatjes tussen door. En als klap op de vuurpijl hebben we hem in de lobby van heel dichtbij mogen meemaken, zelfs een hand mogen geven en van de zenuwen hem stotterend in het Engels bedankt, op de vraag of ik ook nog een foto met hem samen mocht maken zei hij gelijk natuurlijk ! Wauw wat een avond !! en wat tof dat hij dat toch maar doet. Op de terugweg gelijk Gino gedraaid in de auto, ik zat met een grote grijns tot aan huis toe, wat een verjaardagscadeau ! Bedankt Gino voor een geweldige avond die we nooit zullen vergeten. groetjes van Wil Spelbos.

English :
Hello Barend and Trees, First my compliments for your site, I do not know you personally But I still wanted to let you know my reaction about Gino's performance.

I am also a Fan for many years , His music and voice stay super good to listen to, always... So I was so very happy that I had tickets for the concert as a birthday present and that I could admire Gino for real, together with my husband, we were so curious how this evening should or could be... And we can tell you it was great, how wonderful was the way he worked together with the Metropole Orchestra and all that energy which he showed and which and we felt during every song,
SUPER TOP !!! And the whole spirit and atmosphere was so fun also thanks to Gino's talking and stories in between the songs.
And to crown it all we were lucky to get very close to Gino in the lobby and we even could shake hands. We thanked him in English and in stutter because of an attack of our nerves and when I asked Him if we could make a picture he said immediately : "ofcourse !". WOW what an evening !! And how fantastic and smashing that he still does all those things for his fans... During the ride home we played Gino in our car... OFCOURSE !!! I had a glorious grin till we got home, what a great birthday present ! Thanks Gino for this fantastic evening which we will never ever forget. Greetings from Wil Spelbos.

We arrived pretty early and took a look at the Media, bought the new Ultimate Coll. with Bonus CD which is not available yet in Germany and than returned to the Pepsi stage .They had opened the doors and we took a coffee (quite cheap at 1 Euro - compliment for that fair pricing) and took one of the comfortable chairs. We got into discussion with a very friendly and sympatical dutch couple - and they were both Gino fans. The man used to be in the music scene and knows Gino from the beginning as he tried to cover his songs in the early days. I asked him, how he had become aware that Gino will be performing that night. So his story is unbelievable: His son is a friend of a percussionist of the Metropole - and this percussionist told the young man that they are doing rehearsals with Gino for the 30th. And so the son told his father and this one got his wife and drove to Amsterdam immediately to see the concert.

Well I gave him all the websites I had in my mind and recommended him to have a look from time to time. So I think that there would have been even more people, if there would have been a better promotion also on the official BMG/Viking pages in English, French and Italian. As we all know, the real Gino fans do a lot to see and hear one of the rare performances.

The Concert:
I must admit that it was the first Gino Concert I ever visited although I admire him and his work since the release of Brother to Brother.But for a long time I thought that Gino had disappeared from the Scene (like many people do).
During the first set Gino tried to open the minds of the audience for his "new" approach to music and I must say that he did quite well - he explained the songs and the reasons why he wrote the lyrics. In some moments he showed real entertainer qualification: unforgettable the dialogue between the pope and Gino during the audience for Gino's family : Pope whispering to Gino: "Son you have to do something with your hair" He also explained the steps of his carreer very impressive and it touched my soul when he told the story behind "King for a Day". So now I'm in the second half of the concert - 30. years of Gino Vannelli quality rearranged for orchestra. That was it !!! Standing ovations .... two encores .... an overwhelming success .... an audience that loves the Singer and an orchestra having real fun engaging to the music.

Well an unforgettable night and I hope that Gino will go further on his way to overcome traditional frontiers between pop, jazz , classic... He is something really special and I don't know anybody else (maybe I know too few) writing such beautiful love songs, such emotional stories and beautiful harmonies. In some way, Gino has found his way back to the beginning (Pauper in Paradise..) where he recorded with the London Symphony or the Vannelli Brothers tried to copy strings with the first synthis. It was in those days when Gino said that Debussy and Ravel are his idols. When you listen to Suite 2 of Daphnis and Chloe (Ravel) and than lend an ear to the Pauper in Paradise Suite you find the roots of Gino' music.

It is all very exiting and I must admit that Gino's music means something special to me. I'm very happy that he returned to the stage a few years ago and I have to thank BMG Ca. for giving him a contract.

