Held in Liège next month the Belgian Jazz Meeting highlights a range of the country’s leading jazz talent, many of whom may well surface on the wider international scene in the coming months and years. Presented this year to an audience of visiting promoters and bookers from all over Europe are: singer Mélanie De Biasio fresh from her appearance at the Antwerp festival Jazz Middelheim earlier this month; newcomers the De Looze/Machtel/De Waele trio, a band formed just two years ago; trumpeter Jean-Paul Estiévenart’s trio; saxophonist Fabrice Alleman’s Obviously Quintet; and the band Mâäk, all appearing on Friday 6 September.

The Meeting’s second day line-up on Saturday 7 September comprises Charleroi-born drummer Lionel Beuvens’ quartet; a solo performance by avant garde reeds player Joachim Badenhorst (returning from the inaugural meeting in Bruges in 2011); pianist Kris Defoort’s trio; alto saxophonist Ben Sluijs’ 3/4 Peace; and the Indian classical music-inspired Ragini Trio. Sunday 8 September’s shorter programme features the the Liège-born Igor Gehenot’s trio, plus piano trio Too Noisy Fish who are about to release their second album, Fight Eat Sleep. More at www.belgianjazzmeeting.be
Mélanie De Biasio pictured