Knight Area

Biography Mark Smit – Vocals • Gerben Klazinga – Drums & Keyboards • Peter Van Heijningen – Lead Guitar Jeroen Hogenboom – Guitar • Arjan Groenendijk – Guitar • Vincent Frijdal – Acoustic Guitar Ron Van Der Bas – Bass • Gijs Koopman – Bass & Bass Pedals • Mark Van Nieuwenhuizen – Drums Kees Flameling – Accordion • Joop Klazinga Flutes & Lyrics With the release of The Sun Also Rises, Knight Area is poised to elevate Holland on the prog rock map. As you can see by the musician listing above, this is quite a collection of minstrels—each adding a unique element. This conceptual work was conceived over a period of twenty years by Gerben and Joop Klazinga, The Sun Also Rises was ultimately composed and recorded during the past three years by the Klazinga brothers with an assortment of musicians from the Dutch progressive rock scene. The result is a stunning work of epic progressive rock that will appeal to fans of Camel, Pendragon, Genesis, and IQ. Knight Area uses a full sonic palette that will stir the soul of any old or new school symphonic rock fan. Mellotron/flute interplay, Hammond organ, liquid lead synth and soaring guitar solos - its all here! Dramatic vocals and a dynamic mix propel this emotion filled story. The beginning of the story goes back many years… Gerben Klazinga was raised with a vigorous segment of symphonic rock music. He was to a certain extent influenced by his older brother Joop, who listened over and over again to bands like Camel, King Crimson and Barclay James Harvest. After he had taken some courses for the recorder, Gerben decided to focus on the classical piano. In the meantime brother Joop started practicing the flute. A particular space in the parental residence was ‘equipped’ as a music room, where soon after you could discover a little organ as well as a drum kit. Therefore, while unloading his juvenile frustrated emotions, he managed to develop into a fairly pleasant drummer. It was approximately 1982 when the brothers created the first concepts for The Sun Also Rises. After Joop left the house and started a career, Gerben widened his outlook and together with musical friends he formed the symphonic band Sangamo. The first months of 2000 the ‘bold’ Gerben, started to write songs for his solo project, titled Knight Area, which is a translation from the Dutch word Ridderbuurt, the street where his house (and studio) is located. The brothers soon united under the Knight Area moniker, and with a host of other like-minded musicians a full-time band was born. The act soon after signed with Laser’s Edge, and began finally officially recording The Sun Also Rises. Listening to this release you will sense the years of effort put into its creation, with the talent and passion sweeping you away.