Toots Thielemans Jazz Award @ Bozar | 14th edition

Laureates Gaspard Sicx (drums) and Yuxiang Zhang (guitar) immersed as many as 250 spectators in their jazz music during their concert on the 14th edition of the Toots Thielemans Jazz Award (TTJA). Their set of seven compositions was created together with coach and excellent jazz pianist Harmen Fraanje. CrB student Jim Monneau completed the quartet with double bass. The set was a combination of songs written by Yuxiang, Gaspard and Harmen that they each adopted to be played by guitar, piano, double bass and drums. All of this in the beautiful concerthall of Bozar with a reception afterwards. A TTJA edition that will resonate with spectators for a long time to come.

Want to feel the atmosphere of that night? Watch the aftermovie next to this text.

Yuxiang Zhang

Guitarist and composer from China, studied at our conservatoire with Peter Hertmans and Diederik Wissels. He is currently working as an artist in Brussels, and he’s been playing in different projects such as “Mojo Jojo”, “Francis”, a duet with drummer Victor Khaddaj; “Standard Deviation”, a duet with drummer Umberto Odone; and his own project “Yuxiang Zhang Quartet” which is preparing for their first album.

Gaspard Sicx

Born in Brussels, Gaspard played during and after his studies at KCB with musicians such as Lynn Cassiers, Jordi Grognard, Quentin Stokart, Benjamin Sauzereau and many more. He is now leading various project such as the Gaspard Sicx quintet, Super Gum and his trio which just released their first album ‘‘There Is No Time’’. Finally, Sicx also plays as a sideman in bands like Fievel Is Glauque, Joseph Nowell Trio, Jordi Grognard Trio, etc. 

Coach Harmen Fraanje

Harmen Fraanje is a pianist & composer from the Netherlands. He has several projects, such as his solo project, trio Reijseger Fraanje Sylla, a duo with Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen, etc. Harmen has collaborated with Ambrose Akinmusire, Mark Turner, Kenny Wheeler, Arve Henriksen, Thomas Morgan, Tony Malaby,...

Download the programme booklet to read the entire biographies of the musicians.

What's the purpose of this award?

The Toots Thielemans Jazz Award is an initiative of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel and is awarded to the most deserving students in the jazz department. The conservatoire donates a cash prize to the winners and offers them a concert. In this way, our institution aims to encourage young jazz talent to give their best to lay the foundations for a later career. It is the late Toots Thielemans who personally linked his name to this award.