A very special thanx to you dear Trees and dear Barend for your work on the Internet.
Greetings from Germany from Andreas.

So how was the show and Gino and the orchestra? Gino was in perfect shape and mood like Barend and Trees told me before the show-and that was true. Some people thought he was a little quiet at the beginning but i can tell you Gino wasn´t integrated with the total-mix from the beginning with Canto - no Lacrimae Luna -lol - cause i ´ve talked to the mixing engineer a guy i know from my studio -buisness in Germany. Then with the 2nd song he was over the orchestra like it should be and finally the sound was perfect. Gino of course loves to play with his own voice and the dynamics to use it-and so he sang some parts of songs a little smoother than perhaps like in Montreal.-yes Montreal . The setlist was a little different. I´m pretty shure that we will have it soon on the websides. But he managed it like in Montreal with two different parts of his music. So the mood was similar like in Canada where after the break Gino explodes with People Gotta Move of course. The first part of the show was Canto-Music with a few classics interpreted in different orchestral-versions and the duett with Janet Mooney. We have´nt heard Il Viaggio , Una Solo Voce and Mala Luna as well as the 11th september song. But we´ve had an unique version of Parole with Lacrimea Luna as an intro which slides into Parole - phantastic i can tell you. I think that was what David Goldblatt meant before the show when he offered an surprise we probably will have.

Gino was very joky that night he told stories about his father and the italian-relationship between brother to brother and he gave the story about his visit at the vatican and the audience with the pope Jean-Paul like he pronounced at his best. Of course he told about the opinion of the Pope and the recommendation that he must do something with his hair.
Walter Whitman was amazing - i never heard it better from an orchestra and from Ginos falcette-voice he really swam in that song . Even I die a little more each day was superb too different like Kopenhagen and really outrages first i thought everything came up again as it was in Kopenhagen and i´ve to cry again but no i´m over that ...puh Well he didn´t play The Last Dance . He sang Jolie Couer with absolut passion and Wild Horses was full of new sounds and parts too. The audience enjoyed it very much.

Well you feel that i seddle over to the 2nd part of the show when Gino changed his clothes again for being a wild dancer and showtime like in the times of his pop and rock-life. Persona non Grata was a highlight in that part and really amazing had been a Black Cars Mega Version and finally to me a version that kills of King for a day . This was the surprise song to me. Gino opened it with the story of writing and composing it and he reminds himself at times where one thinks about ...yeah my car , my house , my life, my lady anyway good feelings which grows that song. So of course we´ve heard People Gotta Move 2 times one as an encore when the audience was wild and the applause seems neverending. Before the encore he plays my special song ...yes I Just wanna stop and the fans followed him with the refrain. Brother to brother included-shure. So far for the show.

No, one more thing -Gino had 2 different conductors that night. He danced with one and please tell me what do you think which song? During the aftershow-meeting i´ve asked Gino when we will hear Wayward Lover or The Last Days of summer-and he didn´answer me but smiled and i think he knows how many fans looking forward to hear that ones live.

Well before the show i´ve met Barend +Trees. That couple is very busy and sucked with their moving in the moment. We talked for half an hour about our passion and time runs and we placed for the show. Trees told me that everything is in boxes and cases and they´re working from a strange computer to do the webside-buissenes. What a life for Ginos shameless devotion couple. No one will ever forget what they do for Gino and us. All my best wishes for Gino concerts you´ll visit in Canada soon...
werner, Photographs will follow.

In memory of Jürgen...

Well this is my best friend Jürgen together with Mary-Lou and Julie during one of our best days in life in Kopenhagen. ( Gino Vannelli concerts 5 and 6 October 2002.)
Jürgen died on Valentines day: 14 February 2004. I´m so sad that i ´m not able to describe. The last we´talked about in hospital was my report of the Gino Vannelli Amsterdam trip where he was ´nt able to take part cause of his heart attack. I only remember the tears in his eyes when i told him about Ginos fantastic concert.
Werner from Germany 14 February 2004.

We are so sorry Werner !
Our deepest sympathy and we wish you and your Friend's Family the strength to live thru this deep dark and sad times................... What a shock !!!
But it is great to know that Jürgen enjoyed Gino's live concerts in Kopenhagen.

