14 jan2 minuten om te lezen

Fotoverslag | Brussels Jazz Festival 2024 – Flagey

Casimir Liberski @ Flagey (Brussel, BE)

2024 concert season started for me when it all began, at Brussels Jazz Festival in Flagey. Day 2 of this year's edition was a mesmerizing celebration of musical prowess, featuring the extraordinary talents of Rosa Brunello, Casimir Liberski, and the brilliance of Ill Considered. The iconic venue resonated with an electrifying energy as the artists took the stage, delivering a night that will linger in the hearts of jazz enthusiasts for a long time.

Opening the evening was Rosa Brunello, a bassist with a magnetic stage presence, presenting her 2022 album Sounds Like Freedom. Her performance was a testament to her deep understanding of jazz, weaving intricate bass lines that pulsated through the room. In her quartet form, Brunello effortlessly blended traditional jazz elements with her unique contemporary touch, setting the perfect tone for the evening.

Next up was the virtuoso pianist Casimir Liberski, artist-in-residence of this year’s festival, who was given carte blanche to show his mastery over the keys, leaving the audience at the edge of their seats. Liberski's performance was a thrilling exploration of jazz fusion, incorporating elements of various genres into a seamless, harmonious blend. His improvisational skills were on full display, showcasing a musical vocabulary that transcended conventional boundaries. The nostalgic note of the night came along with the song composed by Liberski himself on the earthquake that touched the Noto Peninsula in Japan.

The cherry to the cake was set with the performance of the trio Ill Considered, a band known for pushing the boundaries of jazz with their experimental and free-form approach. The improvisational dialogues between instruments, led by saxophonist Idris Rahman, were nothing short of transcendent, creating an atmosphere of spontaneity and unpredictability, leaving the standing audience at the lobby in awe.