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A week of jazz (and other good decisions)

🇧🇪 🇫🇷 Salut à Toots ! Cette semaine dans l’antre verte du jazz bruxellois… Ce soir, comme chaque mardi, le Blitz hebdomadaire à 19h30 — fidèle au poste, ponctuel, et toujours aussi peu disposé à faire dans la demi-mesure. Mercredi, la jam sera ouverte par le saxophoniste italien Federico Milone. Toujours à prix libre, toujours avec la même ambiance conviviale, et toujours ces rencontres intergénérationnelles de haut vol sur notre petite scène — qui, mine de rien, en a vu passer quelques-unes. Jeudi, Joachim Caffonnette et Victor Foulon à l’apéro, avant le groupe all-star maison qui jouera la musique de Duke Ellington, en plus de son répertoire — lequel swingue plus fort qu’un café bien serré (et sans effets secondaires notables). Vendredi, on accueille un guitariste de tout premier plan, même si son nom ne vous dit peut-être pas encore grand-chose — ce qui devrait rapidement s’arranger. Entouré de Pierre-Eden Guibaud et Luca Frattorini, Gustave Reichert nous rend visite pour la première fois. Surdoué, ultra créatif, bref, une pépite parisienne à ne pas manquer. La late jam sera ouverte par le vibraphoniste Tristan Bernoud : pour celles et ceux qui pratiquent cet instrument aussi imposant que délicat, c’est une occasion toute trouvée de venir s’y frotter. Samedi, on accueille un quartet à deux saxophones avec les jeunes Adriana Calvo et Elly Brouckmans. Double Madness, pour souligner la folie créatrice que cette formule singulière — sans instrument harmonique — permet. Un groupe plein d’énergie et de fougue à découvrir d’urgence, sauf contre-indication majeure. Oscar Georges sera aux commandes de la jam en seconde partie de soirée. Dimanche, on repart sur un groupe à deux saxophones, ténor cette fois, pour un hommage au hard bop jouissif de l’album Griff & Lock, classique du genre, où Arnaud Guichard et Sylvain Debaisieux tiendront les rôles de Johnny Griffin et Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. Enfin, pour finir la semaine en beauté, place à une légende du trombone : Phil Abraham sera en quartet pour faire montre de toute sa maîtrise de l’instrument à coulisse et de sa connaissance de la tradition — ce qui, en l’occurrence, n’est pas rien. Pensez à réserver : ça va plus vite à l’entrée, ça vous assure une place assise — et n’oubliez pas les pass, avantageux et toujours très utiles pour soutenir la trésorerie (artistiquement florissante, financièrement plus contemplative) de notre petit club de jazz. 🇧🇪 🇳🇱 Salut aan Toots! Deze week in de groene jazztempel van Brussel… Vanavond, zoals elke dinsdag, de wekelijkse Blitz om 19u30 — stipt, trouw op post, en nog altijd zonder halve maatregelen. Woensdag wordt de jam geopend door de Italiaanse saxofonist Federico Milone. Nog altijd vrije bijdrage, nog altijd dezelfde gezellige sfeer, en nog altijd die straffe intergenerationele ontmoetingen op ons klein podium — dat stilaan toch al wat heeft meegemaakt. Donderdag zorgen Joachim Caffonnette en Victor Foulon voor het aperitief, vooraleer de huis-allstars overnemen met muziek van Duke Ellington, naast hun eigen repertoire — dat swingt gelijk een goeie straffe koffie. Vrijdag ontvangen we een gitarist van hoog niveau, ook al zegt de naam u misschien nog niet veel — dat komt wel. Samen met Pierre-Eden Guibaud en Luca Frattorini komt Gustave Reichert voor het eerst langs. Een supertalent, zeer creatief — kortom, een Parijse parel die ge best niet mist. De late jam wordt geopend door vibrafonist Tristan Bernoud: voor wie zich aan dat indrukwekkend instrument wil wagen, ’t is het moment. Zaterdag een kwartet met twee saxofoons, met de jonge Adriana Calvo en Elly Brouckmans. Double Madness, om de creatieve zotheid van deze speciale bezetting zonder harmonie-instrument te benadrukken. Veel energie, veel goesting — dringend te ontdekken. Oscar Georges leidt de jam in het tweede deel van de avond. Zondag gaan we verder met opnieuw twee saxofoons, deze keer tenoren, met een hommage aan de heerlijke hard bop van Griff & Lock. Arnaud Guichard en Sylvain Debaisieux kruipen in de huid van Johnny Griffin en Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. En om de week schoon af te sluiten: trombonelegende Phil Abraham in kwartet, met zijn meesterlijke spel en diepe kennis van de traditie. Denk eraan om te reserveren: ge zijt sneller binnen, ge hebt een zitplaats, en vergeet de passen niet — voordelig én een kleine maar broodnodige steun voor de (artistiek bloeiende, financieel ietwat fragiele) kas van ons jazzclubke. 🇬🇧 Hello from Toots! This week in the green (and ever so lively) heart of Brussels jazz… Tonight, as every Tuesday, the weekly Blitz at 7:30pm — reliably on time and showing no signs of restraint. Wednesday, the jam will be opened by Italian saxophonist Federico Milone. Still pay-what-you-can, still just as convivial, and still those high-level intergenerational encounters on our small stage — which, quietly, has seen quite a bit. Thursday, Joachim Caffonnette and Victor Foulon will set the tone for the aperitif, before the in-house all-star band takes over with music by Duke Ellington, alongside their own repertoire — swinging, one might say, with the efficiency of a properly strong coffee. Friday, we welcome a top-tier guitarist, even if the name might not ring a bell just yet — it will soon enough. Joined by Pierre-Eden Guibaud and Luca Frattorini, Gustave Reichert visits us for the first time. Gifted, highly creative — in short, a Parisian gem not to be missed. The late jam will be opened by vibraphonist Tristan Bernoud: for those who dare approach this rather imposing instrument, this is your moment. Saturday, a two-saxophone quartet featuring the young Adriana Calvo and Elly Brouckmans. Double Madness, aptly named for the creative freedom this unusual, harmony-free format allows. A band full of energy and drive, to be discovered without delay (unless you have a very compelling excuse). Oscar Georges will be leading the jam in the second half of the evening. Sunday, we continue with another two-saxophone group — tenor this time — paying tribute to the joyful hard bop of the album Griff & Lock, a classic of the genre, with Arnaud Guichard and Sylvain Debaisieux stepping into the roles of Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. Finally, to close the week in style, a trombone legend: Phil Abraham in quartet, showcasing his mastery of the slide instrument and his deep knowledge of the tradition — no small matter. Do remember to book: it makes for a quicker entrance, guarantees you a seat, and do not forget the passes — a rather good deal, and a helpful way to support the (artistically thriving, financially reflective) state of our small jazz club.

