Jack Sels
Encyclopedia
Jack Sels was a Belgian jazz saxophonist active after World War II. Although he left only a few records, he was definitely an influential figure for the Belgian scene.
Sels grew up in Antwerp. He first studied piano before playing the saxophone.
After World War II he joined the band of Mickey Bunner. He played for the Red Cross and for the G.I.s. He appeared in various clubs, casinos, and hotels. In May 1946, the Mickey Bunner Band recorded "The 13th Port" on a 78 rpm record.
Sels heard the English band of Ted Heath
, and started playing with musicians of the "new generation" including saxophonists Bobby Jaspar
and Jacques Pelzer, guitarist René Thomas
, bassists Benoît Quersin, Jean Warland and René Goldstein, trombonist Christian Kellens, pianist Francis Coppieters, Fats Sadi, Toots Thielemans
. He appeared at the Knokke Jazz Festival in 1948.
Inspired by the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Sels decided to form his own, for which he wrote music and arrangements.
The band made an impressive debut with some of the best musicians around in 1949; a.o: Herman Sandy, Jay Cameron
, Bobby Jaspar
and Jean Warland, but financially it proved hard to keep such a large band together.
After hearing the Miles Davis
Birth of the Cool
sessions in 1951, he assembled a 15 piece band and toured Europe.
Back in Belgium, he again played the club and concert scene, a.o. supporting Nat King Cole
or Mezz Mezzrow
(1955). In 1954 and 1955, he recorded six sides for Ronnex Records, in a rather commercial "boogie" style.
In 1955, Sels wrote the soundtrack for the movie Meeuwen sterven in de haven, directed by Roland Verhavert
.
In 1958, he played at the Brussels World Fair
and recorded for Decca
with Willy Rockin'. He appeared on the Decca LP Jazz in Little Belgium for two numbers. He recorded "Bongo Jazz" with Lucky Thompson
and participated in the radio series of Levende Jazz (Living Jazz).
In 1959, Sels took an opportunity and jammed in Brussels with Lester Young
and Max Roach
.
In September 1961, he recorded "Sax Appeal" for the Relax label (Relax30004) with organ player Lou Bennet, the young Philip Catherine
on guitar and Oliver Jackson
on drums.
In 1963, financial difficulties forced him to work at the Antwerp harbour to unload boats.
The Belgian BRT radio started a series of concerts, for which producer Elias Gistelinck called Sels to write and play. A very successful series of Saxorama followed, in which a sax section was featured, an ensemble that became the core of the future BRT Jazz Orchestra.
His music has been played and recorded by a.o. Johnny Griffin
and the Kenny Clarke
-Francy Boland
Big Band.
The last three years of his life, his health unfortunately declined, making it very difficult for him to play.
He died on 21 March 1970, from a heart attack, in his Antwerp home.
Sels didn't record much. Most of the 78rpm and LPs are impossible to find.
The Belgian movie Just Friends (by Marc-Henri Wajnberg, 1993) was inspired by the unique figure of Sels.
In 2003 a play was staged in Belgium by Theater Antigone; het Jack Sels Project.
Sels grew up in Antwerp. He first studied piano before playing the saxophone.
After World War II he joined the band of Mickey Bunner. He played for the Red Cross and for the G.I.s. He appeared in various clubs, casinos, and hotels. In May 1946, the Mickey Bunner Band recorded "The 13th Port" on a 78 rpm record.
Sels heard the English band of Ted Heath
Ted Heath (bandleader)
Ted Heath, musician and big band leader, led Britain's greatest post-war big band recording more than 100 albums and selling over 20 million records...
, and started playing with musicians of the "new generation" including saxophonists Bobby Jaspar
Bobby Jaspar
Bobby Jaspar was a cool jazz and hard bop saxophonist, flautist and composer born in Liège, Belgium. He was married to the jazz singer Blossom Dearie....
and Jacques Pelzer, guitarist René Thomas
René Thomas (guitarist)
René Thomas is considered one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 1960s, but has remained rather unknown to the general public. After the Second World War, he played with the "Bop Shots", Belgium's first be-bop outfit with Jacques Pelzer and Bobby Jaspar...
