The Antwerp Jazz Orchestra is a big band with international line-up, which was first composed in 2018 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the jazz department of the Antwerp Royal Conservatory. The orchestra consists of students, alumni and jazz teachers from the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, supplemented with top talent from the conservatories of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Helsinki and Chicago and is conducted by teacher Bert Joris.
As a trumpet player, composer, arranger, conductor and pedagogue, Bert Joris has not only acquired a unique place within the Belgian jazz scene, but also far beyond. Also due to his many years of collaboration with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, with multiple recordings on his discography, he is the perfect person to manage this project artistically.
After a very successful collaboration with Joshua Redman in 2018, this time the Antwerp Jazz Orchestra invites none other than American saxophone virtuoso Chris Potter as a guest soloist. Chris Potter has been at the forefront of international excellence for more than 25 years. With a discography of around 20 recordings as a leader and 65 recordings as a sideman, he can boast a rich record together with greats such as Dave Holland, Paul Motion, Steve Swallow, Pat Metheny, Dave Douglas, Antonio Sánchez, Kenny Wheeler, John Scofield, Craig Taborn, ... From this rich repertoire, pieces were selected and arranged for the Antwerp Jazz Orchestra.
Come and be amazed by the playing and writing talent that is slowly building in Belgium and Europe. Many names that you will admire the first time, you will definitely remember later!
