Really proud to announce that this Friday, October 22nd, we officially start with our label-curated concert series ! With the gracious support of PlusEtage (est.1972) we’ll organise a two-monthly evening of free improvisation and minimalism, following the standards of our label. PlusEtage is a cosy little jazz venue on the border of Baarle Nassau (The Netherlands) and Baarle-Hertog (Belgium) and shares the philosophy we care about so much.

This Friday we proudly present in trio : MARTINA VERHOEVEN (piano), GEORGE HADOW (drums) and PATRICK DE GROOTE (trumpet). Doors : 8pm. Tickets : PlusEtage. Join us.

Important COVID directional : covidsafe pass is required.

Double bass veteran PETER JACQUEMYN and guitarist DIRK SERRIES met for the first time by initiative of the Lokerse Jazzclub (Belgium) in September 2020, between two lockdowns. This concert became a beautiful example of a perfect match in improvisation, both fascinated by the abstract and pushing their instrument to the edge of tonality, from the first notes till the very end fully in sync. RAW TONK RECORDS is releasing this concert in a limited run of 100 copies. Now in pre-order and officially out on October 25th, 2021. Grab here your copy here.

Check out saxophonist MARTIN CLARKE’s INCLUDING MUSIC radioshow. This episode features two pieces from ALAN WILKINSON & DIRK SERRIES’ ‘One In The Eye‘ release.

TOM JACKSON (clarinet), TOM MALMENDIER (snare drum) and DIRK SERRIES (guitar) are playing an intimate and acoustic trio set at Boom Café in Brussels. Entrance is free, kick off at 8pm.

ALAN WILKINSON & DIRK SERRIES’ One In The Eye (2cd) is reviewer’s choice in Belgium’s JAZZ & MO magazine. The album is still available from our store or on bandcamp.

“De keuze van onze recensenten. Wilkinson is een vaste waarde in de Britse avantgarde scene, Serries is een Belgische artiest met een indrukwekkende staat van dienst in de wereld van de industrial en ambient muziek.  De laatste jaren concentreert hij zich meer op jazz en geïmproviseerde muziek.  Deze dubbele cd met vooral Wilkinson in een hoofdrol, brengt een combinatie van studio- en liveopnames waarbij de twee totaal vrij improviseren, soms met elkaar, soms naast elkaar, zonder concreet doel of thema, maar wel met de inspiratie van het moment.  Deze muziek klinkt als een abstract schilderij en illustreert de relatie tussen vrije improvisatie en abstracte kunst.  Boeiend om je te laten meevoeren in de flow, mits de juiste mindset.” Jazz & Mo – Belgium

Right when TOM MALMENDIER and DIRK SERRIES are playing a few shows together again, Ken Waxman of JAZZWORD reviewed their 2020 duo debut ‘VANGUARD’. Available here and here.

“Probing the immensity of percussion textures is Belgian drummer Tom Malmendier, propelling resonances that range from the unexpected to the unforeseen. Cordially stroking parts of a regular kit on Vanguard, he’s paired with another unconventional player Belgian guitarist Dirk Serries. Serries is an accomplished participant in sessions with players as different as Colin Webster and Asmus Tietchems. Throughout this CD he often strikes the strings of his acoustic guitar in a fashion that he could be heard using a resonating National steel guitar favored by 1930s Blues singers. As he slashes and skins his strings Malmendier responds with crunches, ruffs and cymbal buzzes. Except for a few brief sequences when the interaction stabilizes into downy percussion rubs and string stopping, elaboration is based on how efficiently metallic idiophone pressure can challenge and accompany wound string twangs and frails. As the guitarist work up and down his strings on the title track, for instance, drum pops and bangs fill in the background until string slides lead to a spectacular display of bottleneck-like reverb and single-string plucks up against scratches on unyielding percussion objects. Picking up the narrative, the subsequent “Coded Ideal” is both heavier and thinner. Reverberating idiophone buzzing and thumping screeches alongside twangs so thick that notes seem to detach from the guitar. Later both player’ lines shatter into atom-sized noises.” Jazzword – Canada

KODIAN TRIO’s ANDREW LISLE (drums) and DIRK SERRIES (guitar) are playing the SCHEUNE ABRISS festival at Scheune in Dresden (Germany) tomorrow evening. For those in the vicinity, grab your chance to see these two musicians for the first time in duo. Visit the website for all info.