Home NewsFlash Musicians Live Jazz Bands CDs In Print Education LDH Radio|TV Links WIM


Jacques STOTZEM

Acoustic guitar, compositions


" Jacques, tu 'pickes' comme un démon ! "
" Jacques, you 'pick' like a demon ! "
      TOOTS THIELEMANS

" I'm perfectly satisfied living with the guitar, " Jacques Stotzem admits.
This friendly Belgian is high up on the list for fans of the acoustic guitar the world round. When asked about their musical preferences, the readers of the German fan magazine " Akustik Gitarre " listed him in the same breath as colleagues the likes of Leo Kottke, Paco De Lucia, Neil Young or Keb'Mo'.
That's not really astonishing. Stotzem combines polished and highly individual playing technique with a delicate sense for the right melody. His virtuosity as a fingerstyle guitarist is always placed at the service of music, his fine tuned sense for pauses and dynamics enables his pieces to breathe and speak directly to the listener. Aficionados of acoustic guitar music on the lookout for variation and individualism at the same time will be well served : the gentleness of a ballad is followed by the earthy quality of a blues, and the quiet smile of an impish rag is followed by the colorful passion of jazzy harmonies. All of this is cemented together by Stotzem's perfect command of the instrument and by his optimistic personality.

Born in 1959 in Verviers, Jacques STOTZEM's relationship with the guitar began at the age of 16, The inspiration was a television appearance by the American blues guitarist Stefan Grossman ; two days later Jacques was in possession of his first guitar and of a teaching book by Grossman.

By now, Jacques Stotzem has recorded nine albums and has become a regular guest at European and American festivals.

Frustrated by the quite limited harmonic and melodic palette in the traditional fingerstyle repertoire, he began composing as a way to play melodies that didn't necessarily originate on the guitar.
His music can perhaps best be described as a distinctive blend of jazz, blues, folk, Latin and classical music. The characteristics of his compositions are the lyrical melodies, the rich harmonies and his use of dynamics.

With the aid of his excellent albums, Jacques STOTZEM has succeded in firmly establishing himself within the first circle of contemporary fingerstyle guitarist. His inimitable style of composition and the sheer brilliance of his playing have assured him the respect and even the collaboration of many other top musicians in a field already charged with talent.

As an official endorser, Jacques STOTZEM plays concerts and makes clinics for the American firm FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS in Europe and in the USA.

He regularly gives guitar workshops in Belgium and Germany.

FROM THE PRESS:
"Jacques Stotzem is a unique artist. ... I would definitely not say Jacques is making guitar-music - it happens to be pure music - it's just that the instrument he uses is the guitar, which he plays very, very well."
(LARRY CORYELL, USA 1993) 		"Jacques' blend of ragtime and introspective fingerpicking goes down as smoothly as his native Belgium's luscious dark chocolate."
" Interesting was also the question concerning your musical preferences. On the top places, we find Jacques Stotzem as well as Neil Young, Paco De Lucia, Keb' Mo' or Leo Kottke. "
AKUSTIK GITARRE, GERMANY 12/98 (readers poll) 		" Belgian guitarist Jacques Stotzem is a formidable musician who matches finesse with a solid blues-based drive. "
ACOUSTIC GUITAR, USA 05/1999
" For those of you who, in frustration with the whole new acoustic genre, have thrown up your hands, dis-missing it as aimless open-tuning meandering, dren-ched in oceanic reverb, I have two words for you : Jacques Stotzem. "
FINGERSTYLE GUITAR, USA 05/1998

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
USA :
  • Inner Circle, LOS ANGELES NAMM Show
  • Acoustic Café, LOS ANGELES NAMM Show
  • Troubadour Club, LOS ANGELES, CA
  • All Star Guitar Night, SAN DIEGO, CA
  • A.S.I.A. Symposium, EASTON, PA
  • Southern Utah University, CEDAR CITY, UT
  • Pioneer Opera House, ST. GEORGE, UT
  • Temecula Art Gallery, TEMECULA, CA
 Canada :
  • Int. Jazz Festival MONTREAL, QUEBEC
Japan :
  • Tour with I. NAKAGAWA and P. FINGER
Ireland :
  • Ards Guitar Festival, NEWTOWNARDS
Great Britain :
  • Eurowirral Int. Guitar Festival, BIRKENHEAD
  • Guest at the Leicester Guitar Show, LEICESTER
Germany :
  • Magic Strings Festival, BERLIN
  • Open Strings Festival, OSNABRÜCK
  • Guitar Festival, ASCHAFFENBURG
  • Guitar Festival EDENKOBEN " simply the best "
  • Int. Guitar Festival, WIESLOCH
  • Int. Guitar Festival, PADERBORN
  • Int. Guitar Night
  • Guitar Festival, UNNA
  • Int. Music Fair, FRANKFURT
 Holland :
  • Concert/Workshop Tour with Lowden Guitars
France :
  • Guitare et Patrimoine Festival, DONCHERY
  • Côte d'Opale Festival, BOULOGNE sur MER
  • A.D.G.P.A. Convention, ISSOUDUN
  • Cannes Guitare Festival, CANNES
Belgium :
  • Int. Guitar Festival LIEGE
  • Audi Jazz Festival
  • Belga Jazz Festival
  • Gaume Jazz Festival
  • Int. Jazz Festival LIEGE
 Italy :
  • Acoustic Music Festival PESCARA
  • Guitar Festival MASONE
  • Int. Acoustic Festival CHIOGGIA
Spain :
  • Workshop on MAJORCA

CD Connections
LAST THOUGHT BEFORE SLEEPINGLP, 1982
TRAININGLP, 1985
WORDS FROM THE HEARTLP, 1988
CLEAR NIGHTCD, 1991
STRAIGHT ONCD, 1993
TWO BRIDGESCD, 1995
DIFFERENT WAYSCD, 1996
FINGERPRINTCD, 1997
CONNECTIONSCD, 1999
SUR VESDRECD, 2002
IN CONCERTCD, 2004
CD's available from ACOUSTIC MUSIC RECORDS, POSTFACH 1945 D-49009 OSNABRUCK (GERMANY)
ACOUSTIC MUSIC RESOURCES (USA) (TOLL FREE 800-649-4745)

Visit Jacque's website at: www.stotzem.com