News

All the articles

BREL with David Linx goes to Canada!

31 Dec 2018

In early February BJO and David Linx will go to Canada for 2 performances of BREL.

31 Dec 2018

On 11 & 12 February the BJO and Tutu Puoane will perform We Have A Dream in Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City!

01 Nov 2018

BJO25 Birthday tour with Maria Schneider (US)

31 Oct 2018

with OPRL (Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège) in Liège

27 Oct 2018

A new youth big-band project

16 Apr 2018

On 15 April Tutu Puoane and several BJO musicians were guests on "De Zevende Dag" on the Eén (VRT) TV network.

10 Apr 2018

Q&A about We Have A Dream

22 Feb 2018

****1/2 review for Smooth Shake with Bert Joris

22 Feb 2018

Now for sale in the BJO webshop!

09 Nov 2017

The sheet music of many BJO arrangements (by Michel Herr, Frank Vaganée, Lode Mertens,...) now for sale in our webshop!

30 Jun 2017

In June 2017, the BREL album with David Linx wins a prestigious Edison Jazz/World Award.

13 Feb 2017

Extracts from Nasty Boy, O.U.T, Only for the Honest and Smooth Shake. Live @ Flagey, January 2017. From the album Smooth Shake, W.E.R.F. records, 2016.

29 Nov 2016

28 Jun 2016

Enjoy the complete story of Artists #withRefugees, as told on social media

15 Mar 2016

24 Nov 2015

Check out the BJO umbrella

Latest newsletter

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News from the Brussels Jazz Orchestra - January & February 2019

Online versie

Brussels Jazz Orchestra wishes you happy holidays...

…and a swinging new year! Traditionally, we take a look back at the events of the past year as December closes, and at BJO we can look back with great satisfaction at a booming 2018. The high points: we celebrated our 25^th birthday twice: first in August with 4 projects at Jazz Middelheim in Antwerp (B). The press had this to say: “(...) the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, which had the Club Stage for a whole day and provided a sampler of its impressive abilities over the course of four concerts. (…) The music was like the suits: classical and elegant.” In October we had birthday party number 2: we welcomed Maria Schneider (US) for the BJO25 tour, a fantastic partnership that toured Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria, closing in the Vienna’s iconic Konzerthaus.
Lastly, on 14 and 15 December, Tutu Puoane, Brussels Jazz Orchestra and the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège (OPRL) performed the premiere of the symphonic version of We Have a Dream in 2 Christmas concerts in the Salle Philharmonique de Liège. The concerts were gorgeous, with both jazz and symphonic orchestras on the stage. And they’ve whetted our appetite to do more together. In any case, we have a lot of musical productions ready to go for 2019 and hope to see you there! There’s more information below, or in our calendar.

BREL with David Linx goes to Canada!

In early February BJO and David Linx will go to Canada for 2 performances of BREL in the province of Quebec! On 7 February they’ll be in Palais Montcalm in Quebec City and on 8 February in Le Carré 150 in Victoriaville. But before they leave, they’ll play BREL again, in Spa (B). More info.

We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane goes to New York (US)!

After the concerts in Canada, BJO will continue on to the United States, where they’ll be joined by Tutu Puoane. On 11 & 12 February they’ll perform We Have A Dream in Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City! Before the tour, this production based on protest songs and human rights will be performed another 3 times on Belgian stages: in Houthalen, Bonheiden and Namur, for anybody wanting to see them closer to home. More info.

Calendar

- 12-01 BREL with David Linx in Jacques Huisman Theater, CC Spa-Jalhay-Stoumont (B)
Tickets.
- 19-01 We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane in Cultuurcentrum Casino, Houthalen (B)
Tickets.
- 25-01 We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane in Gemeenschapscentrum (Community centre) ‘t Blikveld, Bonheiden (B)
Tickets.
- 29-01 We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane in Théâtre de Namur, Namur (B)
Tickets.
- 07-02 BREL with David Linx in Palais Montcalm, Quebec (CA)
Tickets.
- 08-02 BREL with David Linx in Le Carré 150, Victoriaville (Quebec) (CA)
Tickets.
- 11-02 We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane in Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York (US)
Tickets.
- 12-02 We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane in Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York (US)
Tickets.

Gift idea

Surprise your own conductor, or one you know, with an original BJO arrangement, or if you’re still looking for a late new Year’s present for your brother-in-law or just want to browse through the CDs, sheet music and other BJO gadgets, take a peek in our webshop!

BJO Meet & Greet

In every BJO newsletter from now on we’ll be introducing you to someone connected with the orchestra, whether it’s one of the players or someone behind the scenes. In this edition:

Serge Plume (Trumpet)

How long have you been part of BJO?
"Since day one! I was there when the orchestra was born, along with Frank Vaganée, Marc Godfroid and Bo Van der Werf."