Pump Up The Jam : Federico Milone - Jazz Jam mercredi 25 mars - 00:00 Federcio Milone (sax) + guests The Hang !  More info

Key Time : Geraud Portal & Joachim Caffonnette - Apero'clock jeudi 26 mars - 18:00 Victor Foulon (b) & Joachim Caffonnette (p) For the love of Standards songs !  More info

Juke Night : Special Duke Ellington - SWING jeudi 26 mars - 21:00 Mathieu Najean (saxs, cl) ; Jean-Paul Estievenart (trp) ; Thimothé Lemaire (tb) ; Wouter Van Den Broeck (p) ; Victor Foulon (cb) ; Matthias De Waele (dr) This year, for our monthly Juke Nights, the house band led by Mathieu Najean shines the spotlight on a great figure of the Swing Era at each concert. A perfect opportunity to discover or rediscover a rich repertoire that once stood at the very heart of popular music in the 1930s and 1940s. For this edition, the spotlight falls on one of the most popular and influential figures in jazz history — the king of orchestral swing: Duke Ellington. At the helm of his legendary big band, the Washington-born composer and bandleader shaped a music that became the defining sound of its time. Surrounded by musicians whose talents he elevated and showcased, he wrote or co-wrote some of the most celebrated jazz standards ever recorded: Take the “A” Train, Prelude to a Kiss, Caravan, It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) and In a Sentimental Mood. Tonight, our Brussels swing all-stars take on the challenge of revisiting the music of one of the greatest musical geniuses in history, performing it in a sextet format — for our greatest pleasure. More info

