Moker (Dutch for sledgehammer) is a Belgian-Italian jazz collective.

For over two decades (23y) they have been producing 8 albums (5 official – 3 self-produced), continuously believing music has a unique, powerful social and poetic impact.

Having been a quintet for most of their existence, Moker sized down recently to a core trio, creating a more flexible artistic reality, as well as a fresh sound, open to welcome guest musicians/artists at any suitable occasion, and thus stimulating a creative exchange of musical ideas within local and international scenes.

Regarding their musical identity, the impression of Bandcamp’s jazz reviewer Dave Summer describes beautifully the sound and narrative they tend to create and perform:

“Of all the albums to land on this year’s Best Of list, it’s the 2016 release “Ladder” from the quintet Moker that reflects the wildest personality. That personality, multifaceted and unpredictable, manifests as free improv pieces that send notes scattering like marbles at the epicenter of an earthquake, whimsical post-bop conversations that serve as a precursor to ultra-serious ambient jazz reveries, detours into rustic folk-jazz tranquility, and ominous ballads that speak to the heartbreak hanging over every love story and jazz-rock passages that imitate that same heart shattering into a thousand pieces. And more. So much more. The quintet of guitarist (and alto horn player) Mathias Van de Wiele, multi-reedist Jordi Grognard, trumpeter Bart Maris, bassist Lieven Van Pee, and drummer Giovanni Barcella are now five albums into their Moker collaboration, and this fascinating, fun session shows they’re nowhere close to peaking anytime soon.” (Dave Summer > Best of Bandcamp Jazz 2016 – #14)

Collaborations at European and international level are numerous (see below). The musicians of Moker have individually recorded & performed with among others: Charles Gayle, Marshall Allen, J.J.Avenel, Peter Brötzmann, William Parker, Hamid Drake, Fred van Hove, Doctor John… and a large part of the professional Belgian scene.

 

Bart Maris – trumpet, electronics

Mathias Van de Wiele – guitar, composition 

Giovanni Barcella – drums

 

Discography

  • Ladder (El Negocito Records 051 / Chopstick records – 2016)
  • Overstroomd (W.E.R.F Records 113 – 2013) dewerf.be
  • Moker (El Negocito Records 002 / Chopstick records – 2009) elnegocitorecords.com www.chopstick.be
  • Chopsticks (compilation – Chopstick records 001 – 2007) chopstick.be
  • Konglong (WERF 049, W.E.R.F. / Chopstick records, 2005) chopstick.be www.dewerf.be
  • Lovendegem / Live In Limelight (self-produced – 2003)
  • The Cellar (self-produced – 2003)
  • Naptime (BJJR 003, Bluejackjazz records, 2002) bluejackjazz.com
  • Stagefright (self-produced – 2000)

Concerts and projects

Festivals:

  • 2020-‘23: Citadelic Festival (Gent), RaRa Jazz (Assenede)
  • 2013: Jazz à Liège (Luik), Jazz in’t park (Gent), Postival (Grote Post, Oostende)
  • 2012: Jazz à Jette (Brussel)
  • 2010: Redlightblue festival (Gent)
  • 2009: Jazz sur l’herbe festival (Gent)
  • 2008: Clusone Jazz festival (Italy), Zomer Jazz Fietstour (Groningen), Jazz sur l’herbe (Gent), Jazz in’t park (Gent), Brr…ugge festival (Brugge)
  • 2007: Flemish jazzmeeting, De Nacht (Brugge)
  • 2005: Blue note festival (Gent) (Line-up 15/07/2005: Moker, Don Byron, John Scoffield, Dave Holland), Jazzenede (Assenede), Theater aan zee (Oostende), De donderdagen # 6 (De Singel, Antwerpen)
  • 2004: Paulusfeesten (Oostende), Jazz in ’t park (Gent)
  • 2002: Time Festival (Gent), Vooruit geluid (Gent)
  • 2001: Jazz and sounds festival (Bijloke, Gent)

Concours:

  • 2007: official finalist international jazzconcours Tremplin d’Avignon (France)
  • 2002 : winner ‘Jong jazztalent in Gent’ concours

Tours:

  • 2014: Jazzlab Series concert tour #2: De Casino, cc Nova, Handelsbeurs, Kaap…
  • 2006: Casino (Luxemburg); Moker was selected by French organisors to participate in the first edition of ‘Jazz liaisons’ , an international jazz exchange project (Flanders-France). The initiative was taken by ‘Jazzlab series’ a Flemish jazzpromoting organisation and concerts took place in May (Lille, Dunqerque and Arras). jazzunlimited.be
  • 2004: Jazzlab series concerttour #1 passing Flemish concerthalls: Limelight (Kortrijk), De Vieze gasten (Ghent), cc ’t Poorthuis (Bilzen), Rataplan (Antwerp), De Werf (Bruges), De Spiegel (St-Niklaas)
  • 2002: Concert tour in Portugal (Porto, Guimarães) playing nine concerts in local jazzclubs and art centres.

Concerts (2001-2023):

Hot Club Gent, Jazz Station, Lokerse Jazzklub, Misterioso, Recyclart (Brussel), Axes Jazzpower (Eindhoven), Kultuurkaffee (Brussel), Vooruit (Gent), Paradox (Tilburg), Jazz Case (Neerpelt), Beursschouwburg, De Singel, De Werf, Limelight, De Hopper, De Kreun, Mineral jazzclub, S.M.A.K., Limelight, El Negocito, Theatre Marni, cc Nova, cc De spil, Fanclub, Charlatan, Manteca,……