I skipped announcing this month’s upcoming concerts altogether... Here’s some feedback on how things went.
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As we welcome 2024, I wish you all good health, boundless love, and serene tranquility.
I am thrilled to announce the reunion of my trio with Michel Hatzigeorgiou and Dré Pallemaerts, which traces its origins back to 1989. Over the years, we have performed on numerous stages in Belgium and abroad, and our collaboration has yielded the albums ‘Some Sounds’ (1990) and ‘Eleven’ (1995).
Join us next Sunday, 28 January at the Café Des Arts in Antwerp. Our performance will feature a selection of original compositions that have stood the test of time, offering a nostalgic glimpse into our musical journey.
This is a rare opportunity to witness the synergy of our trio. Join us as we recreate the magic that has defined our collaboration and celebrate the timeless artistry of live music.
Blossoming is a new album in a duo with soprano saxophone player and overall peaceful sound maker Mathieu Robert. The music was recorded in August 2020. Its actual release was delayed until today mainly due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Although we are both saxophone players, we only play our main instruments on the two bonus tracks (5 & 6) of this recording. The entire album's main instrumentation is made out of singing bowls, gongs, bells, shakers, a shruti box, etc... a world of sound into the realm of peace and wonder.
We are also both active yoga teachers, known as Ramdas (Mathieu) and Eknath (myself), and the main goal of this music is to bring relaxation and peace to our busy minds.
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“Compassion” played in front of an enthusiastic full house at the Padova Jazz Festival just a few weeks ago. Here we are again with our way of playing the music of John Coltrane. A more intimate club setting this time, at the Caveau du Max in Brussels, this coming Thursday 23 November. It’s a dinner and concert package.
Nicolas Chkifi’s new band “Motian Love” with Nico on drums, Artan Buleskaj and Vitja Pauwels on guitars, and Nicolas Kummert and myself on tenor saxophones are playing at Café Roskam in the center of Brussels next Sunday 26 November. We explore the music of the late Paul Motian. It’s our prémière with this band. Come and check us out! Free entrance.
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I just got back home from a rehearsal with Pirly Zurstrassen’s new quartet “Les Alliances Terrestres”, featuring his son Felix Zurstrassen on double bass, Lionel Beuvens on drums, and myself on tenor.
While I was driving to the legendary B-Flat co-creation space in Brussels this morning I remembered all the good times playing Pirly’s music.
I was lucky to be part of Pirly Zurstrassen’s “H” Septet since 1987. We recorded the album “H” that year, and later in 1991 the album “Hautes Fagnes”, all with original compositions by Pirly. I’ve always loved his strong and clear personal voice.
In 1992, we played a series of duo concerts in Sénégal. At the time I was still playing soprano, as well as tenor.
I am as honored as I was back then to be part of his new quartet. And yes again, as always, the most beautiful compositions by his hand…
Looking forward to the first concert with this band, next Thursday 16 November 2023 at CC Saint-Ghislain, near Mons. Check out the “Upcoming Concerts” section for more details.
See you there!
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Hey people, I'll be performing at the Padova Jazz Festival 2023 in Italy this upcoming Sunday morning in a duo with the amazing Peter Hertmans on guitar. It will be like a celebration of our 40 years of making music together. I will bring one of my signing bowls, the “Dreamer”, and some bells and rattles too. We'll be interpreting several John Coltrane compositions in our own sweet way, as recorded on our latest album "Compassion", as well as a few originals. Spread the word! hope to see you there.
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It’s been a while since I had a personal website dedicated to my musical activities. It so happens that I’m starting to play more regularly again, so building a new website seemed the right thing to do. Please bear with me, this space still needs some improvements, it’s a work in progress. I’m still tweaking it here and there. Let me know if you are missing something, all feedback is welcome. At least you’ll know where I’m playing live! Hope to see you soon!
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