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Not a Bad Week for Jazz (and Boogie-Woogie!)

Salut à Toots ! Cette semaine encore ça va frapper fort dans notre petit club. Ce soir, l’incontournable, le globetrotter schaerbeekois, l’unique, qui allie saxophone et bons mots avec la même aisance qu’il navigue entre les genres musicaux : Toine Thys ! Il sera entouré de la jeune garde du jazz bruxellois, Umberto Odone et Jim Monneau. Demain, l’apéro avec Géraud Portal et Joachim Caffonnette, avant la première de deux soirées exceptionnelles en compagnie d’un trio stratosphérique. Robert Jukic fait appel à deux musiciens américains de premier plan : le batteur Howard Curtis III et le pianiste au CV long comme un jour sans pain : Danny Grissett. Jeudi et vendredi donc. On les voit une fois tous les dix ans en Belgique, encore moins en club, donc foncez acheter vos tickets ! La late jam de vendredi sera menée par le guitariste brésilien Victor Da Costa, pour prolonger le plaisir. Samedi, changement d’ambiance mais toujours le feu avec Dino Baptiste et son trio de boogie-woogie, organisé par le Brussels Rhythm’n Blues Club. Ça va envoyer du bois. Dimanche après-midi, c’est à Stéphane Grappelli que Renaud Dardenne et Alexandre Cavaliere rendront hommage. Enfin, on finit en beauté avec le prodige anglais de la batterie, protégé de Greg Hutchinson, Kai Craig, qui nous revient en trio pour enflammer la scène en compagnie de Jean-Paul Estiévenart et Géraud Portal. Salut Toots! Ook deze week gaat het weer stevig knallen in onze kleine club. Vanavond staat de onmisbare Schaerbeekse globetrotter Toine Thys op het podium. Een muzikant die sax en scherpe oneliners met dezelfde vanzelfsprekendheid combineert, en moeiteloos tussen verschillende muzikale stijlen beweegt. Hij wordt omringd door twee vertegenwoordigers van de jonge Brusselse jazzscene: Umberto Odone en Jim Monneau. Morgen apero met Géraud Portal en Joachim Caffonnette, voor de eerste van twee uitzonderlijke avonden met een werkelijk stratosferisch trio. Robert Jukic brengt twee Amerikaanse topmuzikanten mee: drummer Howard Curtis III en pianist Danny Grissett, wiens parcours voor zich spreekt. Donderdag en vrijdag dus. Je ziet hen misschien eens om de tien jaar in België — en nog zeldzamer in een club — dus snel tickets halen! De late jam van vrijdag wordt geleid door de Braziliaanse gitarist Victor Da Costa om de avond nog wat langer te maken. Zaterdag verandert de sfeer, maar het vuur blijft branden met Dino Baptiste en zijn boogie-woogie trio, georganiseerd door de Brussels Rhythm’n Blues Club. Dat gaat stevig worden. Zondagmiddag brengen Renaud Dardenne en Alexandre Cavaliere een hommage aan Stéphane Grappelli. En om de week mooi af te sluiten: het Britse drumwonder Kai Craig, protegé van Greg Hutchinson, keert terug in trio met Jean-Paul Estiévenart en Géraud Portal. Hi Toots! Another week, another strong line-up in our little club. Tonight, the one and only Schaerbeek globetrotter Toine Thys takes the stage. A musician who combines inspired saxophone playing with a sharp sense of humour, and who moves between musical styles with remarkable ease. He’ll be joined by two representatives of the younger Brussels jazz scene: Umberto Odone and Jim Monneau. Tomorrow, aperitif time with Géraud Portal and Joachim Caffonnette, before the first of two exceptional evenings with a truly stellar trio. Robert Jukic brings together two top American musicians: drummer Howard Curtis III and pianist Danny Grissett, whose résumé speaks for itself. They’ll be with us Thursday and Friday. You might see them in Belgium once every ten years — even more rarely in a club — so make sure to grab your tickets. Friday’s late jam will be led by Brazilian guitarist Victor Da Costa to keep the night going. Saturday, a change of mood but still plenty of fire as Dino Baptiste and his boogie-woogie trio take over the club, invited by the Brussels Rhythm’n Blues Club. Expect sparks. Sunday afternoon, Renaud Dardenne and Alexandre Cavaliere pay tribute to Stéphane Grappelli. And to close the week in style, British drum prodigy Kai Craig, protégé of Greg Hutchinson, returns in trio format to set the stage alight alongside Jean-Paul Estiévenart and Géraud Portal.

