MODERN TALES

Brussels Vocal Project collaborated with the composer and drummer John Hollenbeck around modernised versions of tales. The composer used lyrics written by the collective as material to explore the possibilities of their unusual setting: fives voices and drums. Humour flirts with strangeness in their contemporary pieces while never loosing focus on storytelling. Tales were born from popular beliefs and were transmitted across generations. Wether it’s the Three Little Pigs, the Little Mermaid or the Emperor’s New Clothes, the stories help people understand their struggles and behaviours. The make us aware of dangers by using the imaginary. These timeless tales are still relevant today. Our society is questioning itself, people are lost and looking for alternative ways of living and thinking. Brussels Vocal Project sheds a new light on the tales by viewing them from a different angle. Putting them in a modern setting forces us to rethink what we know and to question ourselves.

MÉDITATION ET MUSIQUE

Meditation and music have been intimately linked since time immemorial. Music acts on our emotions and our bodies, opening the door to mystery and the sacred. Music leads us to silence, an inner silence that connects us to the essential. When silence opens up to music, we become receptive to sounds, to what is. During the concert, listeners are invited to cultivate an attitude of presence and openness. A variety of practices will be offered to encourage more attentive listening, to intensify our presence to ourselves and to others through singing.

THE ART OF LOVE

A Tribute to Pierre Van Dormael

Seven jazz composers wrote original pieces for the first album of the Brussels Vocal Project: « The Art Of Love ». Each composition pays tribute to the great Belgian guitarist and composer Pierre Van Dormael (†2008) through his masterful composition « The Art Of Love ». Fabrizio Cassol, Nathalie Loriers, Diederik Wissels, Pierre Vaiana, Fabian Fiorini, Pirly Zurstrassen and Serge Lazarevitch were all close friends and colleagues to Pierre Van Dormael. The diversity of the 8 compositions revealed to be a surprising collection of daring vocal music.

The lyrics were created by the vocalists François Vaiana, Elsa Grégoire and Anu Junnonen. The result is an album full of warm harmonies, irresistible rhythms and original poetry. On top of the bill, David Linx, who wrote the lyrics to « The Art Of Love », was invited as a guest vocalist on 2 songs.

This repertoire is a unique combination of the different composers’ musical aesthetics. Together, the songs are like pieces of a puzzle, finding their unity in a moving A Cappella homage to the great Pierre Van Dormael.

BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Two small bags, ten million dreams

20 June 2016 was World Refugee Day, a day that was celebrated at Ancienne Belgique (Brussels) with a benefit concert by Artists #withRefugees. In anticipation of this concert the artists launch the cd Two Small Bags, Ten Millions Dreams, featuring the tragic story of a family of refugees seeking a new life in the back of a truck. The lyrics were written by Michael De Cock, the music by Frank Vaganée (Brussels Jazz Orchestra). A lot of big names from the Belgian jazz music scene and beyond, participate for free in the recording, as well as in the concert.

BVP - BXL

Brussels Vocal project’s ode to their city through three legendary songs.

KVS - UIT DE BOL

The composer Fabrizio Cassol and the theater director Alain Platel invited Brussels Vocal Project for a creation reuniting choirs from all around Brussels to perform at the KVS theater.

LES MAGRITTES DU CINÉMA

Brussels Vocal Project performed during the opening and closing of the 5th edition of the Magritte Movie Awards in Brussels hosted by Charlie Dupont.

WILDBIRDS AND PEACEDRUMS

The Swedish band Wildbirds and Peacedrums invited Brussels Vocal Project for a joined concert at the Botanique.