ensemble

Brussels Jazz Orchestra (BJO for short) was founded in 1993 and enjoys the recognition and support of the Flemish Government since 1993. The orchestra strives to achieve the highest level by composing original music, creating unique arrangements and playing inventively as well as passionately. BJO plays jazz with a dynamic orchestral sound rooted in jazz tradition, where each musician is also a brilliant soloist. In the past 32 years, BJO created unique projects that didn’t solely stick to standards but incorporated other musical genres and art forms (from film to visual arts, theatre and hiphop).

Brussels Jazz Orchestra has a worldwide reputation, from Singapore and Abu Dhabi to New York and Johannesburg. In addition to BJO’s own productions, the orchestra has worked with well-known musicians all over the world, like Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider, Dave Liebman, Philip Catherine and countless others. In February 2020, Brussels Jazz Orchestra shared the stage of Bozar (Brussels, B) with the world-famous Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, for a grand big band celebration.

The recordings of BJO, 25 CDs to date, have received international recognition and have been awarded numerous prizes. In 2012, the orchestra was part of the Oscar® triumph for the silent film ‘The Artist’, as co-performer of the score. The album ‘Mama Africa’ with Tutu Puoane received a South African Music Award for Best Traditional Jazz Album, ‘Wild Beauty’ featuring Joe Lovano (2013) scored two Grammy Award Nominations and in 2017, the album BREL with David Linx won an Edison Jazz/World Award (to name a few).

[www.brusselsjazzorchestra.com]