PUMP UP THE JAM WITH TOINE THYS - Jazz Jam Session mercredi 4 mars - 21:00 Toine Thys (sax) ; Jim Monneau (b) ; Umberto Odone (dr) The hang ! With the Brussels Jazz star !  More info

Key Time : Geraud Portal & Joachim Caffonnette - Apero'clock jeudi 5 mars - 18:00 Geraud Portal (b) & Joachim Caffonnette (p) For the love of Standards songs !  More info

Robert Jukic Trio feat. T. Howard Curtis III - Top Notch International Jazz jeudi 5 mars - 21:00 Danny Grissett (p) ; Howard Curtis III (dr) ; Robert Jukic (b) Bassist and composer Robert Jukič continues his Invites concert series at Toots with a special lineup featuring renowned drummer Howard Curtis. Known for his deep groove, lyrical bass sound, and distinctive compositional voice, Jukič brings together musicians who share a strong sense of interaction, swing, and creative freedom. For this edition of the series, he is joined by Howard Curtis, a drummer celebrated for his powerful feel and versatility, whose career spans collaborations across jazz, soul, and contemporary music scenes. Curtis’ dynamic and driving approach adds both intensity and nuance to the music. Also joining the ensemble is Danny Grissett, one of today’s most respected jazz pianists. Together, Jukič, Curtis, and Grissett create a vibrant trio setting where original compositions meet open improvisation, rich harmony, and infectious rhythm. This concert at Toots promises an intimate evening of high-level musical conversation and spontaneous energy — a must-hear edition of the series. More info

Robert Jukic Trio feat. T. Howard Curtis III - Top Notch International Jazz vendredi 6 mars - 19:30 and 21:30 Danny Grissett (p) ; Howard Curtis III (dr) ; Robert Jukic (b) Bassist and composer Robert Jukič continues his Invites concert series at Toots with a special lineup featuring renowned drummer Howard Curtis. Known for his deep groove, lyrical bass sound, and distinctive compositional voice, Jukič brings together musicians who share a strong sense of interaction, swing, and creative freedom. For this edition of the series, he is joined by Howard Curtis, a drummer celebrated for his powerful feel and versatility, whose career spans collaborations across jazz, soul, and contemporary music scenes. Curtis’ dynamic and driving approach adds both intensity and nuance to the music. Also joining the ensemble is Danny Grissett, one of today’s most respected jazz pianists. Together, Jukič, Curtis, and Grissett create a vibrant trio setting where original compositions meet open improvisation, rich harmony, and infectious rhythm. This concert at Toots promises an intimate evening of high-level musical conversation and spontaneous energy — a must-hear edition of the series. More info

Late Jam With Victor Da Costa - The Hang! vendredi 6 mars - 23:00 Victor Da Costa (g) + Guest More info

DINO BAPTISTE BOOGIE WOOGIE AND BLUES TRIO - BRBC samedi 7 mars - 20:30 Dino Baptiste (piano, harmonica, vocals), Cameron Rossi (tenor sax), Daniel "Bam Bam" Watt (drums) Dino Baptiste is a highly energetic Blues, Boogie Woogie & Rock'n'Roll pianist, harmonicist and vocalist from the UK who performs over 270 concerts worldwide every year, including regular performances in London’s Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Club and Ain’t Nothing But The Blues bar. Dino has worked with among others Mick Jagger, Lulu, Kiki Dee, Donald Fagen, Ian Siegal, Matt Schofield and Leo Sayer. BRBC houseband Midnight Mary will open the concert. More info

Late Jam Blues - BLUES samedi 7 mars - 23:30 Roman (MC) Once a month, after the Brussels Rhythm’n Blues Club's double-bill evenings, Roman opens our late session to welcome blues and rhythm’n blues musicians until the early morning. More info

Nostalalgia In Grand Place : Stephane Grappelli - Tribute dimanche 8 mars - 16:00 Renaud Dardenne (g) ; Alexandre Cavalière (vl) ; TBA As part of our “Nostalgia in Grand Place” series, Toots celebrates the elegance and radiant swing of Stéphane Grappelli, an iconic figure of gypsy jazz. Bringing the spirit of the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France back to life, Alexandre Cavalière (violin) and Renaud Dardenne (guitar) unite strings and bows in a vibrant, virtuosic dialogue. With refined flights, infectious swing and lyrical finesse, they revisit this timeless repertoire with passion and freshness. A moment of grace and energy to be enjoyed in the heart of the Grand Place. More info

Kai Craig : Album Release - Album Release dimanche 8 mars - 21:00 Kai Craig (dr) ; Jean-Paul-Estievenart (trp) ; Géraud Portal (b) Here’s what the great Gregory Hutchinson says about him: “Kai Craig — what can I say? He’s part of the new wave of gifted musicians capable of taking the instrument to another level. He has everything it takes to become great.” At just 25 years old, the British drummer, now based in New York, presents his new album tonight. Already having made a strong impression at Toots a few months ago, he stands out as one of tomorrow’s major talents, pushing the boundaries of virtuosity with every performance. Not to be missed. More info

The Toots Jazz Club 6 rue des Chapeliers, 1000 Bruxelles