The finest in Belgian Jazz since 1993

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KUNSTEN CENTRUM DEWERF

Artists

Kris Defoort

Instrument: 
piano
Ensembles: 
KD's Basement Party
KD's Decade
Kris Defoort Trio

Biography

photo: Alexander Popelier

Pianist Kris Defoort studied ancient music at the Antwerp Conservatoire, among others with Barthold Kuijken, Koen Dieltiens, Jos Van Immerseel and Balderick Deerenberg. He also did jazz at the Liège Conservatoire, among others with Frederic Rzewsky and Garrett List.

From 1987 to 1990 he lived in New York, where he attended master classes with the likes of Fred Hersch, David Berger and Paul Bley and performed with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, with major guest stars such as Dizzy Gillespie. Other members of the  big band included the likes of Jack DeJohnette, Reggie Workman, Tito Puente, Kee Konitz, ...

Back in Belgium he founded various bands such as K.D.'s Basement Party, KD's Decade, Octurn, Dreamtime and Sound Plaza, all of whom have albums out on our label. He has since steeped himself in present-day jazz, inspired by names such as Jim Black, Mark Turner, Hand Bennink, ... as well as the Belgian Aka Moon. 
 
Since 1998 he has been the house composer of Gent present-day music theatre company Het Muziek LOD. His first  opera 'The Woman Who Walked into Doors' is composed between  1991 and 2001, and was commissioned by LOD, RO theater, deSingel and The Monnaie. It was directed by Guy Cassiers and performed 50-odd times across Europe to an enthusiastic press and an equally enthusiastic public.
 
In 2003 he wrote the music for his latest project ConVerSations/ConSerVations, for which he found inspiration in Renaissance music. It was a joint effort between world famous soprano Claron McFadden, the Quatuor Danel and his own Dreamtime ensemble. In 2004 Kris received a Music Award from the Flemish Community. In 2006 and 2007 he was artist in residence at the Brussels Bozar. 
 
In 2007 he was commissioned to write the imposed music piece for the world famous Queen Elizabeth Concours. Between 2007 and 2009 he composes 'The House of the Sleeping Beauties', his second opera and a joint production by LOD, Toneelhuis and The Monnaie Opera. It was again directed by  Guy Cassiers and also toured Europe.
 
Since 2010 he has been gradually gravitating back to his jazz roots and founded the new Kris Defoort Trio, with bass player Nic Thys and young drummer Lander Gyselinck.
 
Releases of W.E.R.F.
Media 
Releases of W.E.R.F.