Modest Midget

Amsterdam |

"...the missing link between The Beatles and Frank Zappa!". Arno Hagemans, Ongekend Talent. HOLLAND 2008

 "...this is undoubtebly the start of a successful carreer for Modest Midget. Modesty is not in place here. With such a product this band can proudly hop in the touring world". Frans Steensma, Oor Magazine. HOLLAND 2010

Playing recorder, piano and guitar were the first steps that Lionel (by his friends: Lonny) took as a musician. He grew up listening to Bach, Mozart, Chico Buarque, Led Zeppelin and Matti Caspi, all creating an impressively tasty background.     He played during his military service, after which he recorded and participated in different productions.Several years later he moved to Holland where he completed a Master in composition, alongside also studying Jazz guitar and orchestral conducting.   After years of focusing on composing and arranging for different classical instances he started recording an album that ended up combining all these colours, an album that ended up being the hatching egg for Modest Midget.    The Great Prophecy of a Small Man was received with overwhelming enthusiasm, particularly among Proressive and Art Rock fans. Delicious Agony, Prog Positivity, Prog Awards and many others declared it to be one of the Top 2010 albums. Prog Awards nominated it as candidate for the best 2010 debut album.   His main partner during the production of this album was Emiel de Jong, who played most of the woodwind parts and sang along on Troubles in Heaven.Emiel and Lonny met in 2000 when a vague idea about a band were cooking in Lonny's mind. The first recording session took place in 2006. It was to become The Last Straw, the closing track of the album. In 2008, during the making of the album they made a try-out short round of concerts, where they were joined by Artis Orubs on drums and Tristan Hupe on keyboards.   The album was completed in 2009. Bass player Richard Zoer who played with Kayak in the past has joined Lonny, Tristan and Artis for an acquaintance tour around The Netherlands.   At this time Lonny and Tristan are on a spontaneous tour promoting Lonny's first solo album - Songs From The Drawer - performing in little venues while the recording sessions for the second Modest Midget album are in full gear. The new production promises to be an even more daring one than the first.