Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

8pm – Balzaal – Satoko Fujii
8pm – Domzaal – Esa Pietilä
9pm – Theaterzaal – Henry Threadgill
10.15pm – Theaterzaal – Hermeto Pascoal
11.30pm – Balzaal – Electric Barbarian

SATOKO FUJII – MA-DO

p(credits).8pm – Balzaal

Whenever pianist-composer Satoko Fujii assembles a new band, it’s a sign that she’s taking off in a new direction. Her new Japanese quartet MA-DO is no exception. ‘Ma-do’ means ‘window’ in Japanese, but also, ‘ma’ means ‘the silence between notes’

In this acoustic setting, the group explores subtle textures and tone colors, using silence and group interaction to build brilliant collages of sound, melody, and rhythm. Fujii broadens her sonic pallet, using the inside of the piano and prepared piano to stunning effect throughout the album. She is “a virtuoso piano improviser, an original composer and a band-leader who gets the best collaborators to deliver,” (The Guardian)

ESA PIETILÄ

8pm – Domzaal

Esa Pietilä pushes his alto sax to its limits. He can produce a soft whispering melody or a hypnotizing mantra, just as easily as he lets his sax scream with floaty overtones. Thanks to the sheer richness of his musical palette and his technical ability, his solo performances are always a thrill. Adolphe Sax would’ve been proud.

HENRY THREADGILL - ZOOID

9pm – Theaterzaal

African-American saxophone player and composer Henry Threadgill is considered one of the masters and innovators of contemporary jazz. Although he is not a fan of labels himself: “I do music, period.” So it doesn’t come as a surprise that Threadgill has an eclectic style, making rather atypical jazz.

His ensembles are unusual, frequently consisting of instrument pairs. This results in clever, yet accessible music, developing themes and then deconstructing them. On top of that, Threadgill always works with fantastic musicians. Liberty Ellman, for example, is a tremendously gifted guitar player.

HERMETO PASCOAL SEXTET

10.20pm – Theaterzaal

If Miles Davis thinks you’re “the most impressive musician in the world”,that’s a pretty big deal. Hermeto Pascoal is often called the magician because of his unique style: his favourites are the piano, accordion and melodica, but he also likes to blend the saxophone, flute and guitar with unconventional ‘instruments’ such as kettles, toy instruments and bottles. Sometimes he even uses his beard. It’s a way of incorporating everything that inspires him, ranging from nature to the sheer diversity of traditional Brazilian folk music, in his compositions. Don’t miss this unique chance to see the grandmaster of Brazilian music live!

ELECTRIC BARBARIAN

11.30pm – Balzaal

Electric Barbarian proves that jazz, drum ‘n’ bass, hip hop and poetry go hand in hand. The lineup of the band founded by Dutch bass player Floris Vermeulen regularly changes to include different DJs, guest vocalists and musicians. For ‘The Ghost of Langston Hughes’, the band will be joined by DJ Grazhoppa and DJ Kypski, who produce the craziest scratches and breaks with their turntables. Another special guest is trumpet player Bart Maris, and there will even be a string quartet. Speaking of an unusual lineup…