Jazz Brugge Friday

In this jubilee edition of Jazz Brugge, we once again explore the world under the banner Crossing Cultures and let ourselves be inspired and amazed by a wide variety of artists from its every corner. In past editions we have been proud to welcome now illustrious names such as Jamie Branch, Jakob Bro and James Brandon Lewis to our stage at a very early stage in their career. In this edition, we will again be treated to musical discoveries from home and abroad.

19h30 Désir & Fiorini

Belgian-Italian pianist Fabian Fiorini defies easy categorization. His inspirations range from classical and contemporary jazz to sound exploration. In jazz circles, he is especially known for his work with the avant-garde ensemble Mâäk and is also a welcome guest with Aka Moon. Haitian singer Renette Désir was very recently forced to leave her homeland as a political refugee. In her music, she sings about this forced displacement using socially engaged and often militant Haitian poetry, written in Creole, with some poems dating back 500 years. Her distinctive voice evokes both classic American jazz singers and Cathy Berberian. Together, the duo presents an adventurous mix of roots and forward-thinking music.

20h30 Somi

Somi Kakoma — Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, playwright, and Broadway actress, simply known as Somi in the jazz world — was born in Illinois to parents who emigrated from Rwanda and Uganda. She found her musical identity bridging African and American cultures. Under the careful guidance and mentorship of the legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela, Somi has forged her own path as an artist, scholar, and activist. After a whirlwind period of new creative heights in the theater world, her upcoming album marks a long-awaited return to her roots as a singer-songwriter. The album was written and partially recorded in Lagos, Dakar, Paris, and New York. The result is an Afropolitan musical travelogue weaving deeply personal stories with modern jazz and African grooves.

22:00 Peter Somuah Group

Peter Somuah grew up in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Music was instilled in him from a young age, and it quickly became clear his life would take a musical direction. As a self-taught trumpeter and composer, he learned by endlessly listening to heroes like Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Hargrove. At fourteen, he played in a marching band performing highlife and afrobeat, two typical Ghanaian music styles. After tours through China and Europe, he settled in Rotterdam and began studies at the Rotterdam Conservatory. In 2021, he received the Erasmus Jazz Award in the Netherlands for young jazz talent, followed by the Edison Jazz Award in 2022 for his debut album Outer Space. On his second and most recent album Highlife — released on the prominent German jazz label ACT — he pays tribute to the music of his homeland and returns to his roots. Virtuosity fused with deep groove — this music demands a physical response.

23:15 Kunde

Kunde — aka Joram Kunde Boumkwo — is a Belgian-Cameroonian rapper, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who blends hip-hop with elements of contemporary jazz, P-funk, and afrobeat. Surrounded by the Pan-African polyrhythmic music of his father and his own collection of ’90s hip-hop, he developed a passion for beatboxing and beatmaking as a ten-year-old. Later, the Ghent-based artist expanded his skills to pianist, vocalist, and bassist. Entirely self-taught, he created a unique sound reminiscent of artists such as Anderson .Paak, Patrice Rushen, Quincy Jones, Fela Kuti, and Kendrick Lamar. His debut album Dandelion was released last year by W.E.R.F. records. In this concept album, he uses storytelling, rap, spoken word, and field recordings from his experiences in Cameroon to explore the complexity of his Afro-Belgian identity, intergenerational trauma, toxic masculinity, and neocolonialism. Recently, he expanded his solo project into a sizzling live band experience, with which he will also perform at Jazz Brugge: Léa Kadian (bass), Creo Cristoria (saxophone), Jérôme Pringiers (keys), and Simon Derover (drums). His energetic concerts leave no one unmoved!