Press Quotes and more...
What they say about Silverspoon...
Blues in Britain UK, By Norman Darwen
The focus here is firma on the song and the slinger. Rather than instrumental powers. True that's certainly not lacking. You can easily understand just why Robbert won that award.
Roots highway Italy, by Matteo Fratti
A Dutchman with a passion for blues, a perfect voice, and a personal acoustic style on the guitar. Silver Spoon is a fine collection and a fine demonstration of how, even in other tracks that we leave you to discover, it is still possible to be a 'hobo' on a moving train, with a guitar and dissent, yes, on a 'silver spoon'. Commendable.
Blues News Norway, by Jan Erik Moe
Robbert Duijf means what he sings. It comes from his heart. They are stories that have meaning and give a sense of unity, and where it is not far to the light at the end of the tunnel.
Blues News Germany, By Karl Leitner
A charming, honest, down-to-earth album for people who can listen closely and not be blinded by superficialities.
Blues Blast magazine USA, By John Sacksteder
Robbert has a fine touch on the acoustic guitar and a pleasant, slightly raspy voice. His approach to the songs clearly leans towards an old blues style from the 1920s and 1930s, perhaps with a touch of folk music that was common at the time.
Written in music Netherlands, By Cis van Loy
The bluesman has already received extensive praise; Change Myself was crowned the best blues album in the Netherlands in 2023. Last year, Robbert Duijf was the laureate of the European Blues Challenge. A well-deserved award, and the new LP Silver Spoon effortlessly lives up to the high expectations.
Heaven magazine Netherlands, By Lenny Vullings
Duijf shows himself to be a master of variation and dynamics.
He knows the clichés and details of the blues like no other and knows how to use both to his advantage.
Interview in JAZZ'N'MORE GmbH – Das Schweizer Jazz & Blues Magazin
It only took a few years for Robbert Duijf to gain a foothold at the top of the European roots music scene. In 2019 he won the Dutch Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category and represented his country at the International Blues Challenge IBC in Memphis. In 2023 his album "Change Myself" won the award for Best Dutch Blues Album. That same year he won the Dutch Blues Challenge again in the band category. In 2024 Robbert Duijf crowned his career by winning the European Blues Competition EBC. Recently the brilliant songwriter released the remarkable new album "Silver Spoon". Here is his story. By Marco Piazzalonga
"I started playing music when I was 12. I was a punk rocker, a heavy metal kid! But when I became a father, I sold all my guitars – except for one acoustic. I stopped touring and performing, wanted to be with my family and looked for work. I only practiced in the evenings after the kids had gone to bed. And I played Charlie Patton or Robert Johnson, because when I discovered their music, I was hooked. That was about 16 years ago. That's how my path went from being a heavy metal guitarist to being an acoustic guitarist."
FROM DANGEROUS MOOD TO SILVER SPOON
"Although my first album, 'Dangerous Mood', occasionally featured an electric guitar, on the follow-up, 'Change Myself', I went absolutely unplugged. I wanted to make an acoustic album because I see myself as an acoustic artist: when I pull the plug and play, the feeling has to be there – that's my mission. And: 'Change Myself' was meant to be a gospel album. For this I arranged five gospel songs and supplemented them with two of my own songs that were in the same direction in terms of style.
The idea behind my new album, 'Silver Spoon', is this: when you put it on the turntable or slide it into the CD tray, you have to feel like you're in the studio with us. When the engineer in the control room announces 'tape is rolling' It's just you and the band...
When he starts on the first song, the listener has to feel like they're in the middle of it. I wanted the album to be raw and natural. are, no 'AI stuff' – a simple, acoustic blues album."
ANGELO BOMBRINI
"When I started recording 'Dangerous Mood', I was still quite new to the studio and production. I just wanted to make a record! I had known musician and producer Angelo Bombrini for years; we are friends. I brought my songs to him and he said: 'Well, Robbert, there is more meat on the bones than just a few songs with guitar.' He got me a bass player and a drummer, a lap steel guitar; he plays banjo, keyboards, guitar and a lot more. Angelo saw what was possible with my music. He criticized me and gave me suggestions. Something like: 'This song needs something else.' Or: 'For that song, vocals and guitar are enough, leave it as it is. Don't play too much. Keep it simple, keep it pure!' We also worked together like that for 'Change Myself' – as I said, with a purely acoustic approach and a different drummer. For 'Silver Spoon', two recording experiences later, I said to Angelo: 'Now I'm going to tell you what I have in mind!' I don't want to tell the bassist and drummer what to do. They're smart musicians and they should work out their parts themselves in the studio. If you give them that freedom, they become creative.
THE SONGS
"I believe in what I do: When I tell a story, I don't beat around the bush. You have to be convinced of what you want to tell people. I want them to feel the same way I do. Happy, sad, whatever. 'First Train Out', for example, is about my hometown: As a young adult, I saw the decline of coal mining. In 1974, the last mine in the area closed. My grandfather and uncles all went into early forced retirement and became unemployed. Times were tough, people were depressed, disoriented, people emigrated and we lost friends. My parents advised me to seek my fortune elsewhere: Go to college, Robbert, go to college! Take the first train that passes by! Go to Amsterdam! Go to Utrecht! Get away from here! This city is empty! I deal with this in the song.
