MIXMONK
Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s clear that Bram De Looze and Robin Verheyen are among the most prominent figures in the contemporary Belgian jazz scene. They are composers and bandleaders with a vision, who have individually made their marks in Belgium and abroad. But the two also share a passion for the music of Thelonious Monk, having played his repertoire as a duo for many years.
At the request of BOZAR, they have joined forces with Joey Baron, the legendary drummer who has made a name for himself through his collaborations with John Zorn (Massada, Naked City), Bill Frisell and Marc Copland. Together, Bram De Looze, Robin Verheyen and Joey Baron tackle the ever-important music of Thelonious Monk.
“MiXMONK is a beautiful, varied album with the necessary space for different moods and sounds, from melancholic to upbeat. The way these musicians play is extraordinary and together they are invincible.” – Written in Music
In 2019, the trio released its debut album of the same name, which has received much praise. The project’s title refers to its variety of tracks: creative renditions of Monk’s songs are mixed with the trio’s own compositions. Borders and generations are crossed beautifully, resulting in a well-balanced record.
The trio’s first European tour proved immensely successful and garnered considerable acclaim for their performances at Paradox Tilburg (NL), het Wilde Westen (BE), La Dynamo (FR), TivoliVredenburg (NL), BOZAR (BE) and the Monk Café (BE). The concert in Paris was broadcast live on Radio France and the concert at the Monk Café was broadcast directly on Radio Klara.
“The collaboration results in impressive music, especially because of the combination of Bram De Looze’s mild piano sounds and the more jagged punchy of Joey Baron.” – Live review in De Volkskrant, North Sea Jazz, 13.07.2019
In 2022, the trio released their second album. ‘On the Loose’ featured MiXMONK’s version of the Monk tune ‘Eronel’ and several original compositions. The trio also paid homage to pianist Misha Mengelberg with the tune ‘Who’s Bridge’ – originally released in 1994 with Joey Baron on drums. Once again, the reviews were raving.
“The sound of Bram De Looze is, once again, of the highest order. It’s no wonder that Joey Baron, who has played with many greats, feels at home in this trio.” – De Standaard on ‘On the Loose’
“Every note is like a star that reminds us of a faraway musical explosion in Harlem. All this to say: we were veryimpressed.” – Live review in Jazz & Mo’, Jazz à Liège, 13.05.2022
Bram De Looze (BE) – Piano
Robin Verheyen (BE) – Saxophone
Joey Baron (US) – Drums
INSIDE JAZZ MANAGEMENT
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Jens Tytgat
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ROB LEURENTOP MANAGEMENT
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Rob Leurentop
leurentop@icloud.com
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