Gustave Reichert Trio - Hidden Gem vendredi 27 mars - 19:30 and 21:30 Gustave Reichert (g) + TBA Sometimes you come across musicians whose names circulate a lot among people who spend time in jazz clubs, yet who still remain relatively discreet to the wider public. Gustave Reichert clearly belongs to that category. A Paris-based guitarist with a precise and deeply musical approach, he has quietly built a strong reputation on the club scene — the place where music is really tested. In trio, he develops a living, open music where compositions mainly serve as starting points for improvisation and collective listening. The kind of setting where every note matters and where interaction between the musicians makes all the difference. In short, a small hidden gem that Toots is happy to present for the first time, and a great opportunity to discover a musician who more than deserves to cross the border. More info

The Late Jam with Tristan Bernoud - Jazz Jam vendredi 27 mars - 23:00 Tristan Bernoud (vb) ; Basile Rahola (b) ; Umberto Odone (dr) The Late Hang !  More info

Double Madness - Next Gen Jazz samedi 28 mars - 19:30 and 21:30 Adriana Calvo (as) ; Elly Brouckmans (as) ; Raphael Aurand (dr); Capar Klos (db) Double Madness brings together two alto saxophonists who are quickly making a name for themselves on the Brussels jazz scene: Adriana Calvo and Elly Brouckmans, two rising talents who first met between the halls of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel and the city’s countless jam sessions. Around them, Caspar Klos on double bass and Raphaël Aurand on drums complete a quartet that is as international as it is Brussels-based, with roots in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. The project starts from a simple idea: a quartet without a harmonic instrument. No piano, no guitar — just two saxophones up front and a very flexible rhythm section. A setup that leaves plenty of room for listening, interaction and improvisation. The repertoire moves between bebop, hard bop and more open compositions, offering the two altos a perfect space to dialogue, challenge each other and occasionally fly off together. Music that is alive, direct, and built in the moment — a reminder that jazz is, above all, about shared energy and playing together. More info

Late Jam With Oscar Georges - The Hang! samedi 28 mars - 23:00 Oscar George (d) More info

Nostalgia In Grand Place : Griff & Lock - Tribute dimanche 29 mars - 16:00 Arnaud Guichard (sax) ; Sylvain Debaisieux (sax) ; Joachim Caffonnette (p) ; Jasen Weaver (db) ; Oscar Georges (dr) For this edition of Nostalgia in Grand Place, saxophonist Arnaud Guichard revisits a record that has become a cult favourite among hard bop enthusiasts: “Griff & Lock”, recorded in 1960 by two great tenor saxophone figures, Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. At the time, these two strong personalities of American jazz already had solid reputations on stages and in recording studios. Their meeting resulted in an album full of energy, swing and musical humour, where the two tenors respond to each other, challenge one another and push further the art of the tenor battle, the long-standing jazz tradition of friendly musical duels between saxophonists. For the occasion, Arnaud Guichard will be joined by Sylvain Debaisieux on second tenor, recreating the spirit of dialogue and playful rivalry that gives this repertoire its unique flavour. Surrounded by a quartet well versed in this language, they dive back into a music that is both demanding and joyful. A great opportunity to rediscover a direct, warm jazz deeply rooted in tradition. A Sunday afternoon filled with swing and good spirits, in the spirit of those legendary encounters that marked the golden age of hard bop.   More info

Phil Abraham Quartet - Belgian Jazz Legend dimanche 29 mars - 20:00 Phil Abraham (trb, voc) ; Joachim Caffonnette (p) ; Victor Foulon (b) ; Oscar Georges (dr) Active since the mid-1980s, Phil Abraham is one of the great ambassadors of Belgian jazz and, without question, the most emblematic trombonist in the country. Over the course of an impressive career, he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz — from Michel Petrucciani and Clark Terry to Maria Schneider and Art Farmer, as well as the orchestras of Charles Aznavour and Claude Nougaro, not to mention of course Toots Thielemans. In other words, a true national heavyweight we are welcoming this Sunday. For his second concert of the season at Toots, he is joined by a high-energy rhythm section whose love for standards is second nature. More info

The Toots Jazz Club 6 rue des Chapeliers, 1000 Bruxelles