Nico Brandsen, talented keyboard-player and friend

Nico Brandsen, a good friend and talented musician, passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon. Father of beautiful children, husband of the courageous, sweet and caring Lotte and an extremely talented keyboard player and Hammond organ player who leaves behind many beautiful compositions and recordings.

Nico is best known in the Netherlands for his work as a band member in successful Dutch bands such as Kane https://www.youtube.com/@kaneofficial_nl, the Ilse de Lange band https://www.youtube.com/@Ilsedelangemusic, the Jan Akkerman band and recently as bandleader of Mell & Vintage Future and accompanist of Dutch music and theater artist Angela Groothuizen https://www.youtube.com/@AngelaGroothuizenOfficial .

Besides Angela, Nico was very busy these past years with “ Mell & Vintage Future ” https://mellvf.nl . A three-man formation around the now nationally known Melanie Jonk from Volendam. Melanie is certainly as talented as Nico was, and the three of them made “serious pop”, often their own compositions, which far exceeded the average Dutch level. In 2023, Mell & Vintage Future was finally able to harvest thanks to a grand and successful 100+ show tour throughout the Netherlands. Unfortunately, Nico was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in June 2023. So he didn't really get to experience this tour. He was followed up by one of his own students who was allowed to take the Nico sounds with him and so Nico was in a way still there.

Melanie, the singer of the band was Nico's genuine muse and on the various CDs that the band released, the energy between the band members radiates! I will never forget how Nico called me to watch and listen to a broadcast of Linda de Mol's winter program where Mell & Vintage Future performed the Lou Reed song “Perfect Day” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s8ABbzW0XM . It was one of the many songs that connected him and me. In addition to Cellophane City by Steve Forbert , Janelle Monáe's live TV performance of Tightrope , heck, I could name a thousand more…

Less known is how he was able to help many musicians through his years of work as a teacher at the Amsterdam Conservatory, through his contributions in recording studios throughout the country and beyond.

Thanks to an initial training as a drummer, Nico was a very rhythmic organist. In addition, he always pushed the limits of his Hammond tone wheel organ. It made him a world-class organ player. He was endorsed by Hammond of course. A good example of his skills can be found on Paradiso live recording of Ilse de Lange's performance of “ Feels Like Rain ”, which can be heard on YouTube. It contains a beautifully raw Hammond solo that cuts through your bones.

After his diagnosis, Nico went into an unconditional management mode. It was no longer about Nico, it was now about his family and his heritage. Arrange things. concluding the business side of Mell & Vintage Future as best he could , caring for the future of his family, super quality time at home with Lotte and their children, one last holiday in the sun, looking back on a valuable life and plan ahead for the final period.

I was able to visit Nico in the last quarter of 2023 and felt privileged. He was now able to separate the essence from the unimportant even better than before and I was impressed by his determination but also by the aura of love and care in the house. I reminisced and Nico was flawless in his judgment about what had value and what did not. It was a beautiful get-together.

Despite Covid and an embolism just before Christmas, Nico was still able to spend the festive season at home, although with home care. He was moved to a hospice for the last time on Friday, January 5, and palliative sedation was started at his request on Tuesday, January 9.

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Bert