Meggie
A close friend of jazz legends, including Chet baker, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell and Gerry Mulligan since the late '50s, Jean-Pierre Gebler developed a warm, soft tone on the baritone sax, and a deep knowledge and love for the West Coast, Bop, Cool Jazz, and Post Bop repertoire.
Arranged by award-winning, world class composer/arranger/pianist Michel Herr, Meggie by Jean-Pierre Gebler and this Belgian jazz all stars band takes us on a tour through Jazz memory lane with much passion and warmth.
Beauty & the Prince
Guitarist Jeanfrançois Prins has once again created a rich, multi-textured musical tapestry with a collection of grooving jazz standards, originals, and fusion tunes. The interaction between Prins and his band, each a world-renowned player in his own right, shows the intense listening and mutual inspiration felt by all. Note that he cut here the first guitar version of Jimmy Rowles' magnificent melody "The Peacocks"
Judy Niemack appears as a guest vocalist on 8 tracks, and sails through tricky arrangements, scats like an angel, and delivers lyrics with heartfelt emotion.
Piano master Fred Hersch appears on 7 tracks, as brilliant and interactive as ever, whether weaving his luxuriant harmonies around Niemack's voice or co-composing intricate fugue-like lines in real time with Prins.
Live at Manhattan Jazz Club
In the short history of jazz there's only been a small handful of truly creative, inventive improvisers. Lee Konitz stands out as one of the most beautiful poets in this expansive music. His playing and concepts have been a big part of my development. He's been an inspired improviser all his life and it comes through his horn in every breath!!
I've seen Jeanfrançois Prins develop so fast in the last few years (I'm really proud of him). He's becoming a real voice on the guitar with a warmth that's all his own. His trio with Bruno Castellucci and Sal La Rocca is a perfect match with Lee. They ask the musical question "Is Now The Time?" Now Is The Time everytime when all the elements fall in place, as they do here.
Great tunes, with sensitive, creative improvisers that play with a deep sense of history and swing as they explore new places within the music.
Joe Lovano, master saxophonist and composer
Night Song
Bass wizard Putter Smith convened a group of highly individual master instrumentalists. Together under his guidance, they weaved a mysterious, lush, profound message of beauty.
"During a lovely, long train ride from Amsterdam to Berlin recently, I had the pleasure to listen to some very nice music created by Putter Smith, a fine bassist and composer.
With Gary Foster, a long time spiritual buddy who plays better everytime I hear him, and John Gross, a cross between Warne Marsh and Coltrane (a very expressive player on the tenor sax), Peter Donald and Joey Baron sounding very involved (alternate dates), and Patrice Rushen and Dave Frishberg adding some musical harmonies, and an assortment of nice tunes.
They manage to take the sic(k) out of the music, and add a lot of the muse! (muse sick!!).
Thanks Mr. Prins for thinking enough of this program to make it available to us." - Lee Konitz, saxophone legend
Waitin' for You
This Belgian Jazz All Stars quintet plays original compositions and arrangements on jazz standards with much originality, lightness and a deep understanding of the various styles of jazz history.
Hearing their take on "Dear Old Stockholm", "Caravan", "Simone", or "Well, You Needn't" for instance will most certainly entice you to also give a listen to their own compositions.
Full of surprises, swing and joy!
Make Someone Happy
Mary Kay has had an unusual career as a real Jazz vocalist, starting in her hometown Brussels, where she already was featured with the top big bands as a teenager, touring and performing with Benny Goodman who wanted to bring her back to the USA to be featured with his band, then after a long self-imposed break to raise her children, she came back with a vengeance, performing and touring with such heavy weights as piano master Eugen Cicero, Toots Thielemans, Peter Herbolzheimer and even as a featured soloist with Quincy Jones' big band at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Here is Mary's one and only available recording to this day. It documents the depth of her expression, her impeccable time feel, the agility of her warm voice and her total ballad mastery. For it she surrounded herself with her all-time friend and compatriot Toots Thielemans, veteran bassist Jean Warland and a few of Belgium's most talented young lions.
"Music is an all consuming passion for Mary Kay.
She has been "singing her heart out" for many years, and finally had the opportunity to make a recording surrounded by some of the finest Belgian musicians.
I was very happy to participate in the project.
Open your heart to Mary's heart and "she'll make you happy""
Toots Thielemans, chromatic harmonica and guitar legend
N.Y. Stories
"Belgium has always produced its "quota" of good musicians. The present generation (less than 30 years old - sometimes 25...) is overdoing it!
On each instrument, in each discipline, there are reasons to be proud.
"N.Y. Stories is a good example thereof.
Supported by two seasoned players: Jean-Louis Baudoin and Félix Simtaine, both enforcing order and allergic to "fiddling around", Nathalie, Erwin and Jeanfrançois present a solid menu, from Monk to Wayne Shorter (one will notice by the way the eternal freshness of Monk's themes).
Jeanfrançois, who cuts here his first CD, is a JAZZ guitarist, thoroughly bred from the right sources. He already has a very personal sound and picking style.
JF, we are expecting a lot from you! (and your partners...) - BRAVO"
Toots Thielemans, multi Grammy Award-winning chromatic harmonicist and guitarist
Judith Triumphans
Judith: Maria CEUPPENS, soprano
Abra: Marie-Louise DECORTIS, soprano
La Basse: Jules BASTIN
Le Ténor: Louis VAN DEN DRIESSCHE
Choir and soloists of the Université de Liège, and the Ensemble
Instrumental des Solistes de Liège, conducted by Frédéric Anspach.
Digitally remastered original World Premiere recording of this gorgeous oratorio written by belgian baroque composer Jean-Noël Hamal (1709-1778), Imperial canon, and musical director of the Saint Lambert cathedral in Liège, Belgium.
Featuring masterful choir and orchestra led by Frederic Anspach, as well as world renowned vocalists including bass Jules Bastin.
Motetti
These gorgeous a capella vocal pieces come to full life under the masterful direction of Philippe Herreweghe, and performed by his world renowned Collegium Vocale Gent - A masterpiece!
Happy Birthday
Tired of ALWAYS hearing the same old Happy Birthday recordings everyone else uses?
Here is an original, joyful, humorous, and wonderful alternative!
4 different takes on a jazzy birthday: a relaxed, easy-swinging version with a vocal à la Satchmo (Louis Armstrong), a sparkling bossa nova, a solo piano version, and an explosive dixieland version which makes you feel like you're in the presence of a boisterous marching band in New Orleans during Mardis Gras.
Enjoy, and share with your close ones!