Brussels Jazz Orchestra

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In 1993 Frank Vaganée, Serge Plume and Marc Godfroid (three big names on the Belgian jazz scene) decided to set up new professional big band. Shortly before, the BRT Big Band had disappeared from the Flemish music scene and, consequently, the composers and musicians had lost the opportunity to perform high-quality big band music. As a result, the public no longer had a chance to listen to this specific genre.

The ensemble was named "Brussels Jazz Orchestra" (BJO) as its first performances were in Brussels at The Sound Jazz Club, where it held weekly sessions. Lead alto saxophonist and composer Frank Vaganée was appointed the ensemble's artistic manager.
The Brussels Jazz Orchestra's basic strength resides in its "traditional" big band line-up (i.e. 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, piano, string bass and drums). Depending on the project, this line-up can be extended to include, for example, guitar, wood instruments, bass tuba, etc.
Besides their activities with the BJO, all 16 professional jazz musicians have their own international, professional careers. The BJO is a genuine European 'melting pot' of Flemish, Brussels, Walloon, Dutch and French musicians.
The BJO's repertoire is mainly composed of in-house productions including orchestral, cross over, soloist and multimedia - projects, with concerts featuring musicians such as Richard Galliano (FR), David Linx, Brussels Philharmonic, Tutu Puoane, Iris Luypaers, Veerle Dobbelare, ’t Arsenaal, Philip Catherine, Bert Joris, Toots Thielemans, Michel Herr, en deFilharmonie. The BJO works in close collaboration with composers Bert Joris and Frank Vaganée, the ensemble's in-house composers, but also involves other Flemish and Belgian big band arrangers and composers for its own productions (such as Michel Herr, Erwin Vann, Kris Defoort, and Gyuri Spies, etc.).
In addition to its own productions, the orchestra seeks interesting international projects, working with Maria Schneider (US), Kenny Werner (US), Dave Liebman (US), Kenny Wheeler (UK), Lee Konitz (USA), Dave Douglas (USA), Norma Winstone (UK), Wallace Rony (US), Phil Woods (US), Tom Harrell (US), Bob Mintzer (US), Bill Holman (US), Gustavo Bergalli (ARG), Carlos Franzetti (US), Gianluigi Trovesi (IT) and McCoy Tyner (US).
The BJO has built up an established reputation at home and abroad. In Belgium, the orchestra has played on every relevant jazz stage. At the international level, the BJO has been invited to the Netherlands, Luxemburg, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Croatia, Italy, Sweden and the US. It has received laudatory revues in all of these countries.