THE FINEST IN BELGIAN JAZZ

A 10 cd box featuring various artists + a book

On the occasion of Bruges being selected as one of Europe's Cultural capitals in 2002, the WERF label, based in that city, has produced 10 cds of contemporary Belgian musicians, 10 artists selected by a jury of professionnals.
The albums were released one after another during the whole year and are all available separately, but they now are also sold as a 10 cd-box. As a bonus, the box offers a book on Belgian jazz, written by freelance jazz journalists Jempi SAMYN and Sim SIMONS, and available in three languages : English, Dutch and French (see below). The book is also available separately.
The JAZZ IN BELGIUM site has covered the 10 releases and created 10 individual pages for each one of the albums. Simply click on an album cover or title to get transferred to its individual page for more details.

BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA & Bert JORIS : "THE MUSIC OF BERT JORIS" (W.E.R.F. 029/030) (Feb. 2002) #1 in the series "The Finest in Belgian Jazz", this double cd set to present the talents of Bert JORIS, a remarkable trumpet player and an outstanding composer/arranger. His music is played by the excellent BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA, a first class big band which has become an institution on the international jazz scene.
Jeroen VAN HERZEELE & GREETINGS FROM MERCURY "HEIWA" (Tracks 002, March 2002) Third album of the ensemble, #2 in the series "The Finest in Belgian Jazz".
More about the group in Greetings official site. With Jereon VAN HERZEELE (sax), Peter HERTMANS (gt), Michel ANDINA (sitar), Stéphane GALLAND (drs), Otti VAN DER WERF (el. b.), Steven SEGERS (rap)
AKA MOON : "GUITARS" (W.E.R.F. 031) (Apr. 2002) # 3 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz" featuring one of Belgium's most popular avant-garde bands with Fabrizio CASSOL (as), Michel HATZIGEORGIOU (el. b.) and Stéphane GALLAND (drs) with as guests guitarists PRASANNA, David GILMORE and Pierre VAN DORMAEL.
Nathalie LORIERS Trio + Extensions : "TOMBOUCTOU" (W.E.R.F. 032) (May 2002) #4 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz" featuring the compositions for sextet by pianist Nathalie LORIERS, with Laurent BLONDIAU (tp), Frank VAGANÉE (as), Kurt VAN HERCK (ts, ss), Sal LA ROCCA (b) and Hans VAN OOSTERHOUT (drs).
OCTURN : "DIMENSIONS" (W.E.R.F. 033) (July 2002) #5 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz" featuring the compositions of trombonist Geoffroy DE MASURE, Bo VAN DER WERF and Antoine PRAWERMAN.
Ben SLUIJS 4tet : "FLYING CIRCLES" (W.E.R.F. 034) (July 2002) #6 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz" featuring the compositions of Ben SLUIJS.
Philip CATHERINE : "SUMMER NIGHT" (double release on W.E.R.F. and Dreyfus) (October 2002) #7 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz". With Bert JORIS (trumpet), Philippe AERTS (double bass), Joost VAN SCHAAIK (drums).
Bert JORIS Quartet : "LIVE" (W.E.R.F. 035) (September 2002) #8 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz". With Dado MORONI (piano), Philippe AERTS or Rosario BONACCORSO (double bass), Dré PALLEMAERTS or Félix SIMTAINE (drums).
Erik VERMEULEN Trio : "INNER CITY" (W.E.R.F. 036) (October 2002) #9 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz". With Eric SURMENIAN (double bass), Marek PATRMAN (drums).
Kris DEFOORT : DEFOORT/TURNER/THYS/BLACK "SOUND PLAZA" (W.E.R.F. 037) (October 2002) #10 in the series "The Finest of Belgian Jazz". With Nic THYS (bass), Mark TURNER (sax), Jim BLACK (drums).
THE FINEST IN BELGIAN JAZZ

(the book)

Jempi SAMYN & Sim SIMONS

Available in English, French or Dutch
(October 2002)

read more...

The records are available online on the web site of DE WERF.

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