Celebrating 50 years of Belgian Jazz: Les Lundis d’Hortense

From September 30th to October 4th, Les Lundis d’Hortense celebrate 50 years of Belgian Jazz. The event began as a handful of jazz musicians who wanted their music to be heard and recognized, but evolved into half a century of collaborative work to elevate Belgian jazz to its rightful place.

It all started with Charles Loos, Michel Herr, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, Paolo Radoni, and a few other young musicians. A self-driven initiative, a desire to create a movement, a counter-current. Initially, different styles coexisted, then, little by little, jazz became the main topic of conversation at Hortense’s villa in Hoeilaart. The collective’s history quickly took shape. Undoubtedly, joining forces was the only way to achieve their common goal: to establish jazz within the Belgian musical landscape.

This collective anniversary is the culmination of what Les Lundis d’Hortense has been doing for 50 years: highlighting the people who make Belgian jazz what it is. On the one hand, Les Lundis d’Hortense wanted to capture this half-century of musical adventures in print. With the help of several journalists (Jean-Pol Schroeder, Jean-Pierre Goffin, Jacques Prouvost) and the coordination of a dedicated administrator (Eve Beuvens), the association embarked on writing an anniversary book, to be published in September, which will include testimonials from various members of Les Lundis d’Hortense, their reflections on these 50 years together, and their vision for the future.

On the other hand, the association wanted to organize a large musical festival. A celebration that would be, above all, a human one, because the history of Les Lundis d’Hortense has been written by many: “by and for the musicians.” An event that would honor the artists, and by extension celebrate those who contribute every day to the project’s success: the venues, their teams, the volunteers, the members of the association, and of course, the public.

The heart of the event will take place from September 30 to October 4 in Brussels, and will be followed by a series of double concerts this autumn and winter in Lasne, Namur, Hamme-Mille and an unprecedented collaboration with the Forum de la Création Musicale as part of the Belgian Music Days.

The festival will, of course, showcase key artists and continue to blend people and genres through a series of musical carte blanche performances. The events will take place in five iconic Brussels venues that contribute daily to the development of Belgian jazz: Jazz Station, Flagey, Toots Jazz Club, Le Senghor, and Le Marni. In an effort to explore less conventional spaces, a concert featuring organ music will be held at the Notre-Dame aux Riches-Claires Church.

The program will bring together friends and fellow travelers on stage. A musical reunion that should delight the loyal audience. But this unique program will also blend ages, styles, and genres, in order to open the experience to a wider audience and reach beyond the confines of jazz aficionados. Through unique concerts, carte blanche performances, jam sessions, and a film screening, the aim will be to explore Belgian jazz in all its forms, in all its formats, from every angle.

This celebration shines a spotlight on the ongoing outreach and promotion work of Hortense’s Mondays. It provides an opportunity to promote its weekly concerts in Brussels, its tours in Wallonia, its participation in major music events and festivals, and its annual residential workshop.

Program and tickets: www.leslundisdhortense.be/50-ans