According to the internationally acclaimed website AllAboutJazz “Harmen Fraanje (1976) is emerging as one of the most impressive young European pianists of the past decade.” The same website selected a performance by this trio with Clemens van der Feen and Flin van Hemmen as one of the best concerts of 2010. In the same breath as grandmasters like John Scofield, Brad Mehldau and Bill Frisell, no less.
At the moment Harmen is performing a lot with cellist Ernst Reijseger and singer Mola Sylla from Senegal. In the past Harmen was quite active with his quartet with Nelson Veras on guitar, Hein van de Geyn on bass and Matthieu Chazarenc on drums. They released two cd’s for Challenge: Sonatala and Ronja (with Magic Malik as guest). Harmen has played with a.o. Mark Turner, Magic Malik, Kenny Wheeler, Nelson Veras, Michael Moore, Philip Catherine, Elvin Jones(just 1 tune, but a tune is a tune), Hein van de Geyn, Mats Eilertsen,Toma Gouband, Cristina Branco, Tony Malaby,Rick Margitza, Reggie Washington, John Ruocco, Han Bennink,Anton Goudsmit, Ernst Reijseger, Bert Joris, John Engels, Toots Thielemans, Dré Pallemaerts, Dick Oats As sideman Harmen is playing in the Norwegian Mats Eilertsen Trio, the Michael Moore Quartet and the Clemens van der Feen Band. Harmen is teaching at the Amsterdam Conservatory.