Bart Defoort is perceived as one of the leading tenors in the Belgian jazz scene. He breathes new life into traditional fifties- and sixties jazz with his extraordinary quartet. Be it post bop or subdued ballads, he never neglects to leave vast space for improvisation.

‘I can totally immerse myself in the present when I’m improvising’, says Defoort. ‘The greatest challenge as well as the utmost pleasure lies in being able to tell a tale with your instrument and communicate with your fellow musicians’.

And the fellow musicians aren’t just any odd player. Guitarist Hans Van Oost is a cornerstone of the Belgian jazz scene and played with, among others, trumpet player Richard Rousselet, bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse and with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra. Bassist Piet Verbist is currently on tour with the Jef Neve Trio. Drummer Yves Peeters is one of the up and coming personalities in Belgian jazz, which he is proving with ‘Jazzisfaction’.

Bart Defoort’s CV reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Belgian jazz. He has been a member of BJO since 1993 and played with Octurn (’92-‘00), K.D.’s Basement Party (’90-’93), Streams (’98-‘01), The Chris Joris Experience (’99-‘01).