12 jul.2 minuten om te lezen

Fotoverslag | Gent Jazz 2024 – 10 Juli

Sofiane Pamart @ Gent Jazz 2024

My second day at Gent Jazz was as sunny as anyone could want it to be. Although a bit more of a challenge for a photographer like me, used to take pictures from pits. Because of the seated setting, pictures at the main stage had to be made from Front of the house (FOH), meaning right next to the lights and sound technicians. Lucky for me, a very good fellow photographer, David Johnson, lent me his 70-200mm, meaning a much better lens than what I had equipped with me (thanks again for that!). Nevertheless, shooting FOH has an added layer of challenge by not being able to be as creative as you can be when being right in front of the stage. But I couldn’t be happier with the lineup of that day. Starting at the main stage with the dreamy music of Alexis Ffrench, a virtuous piano player and composer who got his first piano at 4.5 yars, and where you could only just sit down, lay back, leave your worries behind, close your eyes, and let his music transport you to a dream world where everything is possible. His new album is coming out in September for those looking out for more. This dreamy ambience was contrasted by the energy of The Bony King of Nowhere, the musical alter ego of Bram Vanparys, which after 5 years of his past album, the artist was able to break this impasse with the new album “Everybody knows”. The highlight of the night for me came right after, when Asaf Avidan took the stage with his solo show, but still as powerful with this intimate setting packed up with all the sounds looping at every tune, that he perfectly matched and recorded life during the performance, including piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, and his astonishing voice. He took the opportunity to point out the difficulty of performing that kind of solo show without prerecorded tracks nor autotune, that fills up today’s music scene. Ending the night at that stage was Sofiane Pamart, a French pianist and composer from Lille, who captivated everyone with his sweet melodies, taking the audience to that dreamland with what we started the night. Something that stroke me was the artist’s humbleness. After many songs, Pamart shifted in his chair towards the audience, or even stood up to nod gently in humble grace towards the public, and waited for the applause to dissolve. Personally, I had been listening to his music while working and in need of focus, especially his new EP recorded with F1 driver Charles Leclerc. As usual, the attendees could enjoy concerts as well at the garden stage, fitting perfectly in between the main stage concerts. Wednesday was the turn of OrsonClaeys, the crazy trio Supermarket, and energetic duo Kowari.