It's diffecult to write good words in the English language but we think about you and Jürgen's Wife and Sons and please try to think of beautiful memories....

Take good care of yourself and your Family and Friends and take the right time mourning about your best Friend : Jürgen...
The deepest and genuine sympathy from Barend and Trees in Holland.
Seek comfort with Gino Vannelli's CANTO.......
Auf Wiedersehen....

Your words are so good and warm.
Thank you so much.
I will tell Jürgens Wife and his 2 Sons that there are people in the hole world who think of him now. We´re crying the hole day.
Vielen vielen Dank.
Many, many thanks.

Jürgen's Wife and Sons are very moved and touched.
They will play a Gino Vannelli song at Jürgen's funeral.
Thank you.... Werner from Germany....

Well , I´m very shure that Jürgen would be honored deeply if you bring that memory on the Gino Vannelli webside.
I just remember his eyes when i showed him the photograph on your Kopenhagen side.
He was very happy and surprised that there are people like you who do such passionate work for Gino.
He was´nt good in Internet and computer things.
For him it was being like in a TV-show.
Of course you will have my permission no doubt.
You´re so close and wonderful. Thank you so much.
In the moment i don´t know how to carry on with work or
something else this week and why. ?? Werner...

Onderaan ons verslag op die pagina heb ik ook een link naar jullie gemaakt. Succes met jullie verhuizing, en wellicht tot een volgend keer - als Gino weer eens optreedt. groeten, Gertjan van Mojo Concerts.

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
Nice to hear that you two enjoyed yourselves so much. We are very happy and satisfied too about this evening. Ofcourse you are allowed to make a link to our site, the best thing to do is to create a direct link to this web page: Gino Vannelli review

At the bottom of this page with our review I made a link to you. Good luck with your move and maybe till the next time - when Gino performs again.
Greetings from Gertjan of Mojo Concerts.

Na het concert kwam Gino in de hal om zijn fans te begroeten en zijn we erin geslaagd om met Gino op de foto te gaan. Ik heb hem even een hand kunnen schudden. Het was echt SUPER!!!
Clem, Tom (de Engelsman) en ik staan breed lachend op de foto. Dankzij Frances !!! Ik heb Gino in slechts enkele seconden kunnen vertellen dat mijn zoon naar hem is vernoemd, maar ik had de indruk dat hij door de grote belangstelling tijdens het handtekeningen zetten me niet verstaan heeft of niet in staat was hierop te reageren.
Op zeker moment vroeg Clem of ik een foto met zijn camera van Gino en hem kon maken, terwijl Gino poseerde met Clem. Maar helaas drukte ik 2x op de verkeerde knop en 2x op de goede knop (bleek de aan/uit knop te zijn, die bovenop de camera zit, en zit naast de ontspanner, dus dat KLOTEding ging aan/uit aan/uit!!). De manager van Gino vond mijn gekneuter te lang duren en sommeerde Gino (begrijpelijkerwijs) naar andere fans toe. Ik baalde als een stekker, niet zozeer dat ik beetje voor joker stond, maar vooral omdat Clem nu niet samen met Gino op de foto staat. Ik ben blij dat ik nog leef en dat Clem niet een enorme dolk in mijn rug gestopt heeft.
Je mag rustig weten dat ik er een paar nachten niet van heb kunnen slapen, zo shit vond ik het voor Clem. Dus was ik dolblij, dat de foto uit Engeland gemaild werd en wel gelukt bleek te zijn. Wat zal Gino wel niet gedacht hebben op dat moment...wat een KLOTEfotograaf en wat een sukkel! Mocht ik nog eens in de gelegenheid zijn om Gino te mogen ontmoeten, dan hoop ik dat hij me niet herkent als de klungelfotograaf (hahaha). Nou luitjes, het was me de belevenis wel. Nou, ik ga er weer mee stoppen. Ik hoop dat jullie weer snel gesetteld zijn zodat we weer op de pc kunnen chatten, liefs van alle Dingena's en tot ziens!!
Cor.

English :
Hi Barend and Trees,
It was cool, very cool again this concert of Gino Vannelli with the Metropole Orchestra. I enjoyed it for the fullest. And you too ?? ofcourse ??

