Belgian jazz tuition has been of the highest standard in recent years. Talent, however, can’t be taught and pianist Bram De Looze is living proof of that; he has already been recognized as one of the pedigree musicians who will undoubtedly determine the sound of Belgian jazz over the next decade. The 23-year old De Looze has been living in New York for the past year, where he is working his way into the international jazz elite. This isn’t stopping him, however, from looking for ways to express his creativity back home. Aside from his hip LABtrio, which mainly presents original work by De Looze, he is also taking a fresh approach to the repertoire of such greats as Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk. Members of the trio De Looze/Machtel/De Waele, formed in 2011, share their common love for old standards. With respect for the beauty of the original compositions, they are refreshing them in an adventurous way, breathing new life into the well-known tunes. The Dutch bassist Jos Machtel has been associated with the famed Brussels Jazz Orchestra since forever and a day. During his career, he has toured the globe, and has lived and worked in cities like Kansas and Madrid. He has played with such illustrious greats as Lee Konitz, Woody Shaw, Deborah Brown and Philip Catherine. Drummer Matthias De Waele revealed himself to be a formidable jazz drummer, styled after his hero, Philly Joe Jones.

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