Peter Vandendriessche
- Instruments : Alto saxophone, Tenor saxophone, Soprano saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Composer
- Date of birth : 24/03/1961 - Louvain
Jazz studies: alto sax with: Etienne VERSCHUREN, Steve HOUBEN, Michel HERR during Jazz clinics in Dworp.
Graduated as an engineer in electronics in 1982.
From 1981-1985, Peter VANDENDRIESSCHE plays lead alto in the European Community Jazz Big Band EUROJAZZ (several LPs). This band toured all over Europe, visiting the members of the European Community. Since then, he was a regular musician of radio BRT Jazz Orchestra until 1988.
He formed at a very early age the band MILKSHAKE BANANA with his brothers Koen (drs) and Johan VANDENDRIESSCHE (baritone sax and flute), a band which won in 1979 the International Jazz Contest of Hoeilaart (B) and gained a solid reputation as a jazz and fusion band. They toured internationally (Sweden, Greece, Tunisia, USA) and had the opportunity to perform or record with Philip CATHERINE (gt) and Toots THIELEMANS (harmonica). They also participated in many Jazz festivals in and out of Europe (Atlanta, Singapore, Bombay, Arhus, Rome).
Peter VANDENDRIESSCHE is also active as a session player in the recording studios for commercial music.
Played with vibraphone player and composer/arranger SADI and recorded with him in '88 the cd "Nonet", released in 2000.
He played lead alto in various other big bands : Félix SIMTAINE's ACT Big Band, and also the big band put together on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Toots THIELEMANS, and conducted by Quincy JONES, Peter HERBOLZHEIMER and Michel HERR, with a.o. guests singers Sacha DISTEL and Nicole CROISILLE, and Toots himself on harmonica.
Participated in 93 in the recording of the film soundtrack of "Just Friends", music by Michel HERR.
In 1994, he appears on the CD "Steve HOUBEN invites...", featuring 4 top Belgian saxophonists on the occasion of the Sax year.
Played and recorded several albums with ACT Big Band, the European Community Jazz Big Band, Claudine SIMON's LILITH etc...
For the moment very active in the Jazz Academie of Overijse, teaching improvisation & midi (musical instruments digital interface).
Still quite busy as a jazz and studio musician for all kinds of music.
In December 2002 Peter announced his return to the jazz concerts scene with a new formed band