After the concert Gino came into the hall to greet His fans and we did it, we are on photo with Gino !!!! And I shaked His hand. It was really super !!! Clem, me and Tom from England are on the picture with BIG smiles from ear to ear. Thanks to Frances !!!Only in a few seconds I could tell Gino that we named our Son : "Gino", but I have the impression that he could not hear me or was not able to give a reaction because of the big interest and crowd around Him while He was signing and taking pictures with the fans... On a certain moment Clem asked me to take a picture with Clem's camera of him and Gino, while they were posing. But it was a shame that I pushed twice the wrong button and twice the right button...
( It was the off and on button, which was on top of the camera, next to the release button, so this fuc...ng thing went off and on, off and on...)
Gino's manager saw all this madness and joking around which took too much time and told Gino to go on to the other fans which is very understandable ofcourse. I was really sick to death not because I looked like a fool but because Clem is not on the picture together with Gino now. I am happy that Clem did not put a big stiletto in my back and I am happy that I am still well and alive. I have to confess that I could not sleep for a few nights because of this matter and I was really sad for Clem, these shit things happen.... I was so happy to receive the picture from England which was pretty good... The things Gino must have been thinking during this madness... What a fool and what a bad (shit) photographer! If I ever have the oppertunity to meet Gino again I really hope He will not recognize me as the clumsy photographer. (Hahahahaha!!!) By the way what a big, great and adventurous event !!! Okay I stop now and I hope you will be settled soon so we can chat again thru the PC's, love from all Dingena's and see you!!
Cor.

He was Dancing, jumping and moving like he was 25 years old. Talking like a stand up comedian, hilariously funny making us all laugh with his pope story ( do something about the hear, hahaha, it still makes my laugh ) He made every song just a little bit different, but everyting sounded completely new, Just amazing how he das it !!!

One thing of that night keeps popping into my mind and that is, that he himself had sughs a wonderfull time, he was enyoing himself just at much as we did, maybe even more. After the show we always try to get a autographe or a picture with him, but we could not get any ( to much securityman sending us away ) So we kept hanging out in the lobby just enyoing the feeling of being a part of this great musical experience, of this great man. Luckely we staid for a half hour because he came to sign whatever there is to be signed. When he walked in he shaked hands with everybody, luckely i was standing not so far away and was able to shake his hand and thank him for this great evening. HE RECOGNIZED ME, MAN.... HE REALLY DID HIS FACE BRIGHTEND AND HE SAID, "HEY! HOW ARE" YOU TO ME, TO ME !!!!!!...... i felt like a million dollars

Honderds off people where trying to get a glimps and a autographe, never saw something like this before. I was standing next to the table taking pictures and i will send them to you, olso took pictures during the concert (actually it was forbidden, said the security ! manegment rules) so the quality is not so good, had to take them sneeky from under my arm. Hope you like them anyway.

So this was again a memorable moment in oure lives we will never ever forget. Gino thanks for all your music, for giving us happines and letting us being a part of your great musical world.
Greetings from Ron, Barendrecht, Holland.
See Ron's pictures, the pictures inside review 9 and review 7 are also made by Ron van Welzenes

Is het eerste album Crazy Life (1973) ooit op CD uitgebracht? Ik heb wel de LP maar wil graag hiervan een CD hebben.
Ik zag ergens iets staan over tv of radio opnamen van afgelopen vrijdag. Weten jullie hier meer van?
Zijn er al foto's en/of recenties van het optreden in de Pepsi Stage?
Met vriendelijke groeten, Peter Kalkman.

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
I am a Gino fan from 1974 and I bought all LP's and Cd's of Him. Last Friday I was for the very first time at a Gino Vannelli concert. And I liked it so very much. I have a few questions:

Is the first album Crazy Life ever released on cd? I have the LP but I like to have the cd too.
I saw something somewhere about radio or tv recordings of last Friday. Do you know more about this?
Are there already pictures or reviews of the performance at the Pepsi Stage?
with kind greetings, Peter Kalkman.

absolute wereldtop!!!!

We kunnen nu al niet meer wachten op het volgende concert.
Groetjes, Jan en Helga uit Eindhoven.

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
Last night , we went to the concert from Gino in Amsterdam
What we want to say about this concert is:

ABSOLUTELY TOP OF THE WORLD!!!!!!

