Daniel Daemen

At the age of nine Daniel Daemen started playing soprano saxophone with the local marching band in his home village Kanne, Belgium.

The following twelve years he played classical music on alto saxophone. He was appearing as guest soloist with different bands and was winning the first prize as a soloist in a national contest.

Although Daniel was playing only classical music, his interests comprised jazz and a lot of alternative music.
His job as a wood-engraver brought him into contact with several other jazz musicians who invited Daniel to their concerts and informed himabout jazz records to listen to. At that time he got the chance to play in a semi-professional big band with a lot of jazz students who are now 'top of the bill' Belgian musicians. In this band Daemen met Carlo Nardozza, whose band I joined.

At the age of 22 Daniel inscribed him at the Maastricht Conservatory. During his studies he played and experimented extensively with the 'Carlo Nardozza Quintet'. All the members of this band started composing in order to find an own sound.

As a graduate Daniel had the fortune to experience a few nice things. he played With all kinds of jazz bands, big bands and theater productions at jazz festivals, theaters and clubs in Belgium (Blue Note Records Festival), Netherlands (North Sea Jazz Festival), Germany, France, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Italy and the United States.

With the 'Carlo Nardozza Quintet' we won the 'Young Talent Competition 2005' of the Blue Note Festival in Gent. Thanks to this event we opened the Blue Note Records Festival in July 2006. A few months later we won the 'Best Composition Price'(SABAM) at the Tremplin Jazz Festival in Avignon France.