Moker (Flemish for sledgehammer) is a Belgian-Italian jazz collective and it’s musicians are jazzfanatics to the bone. All of them are active in the Belgian-mondial music scene and well recognized for their work. They have a reputation for their energetic and convincing performances with a set of original compositions and improvisations.

Their music roots entirely into jazz, with focusses on free improvisation and songwriting. Moker tries to tell a story through it’s songs, but as in all good stories some roads don’t keep up straight.

This results in a dynamic set, filled with contrasts and moods which merge together or switch over to one another. Offering the listener a ride on their wide musical trip.

Moker was formed in October 2000 by the impulse of Mathias Van de Wiele (guitarist-composer). They aimed to create a group that could function as a laboratory in which the musicians could experiment with own compositions as well as open improvisational structures. This way of seeing things or working together still lives untill today. They consider their research process as an essential part of the game. So not only the final product is important, but also the work in progress.

Being a band for all those years gave Moker the opportunity to develop a unique personal sound. Many listeners in Belgium and abroad (Italy, Holland, Portugal, France) have been enjoying their music and performances. In the true spirit of this band every public appearance is an adventure and a singular event. Don’t expect to hear routineous playing nor predictable structures. The keywords are organic, contrast, construction and deconstruction….

Bart Maris – trumpet
Jordi Grognard – tenor saxophone, clarinets
Mathias Van de Wiele – guitar, composition
Lieven Van Pee – double bass
Giovanni Barcella
– drums

 

Discography

 

Concerts and projects

Festivals:

  • 2014: Hamsessions, Jazzenede
  • 2013: Jazz à Liège (Luik), Jazz in’t park (Gent), Postival (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 (Frankrijk)
  • 2002 : winner ‘Jong jazztalent in Gent’ concours

Tours:

  • 2014: Jazzlab Series + LDH Jazz Tour through out Belgium, November-December 2014
  • 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). www.jazzunlimited.be
  • 2004: Jazzlab series concerttour 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 (2001-2014):

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