Zo ook gisteren avond, een waar paradijs voor de liefhebber. Als je de inhoud van een CD: de muziek, de arrangementen, de liefde voor muziek en niet in het minst het vakmanschap van Gino drie-dimensionaal kunt voorstellen, dan heb ik voor me, naast me, onder me, achter me mogen rondlopen in een paradijs van funk, jazz, klassiek en elke andere toepasselijke muziekstijl. Alles was ECHT, alles was harmonieus, het raakt je in je ziel. Gino Vannelli slaat weer eens de spijker op zijn kop. De muzikale ontwikkeling die hij in de loop der jaren doormaakt, loopt letterlijk parallel met de sociaal emotionele ontwikkeling die je als mens op je levenspad meemaakt.

Canto laat maar weer eens zien hoe je naar relatieve volmaaktheid en een evenwichtig muzikaal spectrum toe groeit. Zijn optreden met het metropole orkest is wederom een mijlpaal in zijn artistieke ontwikkeling en mijn muzikale beleving. Ik heb dan ook de behoefte om hem het e.e.a. te schrijven. Weten jullie een (e-mail) adres waar een dergelijke brief naar toe zou kunnen opdat Gino Vannelli zulks ook onder ogen krijgt? Ik hoop van jullie te horen.
Grote groet, Peter Eden

English :
Hello Barend en Trees,
I don't know to two of you ( yet) but yesterday evening in the Pepsi-stage did somebody ( who I also didn't know) tell me extensive about the two of you, about your website, and about our jointly idol.
That was a great " side-effect " from a wonderfull evening of musical pleasure. I'm from the generation of " Powerfull People " and I'm going the my fifties.
As a highschool-student I've heard Gino Vannelli's music for the first time. Musing, fainting, dancing and singing, wow, what did his music means a lot to me and still does! His power is: he gets you en takes you " for life " or you will never be a real fan. I belong to the first category of people.
Everytime I walk into a record-shop, now a CD-shop, I always look at the " V ". During all the past years I have been collecting all his work and now the Gino Vannelli-collection is one of the most completed collections in my CD-rack.

Also yesterday-evening, a true paradise for the music-lover. If you can imagine the music , the arrangements, the passion for music and last but not least the professionalism of Gino in a 3-dimensional way then I have been walking in front of me, backwards me, beneath me and under me in a paradise of funk, jazz, classic and every other related music-style. Everything was real, everthing was harmonious. It gets into your soul. Gino Vannelli hits again the real buttons. The musical development that Gino Vannelli is going through the past years is precisely the same social and emotional development that every human-being walks though in his life.

Canto shows us how you can grow to relative perfection and a balanced musical spectrum. His performance with the Metropool Orchestra is another milistone in his artistic development and in my musical experience. I have a strong desire to write to him. Do you know an email-adress where I can sent such a letter so that it's sure that Gino Vannelli can read my words. I hope that I hear something from you.
Many greetings , Peter Eden.

De video van de " Brother To Brother " tour is absoluut mijn favoriet . Elke keer als ik weer kijk kom ik in een achtbaan-effect . Die opbouw van backstage naar het podium . En dan plotseling....." look for the powerful people , people , people ".....SHOWTIME !!!! Gino en z'n band SPETTEREN . Ongekende Kwaliteit.
Sander van de Vrede, Amsterdam, Holland.

English :
Hallo Barend and Trees,
My name is Sander.
I visited your web site full of information and I enjoyed it.
Yesterday I visited the concert in Amsterdam and it was super fantastic again! I also met Clem van Lunteren again and we had great cosy memories, we were reminising about Roosendaal and the Yonder Tree tour in the Rai, Amsterdam. What a beautiful arrangements and orchestrations yesterday especially in : "I Die A Little More Each Day". I also think that the duet with Janet Mooney was magical. Beautifully arranged. I really hope that Gino and the Metropole Orchestra will work together much longer and that more songs from Gino's repertoire come up for consideration. I cannot wait to hear the re-arranged :
- Appaloosa
- A Pauper In Paradise
- A Rose In December
- A Woman Crossed By Love
- Black And Blue
- Come To The Well
- Constantly Constantine
- Down With Love
- Fallen In Love ( In memory of Gregory Hines . I can already imagine it : On stage tender dipped lights, and only a spotlight on Gino and a performing tap-dancer )
- Felicia
- Fly Into This Night
- Jo Jo
- Keep On Walking
- Lost And Found
- Love Of My life
- Moon Over Madness
- Nightwalker
- Omens Of Love
- People I Belong To
- Summers Of My life
- The Surest Things Can Change
- Ugly Man
- Where Am I Going

The videotape of the " Brother To Brother " tour is absolutely my favorite. Every time I watch again this videotape I a get into a roller coaster feeling. The building up from backstage to live on stage... And than suddenly... " Look for the powerful people, people, people...". SHOWTIME !!!! Gino and His band PLAY SMASHING. Endless quality.
Sander van de Vrede, Amsterdam, Holland.

