It is now for the 16^th time that the Brussels Jazz Marathon is held in the streets, bars, cafés and last but not least, its famous “Grand Place”. The festival is held on May 27, 28 and 29, and not less than 200 concerts will take place in those 3 days.

To enjoy it all, the points of venue are the famous Sablon, Place Sain-Catherine and, as we said, the “Grand Place” for the closing concert on Sunday afternoon and evening.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

700 musicians…

Indeed, some 700 musicians will be there to make your musical weekend an unforgettable experience. And on top of it all, let us remind you that the whole festival is completely…free!

The major of Brussels himself, Freddy Thielemans, presented the Brussels Jazz Marathon at the press conference organised by Jazztronaut, with Jacobien Tamsma of Jazztronaut at the  right...(see also photo below)

  
We just mention here some of the highlights, just let us tell you that you can listen on the Grand Place on Saturday May 29 to the Philip Catherine Quartet, featuring the famous guitarist Philip himself, together with his band members Nicola Andrioli, Philippe Aerts, Antoine Pierre and last but not least featuring Isabel Catherine as vocal. The last concert of Philip Catherine, “Concert in CapBreton”, (with Enrico Pieranunzi, Hein Van de Geyn and Joe La Barbara) launched in April 2010 on Dreyfus Jazz, is applauded by the international Jazz Press and received the ‘CHOC’ in Jazzman. This month, Philip bought out a marvellous new album, again quartets of course, dedicated to the music of Cole Porter. But just listen to the free concert, which will be held from 19.00 to 20.30.

“Les Lundis D’Hortense” on Sunday…

On the press conference of the Brussels Jazz Marathon, organized by Jazztronaut, we also met Miss Katy Saudmont, coordinator of Les Lundi D’Hortense, an association of jazz musicians which aims to promote Belgian Jazz Music.

Katy Saudmont at the press conference, presenting the Sunday programme...

This association produces a marvellous three monthly periodical, “Le Jazz D’Hortense”, and is also to be seen on its new website, “leslundisdhortense.be”. Not surprisingly, they are a partner to theBrusselsJazz Festival since 1996, and the organisers of the festival have given to Lundis D’Hortense the organisation and programming of the Sunday concerts on theGrand Place.

They will bring on Sunday at 15.00 h the group aNoo, with the Finnish female singer Anu Junnonen, who lives already some years in Brussels, and her colleagues Tuur Florizoone, (Accordeon and Base) Dree Peremans (Trombone), Yannic Peeters (Base) and Yves Peeters on drums.

Inghe Berckmoes of Jazztronaut presenting the programme and introducing the different speakers at the Brussels Jazz Marathon Press Conference
 

There will also be the Alexandre Furnelle Quintet with dreamy vocals by Barbara Wiernik at 16.30 and also some very touching personal compositions and traditional Cicilian songs by “Itinerary Siciliani” by Pierre Vaiana and Salvatore Bonafede. (see photo below)

Not to be missed is the delicate and sophisticated music which leaves the piano of Anne Wolf. She is assisted by Theo De Jong (base), Janco van der Kaaden (drums and percussion) and marvellous vocals Christa Jerôme, Magda Mendes.

Promotes Belgian Jazz  Musicians: Katy Saudmont and her association Les Lundis d'Hortense

They are to heard at 19.30 and last but not least, at 9 o’clockin the evening there is Nicolas Kummert, the formidable saxophone player.

Nicolas Krummert is going vocal... (Photo copyright Serge Braem.)

He had a wish: bring exceptional musicians together and let them play and sing his music. With his project “Voices”, he makes is dreams come true. He is not a lead singer, but joins in a group of chant, to enlarge his sonic palette. He uses intriguing texts, notably from Jacques Prévert, well known for his word plays and surrealist use of language and text. Don’t miss the concert, and if you want to hear some more, just listen to his latest record, Nicolas Kummert Voices on “One” (Prova Records 2010).

We show you here some photos of the press conference, but we would say don’t miss this Brussels Jazz Marathon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel