MiXMONK

Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s clear that Bram De Looze and Robin Verheyen are among the most prominent figures in the contemporary Belgian jazz scene. They are composers and bandleaders with a vision, who have individually made their marks in Belgium and abroad. But the two also share a passion for the music of Thelonious Monk, having played his repertoire as a duo for many years.

At the request of BOZAR, they have joined forces with Joey Baron, the legendary drummer who has made a name for himself through his collaborations with John Zorn (Massada, Naked City), Bill Frisell and Marc Copland. Together, Bram De Looze, Robin Verheyen and Joey Baron tackle the ever-important music of Thelonious Monk.

In 2019, the trio released its debut album of the same name, which has received much praise. The project’s title refers to its variety of tracks: creative renditions of Monk’s songs are mixed with the trio’s own compositions. Borders and generations are crossed beautifully, resulting in a well-balanced record.

The trio’s first European tour proved immensely successful and garnered considerable acclaim for their performances at Paradox Tilburg (NL), het Wilde Westen (BE), La Dynamo (FR), TivoliVredenburg (NL), BOZAR (BE) and the Monk Café (BE). The concert in Paris was broadcast live on Radio France and the concert at the Monk Café was broadcast directly on Radio Klara.