De muziek van Canto draai ik altijd als in de stoomcabine zit en dan heb ik altijd mijn ogen dicht, dus ik moest nu wel mijn ogen goed open houden om ook eens te zien hoe hij het zingt.
Leuk om jullie nu ook eens ontmoet te hebben. Hebben jullie nog met Gino het succes een beetje kunnen vieren?

Wij lezen het wel op de site of mail ons anders even terug.
Een prettig weekend en tot ziens, Ben en Ellen Querido

English :
Hi Barend and Trees,
What a great evening wasn't it?
We really enjoyed it and what an exciting music. Gino was in good spirits, that could we see very well. He really had fun and enjoyed himself and we too ofcourse.

I always play the music of CANTO when I am inside the steam-room and than I always close my eyes, so I had to keep my eyes open to see how He sings it.
How nice to meet you. Did you celebrate the success a little bit with Gino?

We will read it all on your site or maybe you could e-mail us a reply.
Have a nice weekend en see you later. Ben and Ellen Querido

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
How was the concert last Friday?
Did it satisfy your expectations? And how was the new repertoire received? Unfortunately I could not be there, because of a concert in Antwerp, Belgium, in which I played myself.
The rehearsals inspired me very much.
Greetings Martin.
Martin, one of the arrangers!

ik wilde vragen of er ook een nederlandse fanclub van Gino bestaat......
gisteravond ontzettend genoten van zijn concert!!
Groeten Rik van Gelder

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
I wanted to ask you : Is there is a Dutch Gino Vannelli fan club......
Yesterday evening I enjoyed His concert in a very big way!!
Greetings from Rik van Gelder

Ik heb van iemand in de zaal gehoord van jullie webside en heb een stukje geschreven. Daarin ook een oproep/vraag of iemand de l.p. heeft "Twisted Heart" Ik heb een single daarvan met twee nummers erop. Hebben jullie daar ooit van gehoord?
Ik zou graag wat meer daarvan weten. Mijn e-mailadres is anita@lovesw
Verder heb ik gehoord dat Gino op t.v. is geweest pas, wordt dat misschien nog herhaald of heeft iemand dat opgenomen? Ik heb het in ieder geval gemist en zou het graag nog een keer zien!

Ga zo door met jullie webside : jullie hebben er een fan bij!
Groet Anita.

English :
Hello,
I have been to Amsterdam yesterday and visited Gino's concert.
Great !!!! Super great !!!!
I am already a fan from the age of 16 years old and saw and heard him live for the very first time. Unbelievable what a voice!

I heard from somebody in the concert-hall about your website and I wrote a piece. Inside also a request/appeal for somebody who has the LP "Twisted Heart" ?? I have a single from that LP with 2 songs. did you ever hear about this?
I should like to know more about this. My e-mail address is anita@lovesw
I also heard that Gino was on tv not so long ago, will this be repeated ?? Maybe ?? Or did someone record this ?? I missed it that's for sure and I like to see it again!

Keep on going with your website : You found another fan!
Greet from Anita.

Bedankt dat jullie dit Gino Vanelli concert op jullie web site hebben gezet anders had ik het nooit geweten.
Nog een "grotere" fan erbij! Groeten van Marianne.

English :
Hi !
I have never ever heard and felt such greatness in my entire life.
Barend and Trees you are so right, very, very right!!
This was so impressive, I am still smiling.... It really was magic !!!

Thanks for putting this concert on your web site because otherwise i could never ever know anything about it. Here is an even "bigger" fan!
Greetings from Marianne.

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
When I click on the internet on Gino's name I keep on seeing your names and this means you are super fans.
Very nice and funny, my question is : do you know where I can read something about the concert at the Pepsi Stage in Amsterdam, I was there too, (By the way, super good as usual) I hope you know which site this is.
Thanks in advance, greetings from Kjeld Haverkamp.

