The Jazz Station Big Band was formed in 2006 and is made up of 14 great soloists, including its own arrangers.
The special feature of this big band is that there is a guitarist in the rhythm section and, compared with a traditional big band, there are only 4 saxophones, 3 trumpets and 3 trombones. What's more, this ensemble never ceases to impress its audiences, regularly offering a new repertoire that combines originality and tradition. The only professional big band in Belgium to have a monthly club residency, the members use their concerts as a laboratory to try out new arrangements and expand their repertoire. The result is a lively band that makes a big impression on audiences, who can boast full houses at every opportunity.
Over the years, the big band's repertoire has received rave reviews from the critics, with guests including Jason Rebello (Sting, Jeff Beck), Kenny Werner (Joe Lovano, Toots Thielemans), Emil Viklicki (Wynton Marsalis, Miroslav Vitous), etc. They have also released an album with the great New York harmonica player Grégoire Maret (Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny), representing Belgium at the 2022 Dubai World Expo.
"The Jazz Station Big Band is without doubt one of Europe's most promising big bands. The writing is ingenious and ambitious, and the arrangements are deep and sensible. Their clever use of odd bars, metrical changes and free improvisation keep the listener on his toes, but there is also a great deal of lyricism, simplicity and beauty in their work. This is undoubtedly a high-quality album by an orchestra with unlimited potential" Antonio Sanchez (drummer with the Pat Metheny Group, and composer of the soundtrack to the film Birdman, Oscar winner for Best Film (2015) and César for Best Foreign Film).
