Bodem + Benjamin

Sauzereau Remorque

+ Joachim

Badenhorst's Youran

^{BELGIUM BOOMS X JAZZLAB}

Bodem is one of the notable newcomers to the Belgian jazz scene. Adia Vanheerentals recently made it to Klara's De Twintigers. With Bodem she excels in lyrical melodies and fresh, collective interaction. For this she surrounds herself with drummer Anke Verslype (aki) and guitarist Willem Malfliet (Woolvs). Debut Kleine mars (2023), immediately struck out with a charming combination of intimacy and energy. Successor Lush and Alive (2025) slaloms between intimacy and playfulness, with fresh melodies and spirited interaction full of surprises and poetry.

Compositions, saxophone: Adia Vanheerentals • guitar: Willem Malfliet • drums: Anke Verslype

Brussels-based guitarist Benjamin Sauzereau, one of our scene's most respected musicians, is active across the full spectrum, from elegant jazz to spirited improvisation. He has written a large number of compositions that he presents under the heading 'REMORQUE'. A bit like John Zorn with his Masada compositions, an ingenious exploration of composition, improvisation and arrangement. The short, lively pieces are sometimes lyrical and thoughtful, sometimes frivolous and playful. Strings get the upper hand in this extraordinary sound, in which there is plenty of room for surprises and poetry. A familiar face is Vitja Pauwels, central guest during BRAND! 2022.

^{BELGIUM BOOMS X JAZZLAB}

Together with an inspiring group of musicians, Joachim Badenhorst (in 2015 the first central guest of BRAND!) plays a unique concert with a crucial role for the venue. The ensemble performs compositions and improvisations developed especially for the acoustics of extraordinary places. The musicians are arranged around the audience and sometimes move through the space, allowing the audience to become fully absorbed in the sounds that flow in from all sides. Youran means “the beginning of things” in Japanese and can be translated as “unhurried” in Chinese. It refers to the novelty and unhurried nature of the performance.