Het niveau van jullie 'schaamteloze toewijding' halen wij natuurlijk bij lange na niet, maar hele grote fans mogen we onszelf toch zeker wel noemen!

Weer super-enthousiast na Gino's concert van afgelopen vrijdag in de Pepsi Stage ben ik weer eens wat gaan surfen. Zo stuitte ik op jullie geweldige site. Qua vormgeving geen schoonheid - dat weten jullie zelf ook wel - maar het gaat uiteindelijk om de inhoud, en inhoud te over! Heerlijk om op de site rond te koekeloeren.

Ik heb nu twee prangende vragen:
In jullie lijst van live performances zie ik als eerste optreden op Nederlandse bodem verschijnen: Tilburg 30 maart 1999.
Waarom staan Gino's Nederlandse optredens in 1990, 1992 en 1995 er niet in?

Gino's optreden op het North Sea Jazz Festival in 2002 heb ik helaas moeten missen. Ook de uitzending van dit concert op televisie is aan mijn neus voorbij gegaan. Weten jullie misschien hoe ik aan een videobandkopie van deze uitzending kan komen?
Met vriendelijke groet, Michiel den Besten

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
A very first e-mail from me to your address.
When I was 15 years old (Now I am 45 !) I bought Powerful People and since that day I am addicted in a heavy and strong way to Gino. Lateron my partner followed me. Again super-enthusiastic after Gino's concert at the Pepsi Stage last Friday so I started surfing again. That's why I saw your great site. Not a beauty in design - but you know that already - but it's all about the information and the content, much and many contents and lots of information.... A joy and a delight to look around on your site!

Now I have 2 urgent questions:
In your list of live performances I see appear as the very first performance on Dutch grounds : Tilburg 30 March 1999. Why didn't you mention Gino's performances in 1990, 1992 en 1995?

Unfortunalety I had to miss Gino's performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2002 And I also failed to see the broadcast on tv of this concert. Do you know how to get a copy of a videotape of this concert?
Kind regards, Michiel den Besten

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
Friday 30 January was the evening before we went on a winter sports vacation.
We had to go up very early on Saterdaymorning to go to the snow. But I am so happy that we went to the Gino Vannelli concert anyways. together with my Wife and Friends I had a FANTASTIC evening... The North Sea Jazz was already a great happening to see and hear Gino, but at the Pepsi Stage it was really very, very good. In the meantime I e-mailed the NPS to investigate when this concert will be broadcasted. There were also video recordings so I wonder if they want to broadcast this top of the world concert on tv. Maybe you have information about this matter and I shall be glad to receive any information from you?
I also love to own a Gino Vannelli video or dvd to enjoy it nice and lazy in my chair at home. Ohhhh well, it will not be lazy because when you hear Gino you will be uploaded with new energy again. Anyways, I hope you can help me?
Thanks in advance and I want to make compliments to you for your "cool" website.
Kind regards, Ben Jansen

English :
Hi !
Only God really knows how much I enjoyed this concert!!!!!!!!! I cannot write that well but I really wanted to let you know that I was there and that Gino Vannelli is the best entertainer I have ever seen and heard. What an evening, what a joy and what a shock to hear him sing CANTO and with shock i mean a kind of kick of joy, so i mean it very positive. And now I understand what you two mean with your website. Thanks and see you soon at the next Gino Vannelli concert.
Luc from Belgium.

English :
Hello, my name is Jago van Dam. I've been to the Gino Vannelli concert in Amsterdam, with the Metropole Orchestra. Maybe you were there too. There were radio recordings made by the NPS of the concert and I asked myself if you know when this concert will be broadcasted, or even better, maybe you have recordings of that concert and of the North Sea Jazz concert.
(I have 3 recordings of the North Sea Jazz concert).
Thanks for the information in advance.
And by the way, nice, very nice site.
Jago van Dam.

