Belgian jazz is hot, here and abroad. But who are the acts and artists that seem incontournable and also (can) turn heads on the international scene? Flanders Arts Institute asked promoters and critics to pick a sample of bands and musicians who represent the pinnacle of the current Belgian jazz scene.
The result is belgianjazz.be, an online who’s who that, under the flag of Belgian Jazz, further introduces our bands and musicians to an international audience of promoters and other jazz professionals. The website came into being in close collaboration with JazzLab Series, KAAP, Bozar, Ancienne Belgique, Flagey, Handelsbeurs, and Nona and over the coming years will be regularly updated with new portraits, also from the country’s French-speaking region.
Today belgianjazz.be offers 30 portraits of jazz bands and musicians from Flanders and Brussels, such as Joachim Badenhorst, Dans Dans, Bart Maris, De Beren Gieren, Nordmann, Lynn Cassiers, Bert Joris, granvat, Tutu Puoane and Flat Earth Society. Alongside this series of portraits you will also find an overview of venues, a critical ‘outsiders’ look by the Dutch journalist Mischa Andriessen, tips from connoisseurs like Lies Steppe and Guy Peters on how to listen to jazz, as well as a compilation of contemporary tracks.
Finally: 2017 marked jazz’ first centenium, with the first ever jazz album, Livery Stable Blues by The Original Dixieland Jass Band being released 100 years prior, in 1917. Moreover, it has also been exactly 90 years since the first Belgian jazz album came out, by Charles 'Chas' Remue and his Stompers, on 27 June 1927.
