News

All the articles

In the news (VRT NWS)

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

01 Sep 2018

Watch our video and discover which projects BJO has to offer you this season.

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

29 Mar 2018

On August 10, BJO will occupy the Club Stage with no less than 4 projects!

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.

20 Dec 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 - November & December 2018

Online versie

In the news (VRT NWS):
Birthday tour with Maria Schneider

From 10-15 October, the BJO25 birthday tour trekked through Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria with American conductor Maria Schneider. It was a party in itself, with large, enthusiastic audiences and the closing concert in the renowned Wiener Konzerthaus. The VRT NWS stopped by one of the rehearsals and filmed a segment.
Thanks for the great tour, Maria, see you soon!

Launch of Youth Jazz Collective

Following the success of the Ghent Youth Jazz Orchestra and Brussels Youth Jazz Orchestra, a new youth big-band project is being started up by Muziekmozaïek Folk & Jazz, Vuurvogels and Brussels Jazz Orchestra together: the Youth Jazz Collective! Talented young musicians under 18 will have the opportunity to grow, play together and work with internationally famous conductors for three years. That means inspiring rehearsals, exchanges of ideas, getting to know different styles and of course great concerts.
Many eager young people signed up for the auditions being held on 2 November. Soon we’ll announce which young musicians will be part of into this new youth jazz orchestra and they’ll play together for the first time. Stay tuned!

We Have A Dream goes symphonic...

On 14 and 15 December 2018 Tutu Puoane, Brussels Jazz Orchestra and OPRL (Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège) will play a symphonic version of We Have a Dream. Get ready for new arrangements of the songs from We Have a Dream for double orchestra, and a new surprise song as well. These two extraordinary concerts will be conducted by Charles Hazlewood in the Salle Philharmonique de Liège, in Liège. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear a symphony orchestra and a jazz orchestra playing protest-song gems from the pop, rock, soul and jazz worlds. More info.

Calendar

- 6-12 Kaneelvingers with Stefan and Peter Hertmans & Fay Claassen in Cultuurcentrum De Meent, Alsemberg/Beersel (B).
Tickets.
- 7-12 We Have A Dream with Tutu Puoane in Cultuurcentrum, Moeskroen (B).
Tickets.
- 14-12 We Have A Dream – Symphonic version with Tutu Puoane & OPRL in Salle Philharmonique de Liège, Liège (B).
Tickets.
- 15-12 We Have A Dream – Symphonic version with Tutu Puoane & OPRL in Salle Philharmonique de Liège, Liège (B).
Tickets.
- 12-01 BREL with David Linx in Jacques Huisman Theater, CC Spa-Jalhay-Stoumont (B).
Tickets.

Calendar tip

1st BRUSSELS TROMBONE WEEKEND

From 16 to 18 November 2018 SceneOff is organising the very first Brussels Trombone Weekend, with workshops and concerts by master trombonists from both the classical and jazz worlds. You can sign up as an active participant or an auditor. More info.

BJO Meet & Greet - NEW!

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:

Gyuri Spies (Sound Engineer)

How long have you been part of BJO?
"Since 1997."

What do you do with the orchestra?
"I do sound for both concerts and recording sessions. I also often write arrangements and compositions for the orchestra."

Why did you choose your instrument and/or role with the orchestra?
"I’ve played piano since I was 4, but when I turned 6 and went to the music academy, I was seriously let down. I had expected something completely different from a music education, since I assumed that it would broaden my outlook on music, but the most important aspect turned out to be the technique of playing your instrument. My interest in music waned, until I encountered jazz at a later age. The rich harmonic structures and the energetic rhythm especially appealed to me. I decided to take drum lessons, and after being admitted to the Antwerp conservatory I studied there for a few years. But my musical interest was much wider than the education we got. More than anything I wanted to makemusic. So I started writing my own arrangements and producing records for artists of all kinds in Flanders. It also awakened an interest in everything to do with audio and recordings, and, well, you know the rest!"

What do you do besides your work with the orchestra?
"I still write arrangements and do the engineering for recordings."

Which of this season’s productions are you looking forward to the most and why?
"I’m looking forward to working with the OPRL, not only because it’ll be a challenge as far as the technical aspects of the sound goes, but mostly to hear what my fellow arrangers have done with the We Have a Dream material. I’m also very enthusiastic about working with Maria Schneider, because her music and the way she gets what she wants out of the orchestra always has something magical about it."

What is your fondest BJO memory?
"I can’t name one particular memory; it’s such a continually fantastic experience to be part of a group of people who respect and value each other. The feeling that everyone wants the same thing and the drive they have to get it is how the orchestra got where it is today. Each one of us takes full responsibility for doing what’s expected of him or her, and everyone’s open to criticism and other opinions. The close, warm camaraderie between some individuals with quite different personalities is a breath of fresh air in this world full of hate and self-interest. Those are the memories I’ll always cherish."

Video Goodies - NEW!

A new section in which we let you see what’s going on in jazz & big-band land.

Meanwhile, backstage...

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 16-11 Frank will play “Songs of the Low Lands” with Tripod in the Jenever Museum in Hasselt, along with Hendrik Braeckman (guitar) and Jos Machtel (contrabass and valve trombone). More info.
On 18-11 Frank will conduct the LUCA Jazz Jam in the STUK centre in Leuven. More info.
Frank will appear with funk master Frank Deruytter and his OTOMachine project, on 1 December in the COC in Ronse and on 22 December in Kasteel Zellaer in Bonheiden. More info.

Marc Godfroid

During the 1st Brussels Trombone Weekend from 16 to 18-11 Marc will give jazz trombone workshops in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Brussels. More info.
On Thursday 27-12 Marc will play a concert along with Big Band 86 in The Preacher, on the “Markt” square in Geraardsbergen. Soloist is singer Peter Hens, famous for being half of the duo Frivole Framboos.

Nathalie Loriers

In November Nathalie will duck into the studio, along with Bert Joris (trumpet), Paul Heller (tenor sax), Peter Hertmans (guitar), Sam Gerstmans (bass) and Dré Pallemaerts (drums) to record Michel Herr’s latest production, for jazz sextet and string quartet. More info.
On 15-11 she’ll play with Lorenzo di Maio’s group (Lorenzo on guitar) in Le Palace in La Louvière, as part of celebration of 40 years of Les Lundis d’Hortense. More info.
On 16-11 Nathalie’s group “Chemins Croisés”, with Karim Baggili and Fabrice Alleman, will play in the Bruges Concertgebouw. More info.
On 8 and 9 December Nathalie will give a master class and a concert with her trio (with Benoit Vanderstraeten and Thierry Gutmann) in the conservatory of Differdange, Luxembourg. More info.

News

All the articles

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

Season 2018-2019

01 Sep 2018

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

16 Apr 2018

Tutu Puoane spoke with DownBeat (US)

10 Apr 2018

25 years BJO at Jazz Middelheim

29 Mar 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

Looking for the perfect holiday gift?

20 Dec 2016

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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