Bart Quartier Quintet
Bart Defoort: soprano & tenor saxes
Nico Schepers: trumpet & flugelhorn
Jean-Louis Rassinfosse: double bass
Jan de Haas: drums
With his own quintet, Bart presents compositions
from his album ‘Thank You’
Besides tunes of this CD, the band presents other compositions by Mike Mainieri, Dave Holland…
Stage plan 1: Vibes only
Stage plan 2: Vibes & Marimba
Bart DEFOORT – Soprano & Tenor Saxes
Bart studied at the Brussels Conservatory with Steve Houben, and attended master classes with John Ruocco, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland. Between 1982 – 86 he played in some music-theatre pieces, and avant-garde projects like Blindman Sax Quartet, Fred Van Hove WIM orchestra.
Bart participates in many groups e.g. “K.D.’s Basement Party “: with Kris Defoort, F. Cassol, M. Massot, M. Hatzigeourgiou, S. Galland. “Octurn”: founder with Bo Vanderwerf, Jeroen Van Herzeele… Bart is a member from the start of the “Brussels Jazz Orchestra”; Concerts with M. Schneider, Toots Thielemans, Bob Mintzer, Bert Joris, Dave Liebman, Philip Catherine, Bill Holman, Tom Harrel, Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler…
Bart creates his own quartet and recorded the CD ‘Moving’ with Erik Vermeulen, Nic Thys and Gene Calderazzo. Recently he made a second CD “The Lizard Game” with his new quartet with Hans Van Oost, Bart De Nolf, and Jan de Haas. As sideman Bart is invited by numerous musicians as Diederik Wissels, Richard Rousselet, Chris Joris, Ernst Vranckx, Olivier Collette and is much appreciated in their recordings. Bart toured through Europe, India, U.S.A. and Canada
Nico SCHEPERS – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Nico is a very strong player whose lead playing and soloist talents are appreciated on the Belgian scene.
He studied Jazz at the Conservatory of Rotterdam.
He played three times at the International Association of Jazz Educators festival in New York and New Orleans. He appeared on festivals like ‘North Sea’, ‘Montreux’ en ‘Middelheim’ Jazz festival.
In January 1998 he won the ‘Erasmus Jazz’ price in the Netherlands and one year later the ‘VSB Music Award’ with his own quartet.
He is teaching at the conservatory of Antwerpen and of Gent. In may 2000 he played in the European Broadcasting Big Band in Norway and during the summer of 2003 he was invited in the sextet of Kenny Wheeler.
He is a member of the ‘Brussels Jazz Orchestra’; he played among others with Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, and Toots Thielemans. Nico Schepers is co-leader of the ‘High Voltage Sextet’, a vigorous example of post-bop jazz. ‘Hoppin’ Around’ is their debut album.
Jean-Louis RASSINFOSSE – Double Bass
Jean-Louis worked with the most prominent musicians in Belgium: Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Michel Herr, Steve Houben, Charles Loos, Sadi, Jacques Pelzer. As well as with international musicians touring Europe such as: Philly Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, Pepper Adams, Slide Hampton, Tete Montoliu, Sal Nistico, Michel Petrucciani, Horace Parlan, Michael Urbaniak, Joe Henderson.For ten years, he played and recorded with Chet Baker (6 Cd). Since 1980 he taught at the Liège Conservatory, summer clinics, and currently, at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Jean-Louis Rassinfosse tours round the world as a member of numerous groups: Eric Legnini, Trio John Ruocco, Phil Abraham Quartet, Richard Rousselet Quintet, Paolo Radoni Trio, Steve Houben Trio, Marcia Maria Trio, Trio l’Âme des Poètes, Fabrice Alleman and One Shot Band. He tours extensively since 1988 with the “Klaus Ignatzek international group” (11 CD) featuring Joe Henderson, Claudio Roditi, Gustavo Bergalli, Jay Ashby, and Romanian singer Anca Parghel. In the Belgian jazz referendum organized by the Belgian radios RTBF and VRT, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse was elected best Belgian acoustic bass player of the year ’98. In September 2001, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse released a new CD as a leader, titled Crossworlds (Igloo 156), in wich he reunites two bands he regulary performs with: L’Âme des Poètes and the International Quintet of German pianist Klaus Ignatzek. He is featured in more than 40 CD.
Jan DE HAAS – Drums
Jan studied for three years at the Berklee College of Music in Boston (USA) and obtained in 1982 his “Performance Diploma” “cum laude”. On the Boston scene, he already played with established musicians, such as: Tony Dagradi, Phil Wilson, Dave Kikoski, Makoto Ozone etc.
His real professional activity starts in 1981, when he gets hired as a drummer by the BRT radio big band, conducted by Etienne Verschueren. In 82, the year of his return to Europe, he won a First Prize at the Jazz Hoeilaart European Jazz Contest.
Since then Jan has been a very active drummer, who played with many Belgian and international artists of the Jazz Scene, a.o. : Chet Baker, Phil Wilson, Jeff Gardner, Tars Lootens, Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Steve Houben, Richard Rousselet, Jacques Pelzer, Michel Herr, Erwin Vann, Pirly Zurstrassen, Jack Van Poll, Eddie Daniels, Rick Margitza, Jerome Richardson, Nathalie Loriers, Fabrice Alleman.
He also participated in many recordings, a.o. with Guy Cabay, Paolo Radoni, Diederik Wissels, Paolo Radoni, Michel Herr (The Soundtrack Of “Just Friends” ” with Archie Shepp), Ali Ryerson, Pirli Zurstrassen, Charles Loos. He currently plays a.o. with the Erik Vermeulen Trio (Cd), the Laurent Blondiau Quintet, Ode for Joe (2 Cds), The Belgian Percussion Ensemble led by Frank Michiels, Parfum Latin (Cd Parfum Latin).
