Friends band B2F tours Thai hotspots
The band Big to the Future (B2F) is on the eve of a new tour of hotels and resorts in Thailand. The orchestra was founded in 2007 by trumpeter Jos Muijtjens and saxophonist Paul van Duijn. The second meaning of B2F is therefore Being two Friends, we are two friends.
Jos Muijtjens (1957) has been living in Thailand for several years. The native of Maastricht started playing the trumpet at the age of 7 at the local wind band. He developed into lead trumpet player in big bands and wind sections. For example, he toured for years with the Glenn Miller Memorial Band and was lead trumpeter for the German Ted Beorgh Orchestra for twenty years. In addition, he toured with his own big band Swing Design through the United States and throughout Europe, among other places.
That Paul van Duijn would play the saxophone was not at all obvious at the beginning. As a 7-year-old he started with violin and piano lessons. It wasn't until nine years later that he fell under the spell of the saxophone and soon he made waves in various big bands. After graduating as a saxophonist from the Sweelink Music Academy in Amsterdam, he toured Europe for twelve years with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, playing over 2000 shows, recording several CDs and making TV appearances. He then accompanied internationally renowned artists on board the MS Europa.
Jos and Paul played together for a long time in various pop bands in the Netherlands. They decided to form their own band with music friends who they knew would fit into their concept. And that is Big to the Future: a band consisting only of professionals. The musicians selected for each tour come from all over the world. Paul and Jos have played with most of them in the past and know exactly what they can do. Only the best are chosen to participate in B2F. The changing composition keeps the band fresh and guarantees that an evening with B2F - except for the quality - is never the same twice. All musicians have been chosen for musicality, charisma and their sense of show.
This tour has a special aspect for me. Solo trumpeter Jan Cuijpers is a journalistic colleague from a distant past at the Dagblad voor Noord-Limburg in Venlo and Dagblad de Limburger in Maastricht. For the first time in almost twenty years I will hear Jan again…
Please note: the performances are so-called 'dinner dances'. This means that you must pay for dinner in one of the hotels mentioned.
In recent years, B2F has been touring Thailand twice a year. A concert releases quite a bit of energy and visitors should not be surprised if the singer or one of the instrumentalists jumps off the stage to celebrate with the audience. Various musical styles are reviewed, with the orchestra taking the listener on a journey through time, from the early XNUMXs through the swing era to rock, pop, disco and contemporary hits.
B2F can choose from three front men or women for its Thailand tours. Geralt van Gemert will set the musical course for the upcoming performances.
The March-April spring tour line-up:
Geralt van Gemert (in the photo left foreground, Lead Vocal), Jos Muijtjens (right foreground, Lead Trumpet/Vocals), Peter Hermesdorf (Tenor Saxophone), Jan Cuijpers (above, fourth from left, Solo Trumpet), Daan Morris (Trombone), Dick Barten, (Keyboards/musical leader), Bob Gelissen (Guitar), Thanat Sushuk (Bass) and Peng Offe on Drums.
Tour dates:
- March 23 – Grand Centara Mirage Hotel in Pattaya
- March 24 – Grand Centara Hotel in Hua Hin
- March 25 – Meridien Hotel in Phuket
- March 26 – Sandbar at the Sea in Pattaya
- March 29 - Silverlake Vineyard in Pattaya
- March 31 – Grand Centara Hotel in Phuket
- April 3 – Grand Centara Hotel on Koh Samui