The disciplined Decipels!

Alto saxophonist Frank Vaganée studied jazz at the conservatory in Antwerp and at the Jazz Studio (with John Ruocco, among others). In 1993, together with several other musicians, he founded the Brussels Jazz Orchestra (BJO), with which he realised projects of international repute. He teaches saxophone jazz, ensemble playing, big band and arrangement at the LUCA School of arts department of the Lemmens Institute in Leuven. Frank Vaganée won several awards, including an Oscar for his musical contribution to the film ‘The Artist’.

Tim Finoulst graduated summa cum laude from the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp in 2010 with Hendrik Braeckman and Martijn van Iterson. He took master classes with Peter Hertmans, Hans Van Oost, John Scofield, Fabien Degryse, Serge Lazarevitch, Jonathan Kreisberg, Hilmar Jensson, Nelson Veras, Philip Catherine, Wayne Krantz, Ari Hoenig, Charlie Haden, Anders Jormin and many others. With The Circle, he played at Jazz Middelheim in the summer of 2009 with Mark Turner as guest soloist.

Roeland Celis studied at the Amsterdam Conservatorium. He then perfected his skills as a musician at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven. The praise and favourable reviews he receives at his performances speak for themselves: he is a gifted and virtuoso guitarist. Roeland was voted best soloist at JazzContest Mechelen in 2013.

Jos Machtel is among the most successful Dutch double bass players. In his career, he toured all over Europe, lived and worked in cities like Madrid and Kansas City and taught at various conservatories. He has appeared alongside Deborah Brown, Sal Nestico, Lee Konitz, Dave Schniter, Bill Barron, Philip Catherine and Woody Shaw, among others. He is also active with the Benjamin Herman Trio, Joris Roelofs 4-tet and Dick de Graaf's ‘Jazz meets Classic’ and also in del Ferro-Vaganée Group.

Dré Pallemaerts teaches at the ‘CNSM’ in Paris and at the ‘Lemmens Institute’ in Leuven. He is a very gifted sound engineer, creates electronic music and composes. Active on the international jazz scene for more than 30 years, Dré has played with many artists such as Toots Thielemans, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Bob Brookmeyer, Philip Catherine, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winston, Tom Harrell, Art Farmer, James Williams, Ernestine Anderson...