In 1981, he's invited to the 3d "Festival International de Guitare de Liège".
The following years, he gets the opportunity to work with many Belgian and foreign jazzmen : Serge Lazarevitch, Richard Rousselet, John Thomas, Steve Houben, Guy Cabay, Jean-Pierre Gebler (Festival of Cascais, Portugal in 83), Michel Herr, Félix Simtaine, Freddie Deronde, Jon Eardley, Garrett List, Jon Eardley, Barney Wilen, Michel Graillier, Pete Yellin, Chet Baker, Lennart Johnson and Jacques Pelzer with whom he played in quartet and mainly in duo during more then ten years :
One album in duo : "Happy Few" in 1984
In 1987, Jacques Pirotton formed the fusion quartet "ARTLINE". It became quickly a trio with Benoît Vanderstraeten (electric bass) and André Charlier (drums):
3 albums : "Labyrinthe" (1988), "Jokari" (1989), "Soty" (1992).
The nineties: Jacques Pirotton appeared on the CD "Hommage à René Thomas" featuring the cream of Belgian guitar players and recorded several CD with the classical string quartet "Heliotrope".
He also appeared and recorded with the group Octurn, Erwin Vann's band, Hugo Read, Stephan Kremer, The Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Jean-Pierre Catoul, Phil Abraham, Jean-Pierre Gebler.
Since 1981, Jacques Pirotton and Steve Houben have collaborated together in different musical projects, concerts and tours (Congo, Singapore, Vietnam, expos in Seville, Lisbon, Hanover…).
First CD in 1997 : "We can't stop loving you" with the percussionist Stephan Pougin.
The band became a quintet "PHINC.." with the bassist Sam Gerstmans and the accordionist Philippe Thuriot.
Second CD in 2005 : "Old Woes New Wail"
Now, Jacques Pirotton also plays in acoustic duo with clarinet player Fabrice Alleman, with Kurt Vanhercke trio, the band "Jazz Me Do", Guy Cabay 4tet, Jean-Pierre Gebler 5tet, in duo with the guitarist Jacques Stotzem, Sal La Rocca 4tet.
Jacques Pirotton teaches jazz guitar at the conservatoire de Luxembourg.
(See top of page for main discography)
