Since 1998, the first flowers of spring are accompanied by an exquisite music festival, the VW Spring Sessions, which takes you on a discovery tour through many genres.

In this fourteenth edition of this festival, some famous names are taking the stage, as announced by the people from Jazztronaut Entertainment at their press conference, held last week in the elegant Bozar Brasserie. The presentation was not only very professional, but also quite promising. Just read further, and book your seats soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Cesaria, the eternal star from Capo Verde…

The star of the VW Spring Session this year is Cesaria Evora. She is the true ambassador of the "Morna", the melancholy music that transcribes Capo Verde, and is a sure value of the world music with millions of album sales and tours on all continents. The “barefoot diva” is seen by many now as the ‘creole’ version of Billy Holliday, and can certainly be ranked as the greatest African female singer alive.

She has launched last year November her latest Album, ‘Nha Sentimento’, and we suggest you watch out for the eventual nomination of her album in the World Music Album's category on the “Les Victoires de la Musique”

Indeed, already twice rewarded by Victoire for the music, in 2000 for "Cafe Atlantico" and in 2004 for "Voz d' Amor", Cesaria Evora is in competition this year. The ceremony will be held at the Zénith of Paris on March the 6^th… so stay tuned!

The diva will perform on the VW festival on June 14, at the Palais de Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

Jacobien Jacobien Tamsma, Booking Agent (Jazz) of Jazztronaut Entertainment made a very professional presentation of the festival and its artists at the press conference ...

Another star is the Malinese singer Boubacar Traore. He has a magnificent voice, and lyrics which come straight from the heart. He is back with a marvellous new album ‘Mali Denhou’ and he is of course famous for his gripping song ‘Mariama Kaba’, dedicated to his defunct wife. He will be on March 8 at the salle Molière in Brussels , and Wednesday March 9 at the Zuiderpershuis in Antwerp.

A (very) personal selection

The organizers of the festival gave us at the press conference a CD with songs of the most important artists of the festival, and here follow my favored artists, with the songs I liked.

Of course, every selection is subjective, and for further information on the other artists I suggest you hit the site vwspringsessions.be. On this site, you will also read the latest programme changes and you can even sign up to the newsletter and/or become a fan on their Facebook page.

As I am a true fan of smooth Jazz music, which is indeed the soothing choice when sitting behind the wheel in dense traffic, my interest goes quite naturally to other music genres, but always looking for this tinge of intimacy and soft ‘trueness’.

A presentation CD was handed over by Jazztronaut Entertainment at the press conference, of which I made a personal choice...  

Cesaria Evora knocks me of course from my feet, and I was also very impressed by the work of Daniel Melingo.

On the presentation CD I could listen to his ‘Montmartre de Hoy’ and it is a very melodious tango song, evocating the Montmartre ambiance of yesteryear, with subtlety, melancholy and deep South American undertones of passion. He is born in Buenos Aires , and as a true ‘Portenjo’ he feels as no other the ‘Tristeza’ of the Tango.

Look out for his album ‘Maldito Tango’, issued in 2008. I will try to obtain some songs from Daniel Melingo, or ‘loco’ as he is nicknamed, and discuss them on these pages…

Inghe Berckmoes, responsable press and promotion of Jazztronaut Entertainment, introduced the speakers at the press conference of the festival...

On the CD, Boubacar Traore is heard with a nice ballad, ‘Mondeou’, and his guitar entry transports you already. It is very simple, truthful song, with also very nice harmonium tunes. On the same CD, ‘Mali Denhou’ was also a song which I liked it even more.

Sophie Hunger pleases with her young, playful voice and her song ‘Invisible’. She diverts with her band from folk harmonies towards blues, jazz, soul and rock.

I also liked the track ‘White Lake ’ of Horses. Bert Vliegen combines whisper songs with kitchen table anthems and cut and paste folk, and brings it live with Eva Vermeiren and Maarten Colson.

Waldo Dekeyser, booking agent at Jazztronaut, presented upcoming talent to be heard and seen at the VW Spring Sessions 2011
 

Sam Amidon brings smooth American vocals, and I liked the track Way Go, Lily very much. His album ‘I see the sign’ is an intimate album which grips you right from the first note.

But the absolute top for me personally is the track ‘No Surprises’ from the Yaron Herman Trio. You can watch it and be delighted on You Tube. If you want to see Yaron Herman on the piano and celesta, Matt Brewer on the contrabass and Gerald Cleaver on drums, one just has to hurry: He is in Ghent on Thrusday March 3, and Friday March $ in Roeselare …

But what a formidable, young jazz pianist, you could call him the French Jef Neve…

He has been teaching at the Sorbonne, and thanks to his Israeli roots he is both at ease with Eastern-European Klezmer and Western traditionals. Totally unknown 5 years ago, Yaron Herman is now considered as one of the best young pianists of his generation. Yaron Herman's latest album, ‘Follow the White Rabbit’ (ACT) is quite amazing.

The Yaron Herman Trio brings very good Jazz, which I personally liked very much...  

The album features a few covers, including Nirvana's ‘Heart Shaped Boxed’ and Radiohead's ‘No Surprises’, but it's really Herman's own compositions that stand out. We will discuss his album soon…

And some others…

There are of course numerous other artists on the festival, I just cited those who stand out for me on the presentation CD. But musical taste is a very personal thing…

Jef Neve will meet Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort in a piano duo, confronting Mozart and Monk...  

I just want to mention here a  performance by Jef Neve and Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort, ‘If Mozart and Monk were brothers’ It is a unique cross fertilization between two music cultures: on the one hand the laureate of the Queen Elisabeth contest – Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort, and on the other side the jazz pianist Jef Neve. On Tuesday, May 3, they will bring a unique double concert on piano at Flagey, where Wolfgang meets Theloneous… I will be very keen to hear and see that concert!

As, said, you can look at the website www.vwspringsessions.be, where you can read all about it.

I will attend some of the concerts, and tell you more about my musical discoveries, so stay tuned to these columns!

The new VW Eos was also present of course at the VW Spring Sessions Press conference at the Bozar...

In the meantime, note also in your agenda that on 28, 29 and 30^th of May, the Brussels Jazz Marathon will be held, again expertly organized by Jazztronaut Entertainment… Also more about this soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel