Jef Neve Invites (Leuven Jazz Festival)

Jef Neve

 For the second year now, we're lucky enough to have a proper jazz festival right here in town, and as soon as I heard what the opening concert was going to be this year, I got online and bought three tickets (second row and right in the middle).  I'm glad I was quick about it, as the entire theater was filled to the rafters for the incredible and amazingly talented Jef Neve and the four artists he had invited for the evening.


My two oldest boys came with me.  I had seen Jef perform here in Leuven three other times and my middle son had been with me for one of them, and he was excited to see him again.  My oldest had never been, and I was excited for him.  Jef is not only an incredibly talented pianist and composer but quite simply a wonderful entertainer.  I love the
rapport he creates with the audience, his tapping feet, joyous smile and twinkling eyes that show how much he enjoys what he is doing.  Seeing him perform always makes me happy.


As it turns out, it was a new experience for all of us, because of the other musicians Jef chose to play with him: bassist Ruben Samama from the Netherlands (who also plays bass in his trio), saxophonist Mr Saxman Koh from Thailand, accordeonist Richard Galliano from France, and percussionist Dre Pallemaerts from Belgium.

Mr. "Saxman" Koh

The concert started with each artist performing a solo, and then ended with the five performing pieces composed by Jef, Galliano and Koh as an ensemble.  It was fun to see them get in the groove together - they were all obviously having a great time, and it was a very special night for Koh: his first ever performance in Belgium, with the Ambassador of Thailand in attendance.

Ruben Samama

Of all the solo pieces I was blown away by the performance by Ruben Samama.  With his bass, some small percussion instruments, his voice and a sampler recorder, he created an otherworldly and completely mesmerizing atmosphere.  I can't really describe it but I loved it.



I found this video where he explains a piece he wrote for the Jef Neve Trio and it kind of gives a feel for what I mean about his solo; the whole idea of being blown away by what is happening with the music in the moment.  That is exactly how it felt.  Wow.