(...) What's Not There

‘Don’t play what’s there’

For (...) What's Not There, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Ambrose Akinmusire and arrangers Guillermo Klein and Lennert Baerts read between the lines. ‘Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there,’ Miles Davis proclaimed. He was not only a fantastic trumpeter but also a legendary bandleader who had an incredible talent for bringing the right musicians together and lifting them to stratospheric heights. For making them listen to the silences in the music and feel what is possible when you leave room for musical connection, depth and innovation. It is a public secret that Miles did not write many of his released compositions himself, but arranged to be surrounded by composers and performers who knew how to embody his musical vision and put it on paper.

Akinmusire, Klein and Baerts dove into Miles’ rich oeuvre together and selected some of their personal musical highlights from the 60s, 70s and 80s of the past century. This music is not a classical tribute, but rather serves as a basis for both new creations and innovative arrangements, specially tailored to soloist Akinmusire, who plays the leading role. Akinmusire approaches (...) What's Not There with immense respect for the influential trumpeter, bandleader and composer, and has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of his discography. The result is a dynamic musical story with multiple perspectives that reflects the essence of Miles’ legacy while simultaneously breaking it open through a contemporary interpretation.

Creative dialogue

(...) What's Not There is a creative dialogue with Miles’ legacy. It’s a contemporary search for the impact and meaning of his innovation while paying close attention to the symbiosis between Akinmusire, Brussels Jazz Orchestra and the work of Klein and Baerts. It’s a quest that proves Miles’ artistic spirit is still relevant and continues to challenge and inspire new generations.