, bassists Benoît Quersin, Jean Warland and René Goldstein, trombonist Christian Kellens, pianist Francis Coppieters, Fats Sadi, Toots Thielemans
Toots Thielemans
Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans , known as Toots Thielemans, is a Belgian jazz musician well known for his guitar and harmonica playing as well as his whistling. Thielemans is credited as one of the greatest harmonica players of the 20th century...
. He appeared at the Knokke Jazz Festival in 1948.
Inspired by the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Sels decided to form his own, for which he wrote music and arrangements.
The band made an impressive debut with some of the best musicians around in 1949; a.o: Herman Sandy, Jay Cameron
Jay Cameron
Jay Cameron is an American jazz reed player.Cameron began as an alto saxophonist, but later recorded with bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, and B-flat clarinets. His career began in the early 1940s in Hollywood with Ike Carpenter's band, with whom he played until 1947...
, Bobby Jaspar
Bobby Jaspar
Bobby Jaspar was a cool jazz and hard bop saxophonist, flautist and composer born in Liège, Belgium. He was married to the jazz singer Blossom Dearie....
and Jean Warland, but financially it proved hard to keep such a large band together.
After hearing the Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
Birth of the Cool
Birth of the Cool
Birth of the Cool is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1957 on Capitol Records. It compiles twelve songs recorded by Davis's nonet for the label over the course of three sessions during 1949 and 1950...
sessions in 1951, he assembled a 15 piece band and toured Europe.
Back in Belgium, he again played the club and concert scene, a.o. supporting Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
or Mezz Mezzrow
Mezz Mezzrow
Milton Mesirow, better known as Mezz Mezzrow was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. Mezzrow is well known for organizing and financing historic recording sessions with Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. Mezzrow also recorded a number of times with Bechet and...
(1955). In 1954 and 1955, he recorded six sides for Ronnex Records, in a rather commercial "boogie" style.
In 1955, Sels wrote the soundtrack for the movie Meeuwen sterven in de haven, directed by Roland Verhavert
Roland Verhavert
Roland Verhavert is a Belgian film director. He directed 44 films between 1955 and 1993. He co-directed the 1955 film Seagulls Die in the Harbour, which was entered into the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. His 1974 film The Conscript was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film...
.
In 1958, he played at the Brussels World Fair
World fair
World Fair can refer to:* Expo , a large public exhibition* This World Fair, an American rock band...
and recorded for Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
with Willy Rockin'. He appeared on the Decca LP Jazz in Little Belgium for two numbers. He recorded "Bongo Jazz" with Lucky Thompson
Lucky Thompson
Eli "Lucky" Thompson was a United States jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist...
and participated in the radio series of Levende Jazz (Living Jazz).
In 1959, Sels took an opportunity and jammed in Brussels with Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
and Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
.
In September 1961, he recorded "Sax Appeal" for the Relax label (Relax30004) with organ player Lou Bennet, the young Philip Catherine
Philip Catherine
Philip Catherine is a Belgian jazz guitarist.-Biography:He was born in London from an English mother and Belgian father....
on guitar and Oliver Jackson
Oliver Jackson
Oliver Jackson , aka Bops Junior, was an American jazz drummer.Jackson played in Detroit in the 1940s with Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Wardell Gray, and had a variety show with Eddie Locke called Bop & Locke...
on drums.
In 1963, financial difficulties forced him to work at the Antwerp harbour to unload boats.
The Belgian BRT radio started a series of concerts, for which producer Elias Gistelinck called Sels to write and play. A very successful series of Saxorama followed, in which a sax section was featured, an ensemble that became the core of the future BRT Jazz Orchestra.
His music has been played and recorded by a.o. Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
and the Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke , born Kenneth Spearman Clarke, nicknamed "Klook" and later known as Liaqat Ali Salaam, was a jazz drummer and an early innovator of the bebop style of drumming...
-Francy Boland
Francy Boland
François Boland was a classically trained Belgian jazz composer and pianist.He first gained notice in 1949 and worked with Belgian jazz greats like Bobby Jaspar, and in 1955 he joined Chet Baker's quintet...
Big Band.
The last three years of his life, his health unfortunately declined, making it very difficult for him to play.
He died on 21 March 1970, from a heart attack, in his Antwerp home.
Sels didn't record much. Most of the 78rpm and LPs are impossible to find.
The Belgian movie Just Friends (by Marc-Henri Wajnberg, 1993) was inspired by the unique figure of Sels.
In 2003 a play was staged in Belgium by Theater Antigone; het Jack Sels Project.