Chris JORIS : biography

Django d'Or 1998

CHRIS JORIS

Percussion / Piano / Compositions

Son of an opera singer, Jan Joris, Chris JORIS was immersed in classical music since his early childhood.
Very early he embarked on studying piano playing and clarinet and became interested in jazz.
During the sixties he formed an "Experimental-Jazz Trio", which permitted encounters with jazzmen like pianist Fred VAN HOVE, saxophonists John TCHICAI and Michel MAST and South African bassist Johnny "Mbizo" DYANI. With the later, he recorded the tapes which will later be used for his first CD, 15 years later.

In 1977, in Paris, he formed the trio "Assum" with Cheikh Tidiane FALL and Agib DIENG, with whom he toured extensively.
Back in Belgium, in 1978, Bruno CATELLUCCI opens the door, for him, to professional activities, including studio work. Chris played and recorded with Etienne VERSCHUEREN, Tars LOOTENS, Toots THIELEMANS, Bert JORIS (not a relative of him), Art FARMER, Michel HERR, Michel LEGRAND, Steve HOUBEN, Jim CORCORAN,...
In 1982, he formed a new group BULA SANGOMA which recorded two albums.
In 1987, Chris took part in "A Lover's Question". Featuring personal compositions, and others, by David LINX and Pierre VAN DORMAEL, this album is based on texts by American writer James BALDWIN.
Jimmy OWENS, Slide HAMPTON, Steve COLEMAN, Victor LAZLO, Deborah BROWN, Toots THIELEMANS, Hein VAN DE GEYN, Michel HATZIGEORGIOU, Pierre VAIANA, Diederik WISSELS, Youssef YANCY and Bob STEWART collaborated in the recording and the concerts that followed.

In the current line up of BIHOGO, Chris is accompanied by Kurt VAN HERCK, Chris MENTENS (bass) and Michel SEBA, a young percussionist already proved himself alongside Pierre VAIANA or Steve HOUBEN (Panta Rhei), and numerous other artists - a.o., Jean-Pierre CATOUL, Marcia MARIA, Eric LEGNINI, Jean-Louis RASSINFOSSE, ... - who often call upon his talent.

Chris JORIS recently put together a new band, that he calls the CHRIS JORIS EXPERIENCE, with Sam VERSWEYVELD (trumpet), Bart DEFOORT (saxophone), Ernst VRANCKX (piano) and Chris MENTENS (acoustic bass).
This new band made a very successful appearance at the Jazz Middelheim Festival '97 (Antwerp). The recording of this concert is available on CD.

In '98, Chris JORIS was elected best percussionist of the year '98, both in the listeners poll (RTBF/VRT) (category : Belgium) and the critics poll (French speaking) (categories : Belgium, Europe).

In 2003, he creates with Daniel SCHELL the Oratorio Ishango, an African oratorio.

CHRIS JORIS BANDS : BIHOGO and the CHRIS JORIS EXPERIENCE

Chris JORIS can be heard as a leader on several CDs :

"SONGS FOR MBIZO " (VKH 001, reissued in 2002), dedicated to Johnny DYANI. He plays a.o. with Johnny DYANI, Bob STEWART, Steve HOUBEN, John RUOCCO, Dré PALLEMAERTS etc... (rec. 1976 & 1991).
"BIHOGO" (recorded in 93) (LYRAE 9506002) with Cameron BROWN, Pierre VAIANA, Annie WHITEHEAD, Dieudonné Bashila KABONGO, Didier LABARRE, Frédéric MALEMPRE and Michel SEBA.
"ON CHILDREN'S STREET" (LYRAE V15.1005.20), with Kurt VAN HERCK (sax), Chris MENTENS (acoustic bass), Helena RUËGG (bandoneon), Michel SEBA (congas, perc.) (1996).
the CHRIS JORIS EXPERIENCE " LIVE" (W.E.R.F. 012), recorded live in '97 at Jazz Middelheim and in Stockholm with Sam VERSWEYVELD (trumpet), Jeroen VAN HERZEELE (saxophone), Ernst VRANCKX (piano), Chris MENTENS (acoustic bass) and guests N'Fallu KOYATE (kora), Ben NGABO (vocals & ngome's). (1998)
"BENKADI" (Videocam 981), with Babagale Kante MAMADOU (cane flute) and Adama ADRAME (perc.). (1999)
the CHRIS JORIS EXPERIENCE "OUT OF THE NIGHT" (W.E.R.F. 038), 5 years later the Chris Joris Experience is back, with and guests N'Fallu KOYATE and 18 musicians string orchestra (2003).
CHRIS JORIS "ORATORIO ISHANGO" (LYRAE), composed by Chris and Daniel SCHELL, with Fabrice ALLEMAN (sax), Chris MENTENS, Ben N'GABO, Ken N'DIAYE, Dieudonné KABONGO and Dorothy COX + the Belgian Symphonic Choir of the French Community (2003).
CHRIS JORIS "LIVE - INTO THE LIGHT" (DVD) A film, a portrait of Chris on DVD with the Chris JORIS Experience and some African guests.

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	"SONGS FOR MBIZO "	(VKH 001, reissued in 2002), dedicated to Johnny DYANI. He plays a.o. with Johnny DYANI, Bob STEWART, Steve HOUBEN, John RUOCCO, Dré PALLEMAERTS etc... (rec. 1976 & 1991).
	"BIHOGO" (recorded in 93)	(LYRAE 9506002) with Cameron BROWN, Pierre VAIANA, Annie WHITEHEAD, Dieudonné Bashila KABONGO, Didier LABARRE, Frédéric MALEMPRE and Michel SEBA.
	"ON CHILDREN'S STREET"	(LYRAE V15.1005.20), with Kurt VAN HERCK (sax), Chris MENTENS (acoustic bass), Helena RUËGG (bandoneon), Michel SEBA (congas, perc.) (1996).
	the CHRIS JORIS EXPERIENCE " LIVE"	(W.E.R.F. 012), recorded live in '97 at Jazz Middelheim and in Stockholm with Sam VERSWEYVELD (trumpet), Jeroen VAN HERZEELE (saxophone), Ernst VRANCKX (piano), Chris MENTENS (acoustic bass) and guests N'Fallu KOYATE (kora), Ben NGABO (vocals & ngome's). (1998)
	"BENKADI"	(Videocam 981), with Babagale Kante MAMADOU (cane flute) and Adama ADRAME (perc.). (1999)
	the CHRIS JORIS EXPERIENCE "OUT OF THE NIGHT"	(W.E.R.F. 038), 5 years later the Chris Joris Experience is back, with and guests N'Fallu KOYATE and 18 musicians string orchestra (2003).
	CHRIS JORIS "ORATORIO ISHANGO"	(LYRAE), composed by Chris and Daniel SCHELL, with Fabrice ALLEMAN (sax), Chris MENTENS, Ben N'GABO, Ken N'DIAYE, Dieudonné KABONGO and Dorothy COX + the Belgian Symphonic Choir of the French Community (2003).
	CHRIS JORIS "LIVE - INTO THE LIGHT" (DVD)	A film, a portrait of Chris on DVD with the Chris JORIS Experience and some African guests.