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photo by Jos L. Knaepen

Jean WARLAND

Acoustic bass / Composer, arranger


Born October 23 1926 in Brussels.
At age 4 he was already playing the accordion and had his hands on the base in 1945 playing with the 5tet of To-To-Al Stale using an instrument that was rented for the season. Member of the Bill ALEXANDRE septet at "Boeuf-Sur-Le-Toit" in 1948, according to "Melody Maker" the first European bebop group at that period.

Plays with Toots THIELEMANS Quartet, with Francis COPPIETERS and John WARD (Paris Ch. Parker Jazz Festival at salle Pleyel, representing Belgium, in 1949).
Member of the orchestras of Jean OMER, Fud CANDRIX, Francis BAY, Jean ROBERT, Gus DELOOF, Bobby NARET, Stan BRENDERS, Jack SELS...

During the fifties, he is very active in the studio ( Léo SOURIS, Michel LEGRAND, Stéphane GRAPPELLI, Sacha DISTEL). He is hired to play with the orchestra of Jacques HELIAN in Paris where he meets the Belgian, SADI, Edmond HARNIE, Janot MORALES as well as the famous drummer Kenny CLARKE, with whom he starts a long time collaboration.

There are also jazz concerts and recordings with the Kenny CLARKE Sextet. (Charles Cros prize and Jazz Hot trophy).

Also played with Lee MORGAN, Martial SOLAL, J.J. JOHNSON, Lucky THOMPSON, Allen EAGER, Henri RENAUD et Billy BYERS.
Toured with Catherina VALENTE in Japan, Latin America and at the Olympia in Paris.
In 1958 he is cited in "Dow Beat" at the tens position, together with Pierre MICHELOT, in the new star category. This was the result of a recording of "Kenny Clarke Sextet Play's The Music Of André HODIER" (few awards).

In 1962, he joins the R.I.A.S. Big Band, the radio orchestra in Berlin and signs a recording contract with TELEFUNKEN

In 1967, he moved from Berlin to Köln and joins the big band of the WDR ( West Deutsche Rundfunk), with which he remained until end 1992.

In Köln, he recorded for Gigi CAMPI with the Kenny CLARKE / Francy BOLAND Big Band, but also in small group with Francy BOLAND and Kenny CLARKE plus guests like Don BYAS, SADI, Ronnie SCOTT, Johnny GRIFFIN, Tony COE, Eddie Lockjaw DAVIS etc. Had few concerts with Dizzy GILLESPIE and Mike LONGO. Also recorded with WDR Big Band with guests : Bob BROOKMEYER, Manny ALBAM, Terry GIBBS, Bill HOLMAN, Buddy DE FRANCO, Phil WOODS, Sal NISTICO, Al COHN, Benny BAILEY, Carmen McRAE, Milt JACKSON, Cedar WALTON et Hank JONES. The drummers regularly appearing with the orchestra : Grady TATE, Mel LEWIS, Adam NUSSBAUM, Jeff HAMILTON, John VAN HOLEN, John RILEY, Louie BELLSON, Terry Clarke et Dennis MACKRELL.

In Belgium he played with Mary KAY, Nathalie LORIERS, SADI, Michel HERR, Richard ROUSSELET, TOOTS, Félix SIMTAINE, Al GOYENS and the BRT Big Band. His pieces have been played a.o. by ACT Big Band.

In January 1993 he created SAX NO END as a tribute to the music of Belgian composer/arranger Francy BOLAND.

During the Jazz Middelheim Festival '97 (Antwerp), he led the BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA, again in a tribute to Francy BOLAND.

In '98, he received the Prize of the Jury of the Belgian "Djangos d'Or" for his career achievements.

In '99, he concentrates on tributes to Duke ELLINGTON :

  • TAKE A TRAIN SEXTET with Richard ROUSSELET (tp), Fabrice ALLEMAN (sax), Jean-Pol DANHIER (tb), Michel HERR (p) and Frédéric JACQUEMIN (drs)
  • SAX PORT with Richard ROUSSELET (tp), Fabrice ALLEMAN (sax), Michel HERR (p) and Frédéric JACQUEMIN (drs) and a German sax section.

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