De Beren Gieren & BRZZVLL killed it at AB's New Wave Of Belgian Jazz

Last Saturday, BRZZVLL & De Beren Gieren presented their new albums "Waiho" & "Dug Out Skyscrapers" in a packed Ancienne Belgique, one of Belgium's major national concert halls.

This venue organised a fantastic mini-festival called "The New Wave Of Belgian Jazz" to conclude the successful JAZZ 100 series and invited the latest generation of musicians from the exciting contemporary national jazz scene. So, BRZZVLL and De Beren Gieren shared the stage with bands as Taxiwars & Black Flower.

The audience, as well as the national press, were pretty stoked about BRZZVLL & De Beren Gieren's concerts:

"This Saturday, the Antwerp band BRZZVLL re-invented itself by the means of jazz-funk from its latest album Waiho." De Morgen

"BRZZVLL knew how to keep the home fires - that were lit by fusion bands as Weather Report or Placebo - burning effortlessly, resulting in punchy, psychedelic jazz funk. The presence of two drummers caused a contagious groove." Focus Knack

The funk-dance-jazz of saxophone player Vincent Brijs and his lieutenants sounded good. Wacky keys and slapping bass licks accompanied Brijs' sax tunes. Although that the music was mainly psychedelic, afrojazz and fusion influences were dominant as well." Humo

"Led by piano player Fulco Ottervanger, De Beren Gieren transcended themselves miraculously, with bended piano notes, angular grooves and a rigid, repetitive double bass. Sometimes we were swaying on the beats of drummer Simon Segers and sometimes getting into trance by Ottervanger's soft melodies. Let's say: more Sakamoto than Mingus. The musicians were impeccable in AB. Too quick for the box thinker and moving past jazz, right into the future." De Morgen

"The jazz trio impressed with thoughtful, kaleidoscopic compositions and didn't shun electronic effects. Sometimes they verged on distorted pop, sometimes their music was characterised by impressionist digressions because they went down an obscure side path. [...] Just like on their brand new album 'Dug Out Skyscrapers', the live tracks were subject to abrupt mood swings, but the audience had no choice but to get stunned by the band's musical inventiveness and versatility." Focus Knack

"De Beren Gieren nailed it. [...] They showed us a technically refined, subtle, serious but playful set. Repulsive, likeable, chilly, authentic ... These musicians from Ghent were excellent tonight." Humo

Wanna re-live the concerts or see it for yourself? A live stream of the full concert day is available here. Enjoy! Interested in booking these bands in 2018? Maaike is your (wo)man!

PS: De Beren Gieren play their last concert of the year at De Casino this Thursday (21/12).

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