What do you do/play in the orchestra?
"I’m the orchestra’s lead trumpet player, or what they call principal trumpet in the classical world."

Why did you choose your instrument and/or role with the orchestra?
"I grew up with a lot of music around me. My father and his oldest brother (my godfather) were well-known musicians in the area (the Flemish Ardennes). Besides working for the police in Ronse, Pa was a sax player. He played in several groups, including playing lead alto with the “West Music Club” big band. My godfather was also a talented trumpet player who had worked with Etienne Verschueren. So I was already surrounded by music and knew at a young age that I wanted to be a professional musician when I got older."

What do you do besides your work with the orchestra?
"Besides playing in the orchestra I mainly do session work, in Belgium and in the Netherlands, where I’ve been part of the well-known wind section “The Jayhorns” for 25 years. We’ve done lots of recordings for albums, radio jingles and TV signature tunes, and we also do TV shows (all the Paul de Leeuw shows, The Voice of Holland, etc.) and we accompany national and international performers.

We’re also regulars with the popular Edwin Evers Band, and tour around the theatres every year. I’m also a member of the funk band OTO Machine, along with a few other BJO colleagues."

Which of this season’s BJO productions are or were you looking forward to the most and why?
"For me, our productions with Maria Schneider are always a high point. When I met her for the first time, more than 20 years ago, with the "Orchestre National de Jazz" in Paris, I was already impressed by her personality and her original compositions; she’s quite unique!
But working with Bert Joris is also great, always a big party. What a great guy!"

What is your favourite BJO memory?
"There’s certainly no lack of memories and anecdotes! Here’s one: During intermission the first time we performed in the jazz club at Lincoln Center, there was a guy at the counter who gave me a lot of compliments for our trumpet section. I thought, “yeah, sure”, but that guy turned out to be Randy Brecker! Not bad for a bunch of “petits Belges”! It was special for such a great artist to come hear our orchestra on one of his nights off. I thought it was incredible!
And this one:
I’ve worked with a lot of different musicians and orchestras in Belgium and elsewhere. I’d just like to take the opportunity to give my BJO colleagues a compliment. The BJO is really an exceptional orchestra: the social aspect, their dedication, the sound and the great soloists... I’m thankful every time I get to be part of this fine ensemble."

Video Goodies

A new section in which we share video material from jazz- & big-band land.

BJO wishes you a New Year every bit as swinging as the conductor in this video!

BJO musicians perform | Even once they’re off the BJO stage our musicians keep busy. They play in various other formations, start up productions and release albums, both with other BJO colleagues and other big names from the national and international jazz scene. We’re pleased to provide an overview of their calendars and personal projects in every newsletter.

Frank Vaganée

On 9-01 Frank Vaganée will be on stage with Lynn Cassiers’ ‘Yun’ project, in CC (Cultural Centre) De Meent in Alsemberg. More info.
He’ll also play with Lionel Beuvens in Lionel’s Motu project - Special Edition:
- On 30-01 in the Jacques Pelzer Jazz Club, Liège
- On 31-01 in La Conserve, Leuven
- On 1-02 in CC Mechelen
- On 2-02 in Arscene, Hansbeke
- On 3-02 in De Ververij, Ronse (Renaix) More info.
With Zefira Torna and his Frank Vaganée Trio, Frank will play “Scattered Rhymes” on 28-02 in LUCA School of Arts, Lemmens Campus in Leuven. More info.

Nathalie Loriers

On 16-02 Nathalie and her ‘Nathalie Loriers Groovy Trio’ will play at Ferme de La Dime in Wasseiges. More info.

Pierre Drevet

Pierre Drevet spoke with the French cultural magazine La Terrasse about his career, his productions, and …Brussels Jazz Orchestra of course. Read the article here.

News

All the articles

BREL with David Linx goes to Canada!

31 Dec 2018

We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane goes to New York (US)!

31 Dec 2018

In the news (VRT NWS)

01 Nov 2018

We Have A Dream goes symphonic...

31 Oct 2018

Launch of Youth Jazz Collective

27 Oct 2018

We Have A Dream featured on De Zevende Dag (VRT)

16 Apr 2018

Tutu Puoane spoke with DownBeat (US)

10 Apr 2018

Downbeat magazine (US): Smooth Shake with best albums of 2017!

22 Feb 2018

New album We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane

22 Feb 2018

Brussels Jazz Orchestra Series: BJO sheet music now for sale

09 Nov 2017

BREL wins an Edison Award 2017

30 Jun 2017

Video Smooth Shake with Bert Joris

13 Feb 2017

Newsletter in Dutch, English OR French

29 Nov 2016

Re-live Artists #withRefugees on Storify

28 Jun 2016

New video: BREL premiere in Flagey on 20-1-2016

15 Mar 2016

Looking for a holiday gift?

24 Nov 2015

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