Mr. Probe

Contemporary music mostly in a interdisciplinair context. Violin and e-guitar form the basic of the ensemble.

In 2008 long time collaborators Marieke Berendsen (violin) and Bruno Nelissen (e-guitar) unleashed Mr. Probe onto the world. Mr. Probe is not a duo or fixed ensemble in the regular sense. He is a character with a mind of his own, and takes initiative towards different directions, art forms and artists. He uses his probe for research and experiment. Combinations and confrontations with dance theatre, music theatre, performance and visual arts are being made. But also other ensembles and musicians are invited to experiment.

"Mr. Probe says hello", Mr. Probe's first project, was played in concert halls in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2008 and 2009. In this program Mr. Probe introduced himself in his most pure form, with new works for violin, e-guitar (and electronics) by Dutch and Belgian composers. In the same period Mr. Probe created the music for the music theatre performance "Het vlot van de Medusa" for the Kameroperahuis Zwolle, together with German director Robert Nemack and scenographers Clement & Sanou. They also created the sound installation "Lawnmower". In 2010 Mr. Probe collaborated with Dance theatre company "Vloeistof" in the performance "Paskamer". In 2011 he made a sound/ live video performance "Counting Down To Next To Beside Besides" based on a composition by Simon Steen Andersen. For Time Canvas, a festival of Champ d'Action in contemporary arts museum MUHKA, Mr. Probe created the short performance "Hyperkinetica", a multi layered over the top virtuoso Eddie van Halen meets Tsjaikovski video meets live musician performance. Mr. Probe's latest, and still running projects are "Dr. Feelgood", a show together with drummer Mattijs Vanderleen based on short home video's with ultra positive content (100% happiness), and "Popcorn". Popcorn is a project in which Mr. Probe workes with e-guitar quartet Zwerm, drummer Mattijs Vanderleen and Dez Mona singer Gregory Frateur. It consists of rocksongs they always wanted to play but never had the chance, and which in turn form the inspiration for new compositions.