Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

As the daughter of a piano teacher and the conductor of a choir, American pianist, organist and composer Carla Bley was brought up on music. Her talent for composing was discovered when recording with pianist George Russell and reed player Jimmy Giuffre in the 1960s. A lot of her compositions have become standards, and her often minimalist work is dotted with humour. In the past years Carla Bley – who is over 70 by now – usually performs with her band The Lost Chords, flanked by her partner Steve Swallow. Special guest Paolo Fresu adds a sprinkling of Italian herbs to her music with his sweet trumpet sounds.