Another story that goes back to my childhood is 'The General': When I was five years old, I was standing in my grandfather's garden when an uncle came by and told him a different story. My grandchild was on his way. My grandfather said: "Hopefully not a boy. I don't like boys!" and left. I didn't understand that at the time. Years later, my father told me that when my grandfather was 16, the family had hidden him from the Germans in a hole in the garden. The war was pure horror for him, and boys are sent to war. I sing about that.
One of my son's favorite songs is 'Tired of Being Good'. I wrote this song out of frustration about a job I didn't like. I hated going to work in the morning and being bossed around, I was fed up and grumpy at home. I said to my wife: 'I'm so fed up with being good!' I was fed up with doing something I didn't feel like doing. Shortly after that I won the European Blues Challenge in Braga – and everything changed!
BRAGA
"We drove from the Netherlands to Braga with the idea of keeping the four songs we won at the Dutch Blues Challenge. We travelled in a camper van, which meant that my wife and I, together with my two sons, were on the road. The oldest, Rubin, plays bass guitar in my band. We took a few days off – I still had a permanent job at the time – and said to ourselves: 'Let's just have fun and play our usual set.' Our drummer flew in – and when we started I got sick, got a fever and caught something. Nevertheless, Rubin was euphoric: 'We're going to win, dad!' I said, 'Oh man, take it easy! It would be cool if we made it to the final and played twice.' Then we got a standing ovation in the semi-final.
And suddenly it went completely crazy! After the first night we were bombarded by booking agents. I had never worked with booking agents before. The situation was unbelievable! We made it to the final and I said to the band, "We're going to change the program. We're not going to play the same thing twice." And I think that was a smart move. This year I was on the jury at EBC and I thought it was good for a jury to get a broader picture of what a band has to
offer. After our success in Braga my wife said, "You better do what you really want!" In other words: no more day jobs! Because I also perform a lot solo – I love these gigs in small, intimate venues – I can now fully focus on the music. Winning at EBC has given me a lot of self-confidence and certainty on my musical path.
Marco Piazzalonga
ZiCaZic.com says:
Winner of the last European Blues Challenge in Braga, Portugal, the Robbert Duijf Band is a Dutch trio led by a leader with a very long experience, whether in a group or solo. Accompanied by his son on the double bass, Robbert Duijf always strives to establish a certain conviviality between the room and him and it is a real pleasure to hear his music but also to truly commune with him, the artist presenting himself more as a good friend of the audience than as a simple musician, as brilliant as he is, and even if it plays terribly well, The fact remains that it is as much this permanent exchange as the music that raises the level of the set and sets the rhythm. It is by playing their lively and seductive acoustic country blues with fervor and passion that these three excellent musicians are the best asset to prove that the genre is not condemned to be a bit long and repetitive as we often mistakenly think!
Jazzism #05:
Blues News Norway:
The winner of the European Blues Challenge (EBC) 2024 The Dutch trio Robbert Duijf Band. The band charmed the audience during their concerts with their version of delta blues. The audience quickly picked up Robbert's atmosphere and the connection between band and audience was immediate.
Blues Magazine Netherlands:
Falling Of The Wagon and My Only Friend, Duijf proves to be an excellent guitarist. With his passionate singing and guitar playing he reminds me strongly of Michael de Jongh who passed away. Not so strange actually because Michael de Jongh is said to have been a fan of Robbert Duijf.
The Blues Alone Netherlands:
The three musicians received a standing ovation in Braga, they managed to touch both the audience and the jury with their performance.
Blues Town Music Netherlands:
A very impressive album by Robbert Duijf, which could have lasted a bit longer in my opinion…
Jazzism Netherlands:
His solo debut consists of the highlights of a live concert. Recorded in a clean and unedited manner. This is not necessary, because Duijf's relaxed fingerpicking on guitar can also be enjoyed without any technical sound tricks. He is also an entertaining entertainer with a pleasantly raw singing voice. The advantage is that he writes a large part of his songs himself.
Back To The Roots Belgium:
Robbert is supported by a swinging 'upright bass' and a drummer, who stands out both because of his limited drum kit and because of the use of a washboard. Despite the limited line-up, Robbert can easily take the audience along with him through his enthusiasm and interesting linking texts. Nice.
Barnowlblues Netherlands:
With this album (Change Myself), Robbert Duijf proves to be an excellent musician, who ensures that the genre of pre-war blues and gospel remains in the spotlight.
Roots Ville Belgium:
Three very good musicians who enjoy performing their music with passion, dedication and straight from their hearts. After ‘Change Myself’ another acapella number followed, which despite the warm temperatures made you jump for joy, with an encore as a reward. Mister Duijf, you made my day!’