The Piano Trio Revisited

In the frame of LOW Festival, organised by BMC and Trafó.
The Piano Trio Revisited is a special concert under the spell of trios – of course with three groups: Jef Neve Trio, Michiel Braam - Béla Ágoston Duo and Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher. The Jef Neve Trio consists of pianist Jef Neve, bassist Piet Verbist and drummer Teun Verbruggen. A jazz ensemble founded five years ago in Belgium, they have experienced continuous success ever since. The second trio is the result of a unique encounter between the Dutch pianist Michiel Braam and the Hungarian saxophonist Béla Ágoston. And last but not least, despite its conventional line-up, Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher has nothing in common with traditional jazz piano trios. The band comprises three of the Dutch jazz scene’s most idiosyncratic musicians, for whom improvisation and adventure are the breath of life.
 

Jef Neve Trio

The Jef Neve Trio consists of pianist Jef Neve, bassist Piet Verbist and drummer Teun Verbruggen. A jazz ensemble founded five years ago in Belgium, they have experienced continuous success ever since. Their outstanding musicianship, combined with fine-tuned interactivity and visible joy while playing, is notably expressive and makes each concert an event. Their first three albums were all immediate bestsellers and received unanimous acclaim in the international press. Their second album It’s Gone received the prestigious Radio Klara Prize for Best International Jazz Album of 2005 and the third album Nobody is Illegal is currently the best-selling jazz album in Belgium and is scheduled for release in more than 18 countries. It has been receiving superlative reviews. The Trio has performed all over the world, from Europe and the Middle East to North and South America, with equal success everywhere. Jef Neve has been nominated for several prizes and received the Zamu Award for jazz in 2006.
Jeff Neve and his group have been met with rave, enthusiastic reviews: “The arrival of a young musician of enormous promise who has the potential to become a major voice on the European jazz scene”...“definitely joined the circle of renowned composers and artists of world class”...“brilliant young pianist weaves classical influences throughout his latest album Nobody Is Illegal (Universal) to profound and moving effect”...“the Wonder Boy of Belgian Jazz delivers his darkest and strongest album, which will be talked about for a long time”...“the Trio belongs to the absolute top and will get worldwide attention”.
 

Dou van Michiel Braam en Paul van Kemenade "Bramen plukken"

Michiel Braam - Béla Ágoston Duo

An old dream of Béla Ágoston's (Zuboly, Agostones, Agoston quARTet, Dél-Alfödi Szaxofonegyüttes, etc.) has always been to bring together a duo performance with Michiel Braam, the Dutch pianist whom he holds in such high regard. After hearing the Agoston quARTet at Belgrade's Ring Ring festival in May of 2006, Braam decided to grant his request, as soon as the opportunity presents itself. It promises to be an exciting evening, and not to be the last such concert of theirs.
 

Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher

Despite its conventional line-up, Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher has nothing in common with traditional jazz piano trios. The band comprises three of the Dutch jazz scene’s most idiosyncratic musicians, for whom improvisation and adventure are the breath of life. Each of them plays an equal role in the music, which can go in any which way, depending on decisions made on the spot.

Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher shines in short powerful pieces bursting with cutting edge musical interaction. Furious energy alternates with subtle lyricism that never lapses into unqualified romanticism. The long musical friendship between drummer Michael Vatcher, bassist Wilbert de Joode and pianist Michiel Braam results in intuitive playing of the highest order—fixed forms and predictable arrangements never get in the way of the music.

The Trio have toured Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan and Indonesia. Festivals include Jazz Middelheim (Belgium), North Sea Jazz Festival (the Netherlands), Yokohama Jazz Promenade (Japan), Bath International Music Festival (United Kingdom), Banlieues Bleues Paris (France), Ring Ring Festival (Serbia), Rochester Jazz Fest (United States), Europa Jazz Le Mans (France), European Jazz Night Athens (Greece) and OffsideOpen (Germany).

Supported by:
NL Embassy, Flemish Repr/Belgian Embassy, BZ, OCW, SICA, Hungarofest