Ben Sluijs Quartet

Show also: Ben Sluijs Quartet, Ben Sluijs

Category:groep / artiest
2003
Genre(s):Jazz, free & experimental jazz
Actual/previous members:Jeroen Van Herzeele, Manolo Cabras, Marek Patrman, Ben Sluijs

Biography

For more than eight years, alto saxophonist Ben Sluijs (°1967) led one of the most brilliant jazz quartets in Belgium, alongside pianist Erik Vermeulen, bassist Piet Verbist and drummer Eric Thielemans. In 2002, they appeared on the CD-box set ‘The Finest in Belgian Jazz’, which presented the crème de la crème of the Belgian jazz scene. Then, suddenly, it was over. After recording four CD's Sluijs disbanded the group: playing with his band mates had become too familiar and comfortable.

In April 2003 he created a new quartet with a fairly unconventional line-up. No more piano, but a pas de deux for alto and tenor saxophone following the example of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh or Ornette Coleman and Dewey Redman. Sluijs discovered his alter ego in the tenor Jeroen Van Herzeele, who counters his introverted alto with a testosterone-laden tenor. Their compositions are equally challenging, full of teasing blows, question-and-answer games and winding counterpoints. This twosome finds a perfect basis in the subtle rhythm section provided by Marek Patrman (Czech Republic) and Manolo Cabras (Sardinia). Their debut-CD, ‘True Nature’, received a warm-hearted welcome and ‘Somewhere in Between’ (2006), a sultry live-CD, demonstrated how they had matured into an unyielding group. Since 2007, the quartet has been touring with Erik Vermeulen with their newest venture, ‘The Unplayables’, and the eminent brotherhood of Sluijs-Vermeulen is experiencing a second coming.

(c) Bart Cornand for Flanders Music Centre

  • Ben Sluijs: altsax
  • Jeroen Van Herzeele (BE): tenorsax
  • Manolo Cabras (IT): double bass
  • Marek Patrman (CZ): drums

 

Selective discography

ParticlesParticles (2018)
Jazz
Ben Sluijs Quartet
Somewhere in between / LiveSomewhere in between / Live (2006)
Jazz
Ben Sluijs Quartet
True natureTrue nature (2005)
Jazz
Ben Sluijs Quartet
Flying circlesFlying circles (2002)
Jazz
Ben Sluijs Quartet
Vierkant Muziek - 2002Vierkant Muziek - 2002 (2002)
Jazz, classical
Beethoven Academie, Pianoduo Kolacny, LOD, BL!NDMAN Collective, Prometheus Ensemble, Ben Sluijs Quartet, Erik Vermeulen Trio, Collegium Vocale Gent (...)
Food for freeFood for free (1997)
Jazz
Ben Sluijs Quartet
Till next timeTill next time (1991)
Jazz
Ben Sluijs Quartet

Op compilaties van Muziekcentrum Vlaanderen

Jazztublieft! / Vol. 2Jazztublieft! / Vol. 2 (2007)
Jazz
Diverse uitvoerders
Jazztublieft!Jazztublieft! (2005)
Jazz
Diverse uitvoerders
The finest in Belgian JazzThe finest in Belgian Jazz (2002)
Jazz
Diverse uitvoerders