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
Thanks for your enlarged reaction after my e-mail. Nice to receive such an enthusiastic reply from you!
I can tell you honestly that I made my eyes wet of tears during the first part of the concert. But that's ofcourse the emotion of seeing and hearing your hero again in real person. For me His very first concert in Paradiso will always be the most special I think.
The real opera songs on the cd do not really please me to be honest.
We loved it when Gino went on with his older work, nice, very nice!
MdM (2)

We hebben genoten en de combinatie met het Metropole orkest is geweldig. Prachtige arrangementen waarbij ik benieuwd ben of Gino die zelf heeft gemaakt of wellicht samen met Dick Bakker?? Dat weten jullie vast wel. Ook het Metropole is bijzonder voor mij. Ik ben fan van de muziek van Rogier van Otterloo, voormalig dirigent van het orkest die helaas veel te vroeg is gestorven. Mijn oudste zoon heb ik naar hem genoemd.
Al met al een prachtige muzikale avond. Het enige wat jammer was vond ik dat de de laatste toegift een herhaling was. Gelet op het enthousiasme van het publiek had er best nog een extra toegift mogen zijn denk ik (where am I going van “Storm at sunup” had bijvoorbeeld een prachtig slot geweest). Maar desalniettemin was het weer een geweldig feest.
Jullie doen overigens geweldig werk met de fan-site.
Blijf volhouden!
Groeten van Ron en Desiree Adelaar

English :
Hello Barend and Trees,
Naturally I was there the 30th, I shaked hands with Trees and introduced myself after I saw her sitting on the first row at the Pepsi Stage.
I was together with my best friend Herman, who also is a big fan of Gino's music for 30 years.
Together we have often listened to the premières of Gino's new LP's or Cd's and we often visited Gino's concerts in the Netherlands.

We enjoyed it very much and the combination with the Metropole Orchestra is really great. Beautiful arrangements, I am very curious to know if Gino did these arrangements Himself ??
Or together with Dick Bakker ?? I am sure you know that.
The Metropole Orchestra is also very special to me. I am a fan of Rogier van Otterloo's music, former conductor of the orchestra, who unfortunately died too soon and too young. I named my eldest son after him.
Anyways it was a wonderful musical evening. There is one thing that I felt as a disappointment and that was the encore because it was a repeat. When I saw the enthusiasm of the audience there should be another encore but that's what I think
(For instance "Where Am I Going" from the "Storm At Sunup" album could have been the most beautiful end of the show).
Anyways it was a great party again.
And you two do a great job with your fan-site.
Keep on going!
Greetings from Ron and Desiree Adelaar

Het was een fantastisch concert, maar dat hoef ik jullie niet te vertellen, ik neem aan dat jullie erbij waren. Het was iets unieks, zo’n geweldige zanger met een geweldig orkest, dat maak je niet zomaar mee.
We bedenken nog een persoonlijke boodschap voor Gino, dat laten we jullie nog wel weten.
succes met de site ! we zullen ‘m regelmatig bezoeken.
Groeten, Ben en Cintha

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
Thanks for your reaction and at last we could re-sell all our extra tickets, thru Friends and
co-workers, It seems there are still enough Gino fans !

It was a fantastic concert, but no need to tell you this, I assume you were there. It was something unique, such a great singer with a great Orchestra, that does not happen very often.
We are still thinking about a personal message to Gino, we will let you know.
Success with the site ! We will visit it on regular basis.
Greetings, Ben and Cintha.

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
Yes, I was there too, on the second row.
A performance with class!
Only the duet, which was an obligation, was a big pity, but at least we could hear the difference in class and style between Gino and many other artists.
I really hope together with many other music lovers that there will be a dvd one day.
I am going to play an old one now, Storm At Sunup, always stays good.
Greetings, Gerard (1).

English :
Dear Barend and Trees,
After reading the many reviews on your site I am very alone with my opinion about the Janet Mooney duet.
Anyways.....I think this duet did not have the Gino-level and that's ofcourse a very high level,
I know....
I think He is a technical perfectionist with much emotion, and there are not many like him.
When He combines with another artist, it have to be a top artist!
Greetings Gerard (2).

English :
Barend and Trees,
Pepsi stage surpassed and topped everything, the songs of Canto and after that the older songs were really a beautiful and wonderful combination.
Gino (in top shape) and the Orchestra worked great together, it was one harmony.
Victor.

I need your help or advise, i believe that the pepsi stage concert with the metropole orchestra is being aired in Holland and i dont know how i can hear this, will someone be recording this or will it be available to buy as it would be fantastic to hear it all over again and again and again.

if you have any news or ideas how us fans in England could tune in or get a copy i would appreciate this very much.

keep up the good work with the website its fantastic.
take care
Terry