Brussels Groove Collective

Jazz vocal group of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. The polyphonic choir of the Conservatory's jazz class was initially composed of sopranos and altos. External reinforcements came to complete the tenors and basses, and this is how the Brussels Groove Collective (BGC) took off. 

Directed by Pete CHURCHILL, head of the jazz singing class and professor of jazz composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the choir is made up of students from the singing class, former students of the Conservatory, external reinforcements, and musicians or teachers from the Conservatory such as Fabien Degryse (a well-known guitarist on the Belgian jazz scene) and Philippe Navarre (a pianist accompanist) who have both joined the bass section.

Its repertoire is rich in great jazz, gospel and groove standards by Paul Simon, Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, James Taylor, Pete Churchill...

In 9 seasons, the BGC has performed at the Point Culture ULB, the Music Village, the Regency Hall, the Holy Trinity Church, the Cercle des Voyageurs, the Archiduc...

Currently in residence at the Music Village, it contributes to the influence of the Conservatory in the city while allowing young soloists to make themselves known. Among the soloists accompanied by the choir, we can count on Julian McLACHLAN, Maïlys CRABBÉ, Mona MIODEZKY, Stéphanie BERTRAND, Tommaso ZUFFA,...

The particularity of the BGC is to work exclusively by ear: no scores! (Only the lyrics for those who absolutely need them.) By leaving aside the neurons of vision, this practice opens up more to the other senses, auditory and kinaesthetic, one of the keys to groove. As Pete Churchill likes to say: -Your body is your metronome! The intention is to share the joyful effects of this musical approach with the audience.

The choristers : Pete Churchill (conductor, pianist and soloist); Ana Maria Leocadio; Ayla Kocer; Barnabé Deliens; Coline Claes; Clément Cerovecki; Elien Delaere; Élisabeth Persenaire; Ève-Coralie Devisscher; Fabien Degryse; Isabelle Beirens; Jasmine Amezian; Joëlle Regout; Julian McLachlan ; Jurriaan Praakke ; Katia Tchouvilkina ; Léa Dahan ; Magali Raoux ; Maïté Brown ; Marie Demuijlder ; Moon Miodezki ; Morgane Mathieu ; Olivier Bonjour ; Philippe Navarre ; Rachelle Hajjar ; Stephanie van Rossum ; Violette Shishan ; Viviane Horta ; Alexandre Wajnberg ..