aki

aki is an emerging Belgian jazz collective led by drummer Anke Verslype. The core of the group consists of guitarist Willem Heylen, bassist Ruben De Maesschalck and harpist Marjolein Vernimmen. They bring atmospheric jazz with uncomplicated, sober melodies at its core, the boundaries of which are pushed during improvisations. aki has already made an impression with two previous EPs, “Warme Dagen” and “Niobe”. In the fall of 2022, the band surprised with a first full-length album, entitled “Nader”, released on W.E.R.F. Records. This album featured a captivating collaboration with Joachim Badenhorst on clarinet, who added a new dimension to the group’s sound. For their latest album ‘Het tij’, released on September 6 on W.E.R.F. Records, aki once again collaborated with Joachim Badenhorst, and Niels Van Heertum (euphonium) was invited as a guest musician. This expansion enriches the color palette of the music and brings out a new depth. During the tour, Thomas Jillings will take Badenhorst's place. Together they create a unique sound that takes listeners on a journey of warmth and melancholy, somewhere between cinematic landscapes, jazz and minimalism. Last summer, the band also performed at Gent Jazz.