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Antoine Pierre

Brussels-based drummer and composer Antoine Pierre (1992) has become a key figure on the Belgian jazz scene. Leader of the bands Urbex and Next.Ape but also a pro-active sideman, he is a part of various important bands on the international scene -a.o. with eminent guitarist Philip Catherine or with « TaxiWars », the jazz vs. rock experiment led by Tom Barman and Robin Verheyen.

Back from New York in 2015 where he studied for a year after graduating from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Pierre receives the Sabam Jazz Award Young Talent. Later that year, he goes into the studio to record his first album as a leader, URBEX. Released in 2016, the band tours for two years in Belgium and around then goes back into studio to record their second album, 'Sketches Of Nowhere' (2018, Igloo Records).

Critically acclaimed (Choc Jazzman, Indispensable Jazz News, Must TSF, Octave de la Musique 2019, …), they embark on their first international tour with different line-ups and guests such as Ben Van Gelder, Reinier Baas or Magic Malik.

Another side of Pierre’s multiple-sided artistic personality is shown by the creation of his trip- hop/alternative/electric band Next.Ape in which he joins forces with Hungarian singer Veronika Harcsa, guitarist Lorenzo Di Maio and keyboardist Jérôme Klein. In February 2019, they release their first EP and tour internationally -sometimes with American saxophonist Ben Wendel as special guest. Throughout 2019 and 2020, they regularly go in the studio to prepare their first album to come out by Fall 2021.

In January 2020, Pierre is the artist-in-residence at the Brussels Jazz Festival (Flagey) for which he’s commissioned to present 3 different projects: an all-star quartet featuring American saxophonist Joshua Redman, a completely improvised set with fellow drummers Lander Gyselinck and Mark Schilders and an internationally-enlarged version of his band Urbex. The latter was recorded and gave birth to their upcoming album, 'Suspended', to be released in April 2020 (Outnote Records).

Throughout the years and various projects that covered several albums, he fine-tuned his approach and style. This led to him to stand out clearly and be welcomed by the finest players. Pierre is a pro-active sideman (Jean-Paul Estiévenart Quintet, Veronika Harcsa Quartet, TaxiWars,…) who already played with various musicians such as Philip Catherine, Joshua Redman, Enrico Pieranunzi, Ben Wendel, Logan Richardson, Jacky Terrasson, Didier Lockwood,…

Awards

B-Jazz Contest 2017, best composition ("Vertigo Of The Fish") Sabam Jeunesses Musicales Jazz Award 2015 Toots Thielemans Jazz Award 2014 Brussels Jazz Marathon 2010, best soloist Comblain Jazz Festival 2009, best soloist and best young talent band


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Radio & Podcasts

Live Music From John McLaughlin, Antoine Pierre Urbex Electric And Petite Blonde

Read "Live Music From John McLaughlin, Antoine Pierre Urbex Electric And Petite Blonde" reviewed by Len Davis


Live music from around the world with John McLaughlin from Boston, Saraswati at Montreaux, Antoine Pierre-Urbex Electric in Belgium and Bill Evans and the late Victor Bailey in Germany. Plus Asaf Sirkis from Solar Flash and from 1976 and 1978 the late Barbara Thompson. Also, Trevor Watts from Another Time. Playlist John McLaughlin “You Know You Know" from The Boston Record (Abstract Logix) :00:00 Saraswati “Saraswati" from Saraswati at Montreaux (Self Produced) 07:52 Antoine Pierre “Steam" from Suspended-Live ...

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Album Review

Antoine Pierre: Suspended (Live at Flagey)

Read "Suspended (Live at Flagey)" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Although the Belgian music scene is rich and varied, it is much neglected outside its national borders, as evidenced by the case of Aka Moon, an extraordinary trio that has celebrated 25 years of activity, but is still practically ignored by the foreign media. Let's hope the same does not happen with this new young talent, the drummer Antoine Pierre, and his group Urbex, already among the main protagonists of the 2020 edition of the Brussels Jazz Festival.

Album Review

Antoine Pierre URBEX ELECTRIC: Suspended (Live at Flagey)

Read "Suspended (Live at Flagey)" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Nonostante la scena musicale belga sia sempre eccezionalmente ricca e variegata, è ancora troppo colpevolmente trascurata al di fuori dei suoi confini nazionali, come dimostra il caso degli Aka Moon, uno straordinario trio che ha recentemente festeggiato i 25 anni di attività, ma è tuttora praticamente ignorato dai media stranieri. Speriamo non succeda lo stesso con questo nuovo giovane talento, il batterista Antoine Pierre, e il suo gruppo URBEX, già tra i principali protagonisti dell'ultima edizione del Festival Jazz di ...

Live Review

Due serate al Brussels Jazz Festival 2020

Read "Due serate al Brussels Jazz Festival 2020" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


The Best of Belgian Jazz 19|20 Flagey Bruxelles 15-16.1.2020 Giunto alla sua sesta edizione, il festival jazz di Bruxelles è diventato in breve tempo un importante punto di riferimento per l'attivissima scena musicale belga, grazie a un programma che dà molto spazio ai giovani musicisti locali, pur senza rinunciare a qualche importante nome straniero. Approfittando della nostra temporanea presenza nella capitale belga, abbiamo assistito a un paio delle serate del festival, di cui riferiamo. ...

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"Massive Attack or Mark Guiliana Beat Music? No: Next.Ape. Everything Antoine Pierre touches turns to gold. Next.Ape proves it again. All five tracks are killing." LE MAD

"Son nouvel album est plus qu’une simple réplique du premier séisme. Le genre de disque qui fait éteindre la lumière et mettre en pause toute autre activité que l’écoute." JazzMagazine – Frank Bergerot

“Like nightcrawlers we stumble from one atmosphere into the next, the whole album through.(...) It makes 'Sketches of Nowhere' a fascinating addition to the fast expanding catalogue of Belgium’s new wave of jazz

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Toine Thys
saxophone, tenor

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Orlando

Hypnote Records
2020

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Suspended (Live at...

OutNote Records
2020

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Sketches Of Nowhere

Igloo Records
2019

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Urbex - Urbex

Igloo Records
2016

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Grizzly

Igloo Records
2015

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The End of Certainty

Bartok Records
2006

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Videos

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