Octurn
Encyclopedia
Octurn is a Belgian
polyrhythmic jazz
ensemble
led by Bo Van Der Werf (baritone saxophone
and clarinet
). Its lineup as well as the composers are changed for every album. They always play with at least 3 saxophones and from 2002 they have been playing with two basses and two drummers.
and flugelhorn
) is the only member who played on each Octurn release. Other members are, on :
Toots Thielemans
(harmonica
) and Kenny Werner
(piano) also appeared on a track.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
polyrhythmic jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
led by Bo Van Der Werf (baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
and clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
). Its lineup as well as the composers are changed for every album. They always play with at least 3 saxophones and from 2002 they have been playing with two basses and two drummers.
Members
Apart from the leader, Laurent Blondiau (trumpetTrumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
) is the only member who played on each Octurn release. Other members are, on :
- saxophone: Ben Sluijs (alto), Jeroen Van HerzeeleJeroen Van HerzeeleJeroen Van Herzeele is a Belgian jazz saxophonist. He was born in Zottegem. He plays in various bands such as Greetings From Mercury, Maak's Spirit, Octurn, Tomas and Co, Ivan Paduart etc... He won the Belgian Golden Django in 1999 for best Flemish artist.-References:*...
(tenor and soprano), Bart Defoort (tenor and soprano), Guillaume Orti (alto) and Patrick Zimmerli (tenor); - fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
: Magic Malik, Ben Sluijs and Pierre BernardPierre BernardPierre Bernard, Jr. is a graphic designer and comedian, most notable for his work on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Conan. He had a recurring sketch called "Pierre Bernard's Recliner of Rage", where he would complain about issues that concern him while...
; - tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
: Ilja Reijngoud and Geoffroy De MasureGeoffroy De MasureGeoffroy De Masure started playing trombone and piano at fourteen years old. From 1985 to 1989 he studied at the Conservatoire in Avignon classical trombone with Professor Bernard Buffet and Jazz with André Jaume. He started playing professionally at 18 in rock and funk band and got his first jazz...
; - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
: Jozef Dumoulin, Ron Van Rossum, Kris DefoortKris DefoortKris Defoort is a Belgian avant-garde jazz pianist and composer. He was born in 1959 in Bruges. He also teaches at the Brussels conservatory. His brother is Bart Defoort ....
and Fabian Fiorini; - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
: Nelson Veras, Jacques Pirotton, Pierre Van DormaelPierre Van DormaelPierre Van Dormael , born in Brussels, Uccle, was a Belgian musician and composer.In 1988, he played with the James Baldwin Project with a.o. David Linx and Deborah Brown , Slide Hampton , Diederik Wissels , Bob Stewart and Michel Hatzigeorgiou...
and Ben MonderBen Monder-Biography:Monder attended the University of Miami. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians including Lee Konitz, Toots Thielmans, Paul Motian and Maria Schneider....
; - bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
: Piet Verbist, Nicolas ThysNicolas ThysNicolas Thys is a Belgian bassist. He graduated in 1994 from the Hilversum Conservatory , where he also taught bass and double bass. Thys took private lessons with Dave Holland, Marc Helias and Marc Johnson. He received several awards, most notably the Golden Django award for best young talent in...
, Otti Van Der Werf and Jean-Luc Lehr; - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
: Félix Simtaine, Stéphane GallandStéphane GallandStéphane Galland is a Belgian drummer.He got his first drumset at the age of 3 and six years later, he entered the Huy conservatory, from which he graduated in 1987. When he was 11, he started to perform with jazz musicians like Eric Legnini and Jean-Pierre Catoul...
and Chander Sardjoe; - percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
: Michel Seba.
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...
(harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
) and Kenny Werner
Kenny Werner
Kenny Werner is an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Kenny Werner is a world-class pianist and composer. His prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continue to impact audiences around the world....
(piano) also appeared on a track.
Discography
- 1996: Chromatic History
- 1997: Ocean
- 2000: Round
- 2002: The Book Of Hours
- 2002: DimensionsDimensions (Octurn album)Dimensions is a 2002 album by jazz band Octurn. It was recorded at Studio Jet, Brussels from February 12 until February 15, 2002. It is the fifth release compiled in the 11-CD box edited by De Werf the same year.-Track listing:...