Hnita Jazz Club
- Address : Lostraat 106, Heist-op-den-Berg, België
It is said to be one of the oldest existing jazz clubs in the country.
It is true. The Hnita Jazz Club was founded in 1955. Not on the present location, of course. At the time, it was first located in an attic before ending up in the town hall... on the same floor as the village police station! What is even more surprising is that this venerable club, which has welcomed many international jazz stars, is not located in the centre of a large metropolis, but is situated at the exit of a small village between Mechelen and Geel: Heist-op-den-Berg. In 1983, the Hnita-Jazz Club moved to a small, discreet farmhouse with a sort of backyard entrance. If you are not careful, you may not find the place. Once inside, however, you may find it difficult to get out, as this is a place that loves jazz and people. The farmhouse, with its typical local architecture, is divided into two adjoining rooms. One is a bar and the other is an intimate concert hall that can hold up to 120 people.
The atmosphere in the small bar, under a wooden mansard roof, is warm and friendly. The walls are decorated with photos of the many jazzmen who came to share great moments in the Antwerp countryside. In the auditorium, everything is designed for listening comfort. The acoustics are impeccable and the view of the stage is ideal. No superfluous decorum, here you let the music speak for itself and you feel at ease. No prohibitive prices either. Depending on the type of concert, tickets are around 10 or 15 euros. Enough to make you want to make the trip. Especially if the programme often strives to be original and different.
Juul Anthonissen, the founding father of the place who left us last year, is undoubtedly at the root of the success and longevity of the club, which has seen the biggest names in international jazz come and go. The list could be too long to mention them all, but let's note as examples Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Lester Bowie, Bill Evans, Gil Evans, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Charles Mingus, Hank Mobley, Sun Ra, Horace Silver...
Impressive! For a few years now, his son, Peter Anthonissen, has taken up the torch with the same enthusiasm and open-mindedness. Jazz musicians of all styles, from all horizons and all countries are always welcome... just like you.
(Jacques Prouvost, Jazz In Belgium #68, October 2009)
