Django d’Or in 2006, winner of the Octaves de la musique award in 2009 and representing Belgium in the European Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2007, Jean-Paul Estiévenart has become a key trumpeter on the Belgian jazz scene.

Over ten years on the road have seen him play with figures such as Enrico Pieranuzzi, Nathalie Loriers, Avishai Cohen, Logan Richardson, Dré Pallemaerts, Joe Lovano, the Brussels jazz Orchestra, Perico Sambeat, etc.

“Behind the Darkness”, his newest release, has a double meaning: it refers to his childhood amongst slag heaps but also the moments of darkness he has met in his life.

He surrounded himself with a solid rhythm section: Antoine Pierre’s drumming grooves and blends perfectly with the trumpet both in terms of timing and energy, while Sam Gerstmans on double bass is raw and essential.

Broken into four scenes (re-birth, homage, darkness/complexity and tradition), “Behind the Darkness” consists of original compositions including three improvised tracks.

The trio offers music that is melodic, rhythmic and rich in images through which the trumpeter further asserts his musical personality.

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