Jef Neve

CAREER

• After Jef Neve graduated “cum laude” in 2001 for piano in both the classical and jazz departments, as well as for chamber music, at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven, he soon made his first jazz albums with the Jef Neve Trio. Since 2006 he signed with the major record label Universal Music and his career took an international turn.
• With the 'Jef Neve Trio' he makes successful tours, from Denmark to Australia, from Canada to Japan.
• The collaboration with Gabriel Rios and Kobe Proesmans resulted in a series of great performances during 2008. Rios again asked Jef Neve to collaborate on compositions for his CD “The Dangerous Return” which was released at the end of 2010.
• In 2009 he toured through Flanders with his first piano concerto, with the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Michel Tabachnik.
• The CD “Face to Face” of the Duo with vibraphonist Pascal Schumacher was released in January 2010 on Enja Records. The duo made a 'Rising Star Tour' along a dozen important European venues. Jef Neve also contributed to Pascal Schumacher's albums.
• Also in 2010 he made the album “For all we know” together with the American singer José James, and the Impulse label was restarted especially for this album. This album took them to just about every major jazz festival worldwide, from Japan, Canada and America, to all of Europe.
• Jef Neve was asked by the National Belgian Radio VRT-Klara to make a weekly jazz program. Between January 2008 and August 2010, the program "Neve" was recorded live and broadcast every Friday night.
• In February 2012, Neve wrote the music for the theater production 'De Tocht van de Olifant' by Stefan Perseval with the actors Sien Eggers and Marc van Eeghem.
• In 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, Jef Neve is the curator of the 'Neve Festival' in the Warande at the cultural center de Warande in Turnhout, where he was given carte blanche to program the whole weekend.
• In 2012 he toured through Flanders with his 2nd piano concerto, accompanied by the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dirk Brossé.
• During the 2014 edition of Leuven Jazz, Jef Neve was still the great trendsetter with a unique occasional combo including Richard Galliano and Dré Pallemaerts. Neve was also present in the 2015 edition.
• Jamie Cullum, England's best-known and most talented jazz artist, invited Jef Neve to play music together at the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam on 24 November 2014.
• Jamie also took the time to interview Jef extensively for his radio show, on which Jef also brought his film crew to interview Jamie for Café Corsari, where he was a guest during the 2014-2015 season.

• 'Piano meets hip-hop': In 2016, 2017 and 2018 Jef already played several concerts with the famous Dutch rapper Typhoon. The Tour with Typhoon and Amsterdam Sinfonietta at the end of 2017 and spring 2018 was a resounding success.
• Spirit Control: this album was presented in 2017, this time with an extensive band. Jens Bouttery on drums, Lennart Heyndels on bass and a string quartet join Jef Neve on stage.

• Jef Neve conducted his own orchestra at Pukkelpop 2018 and played 'The 4 Seasons', adapted by Max Richter at Pukkelpop, the Nevefestival 2018 and ‘Lekker Klassiek’ 2018, of which he was the artistic director.
• Since 2019, Jef has been playing in duo with the famous trumpeter Teus Nobel, in Kenya, Canada, Japan, Czech Republic, Latvia. In 2022 the concerts were a homage to Toots Thielemans with the subtitle 100 years Toots, , which he would have turned 100 years old on 29/04/2022. In February 2023 they were guests in Hungary
• duo concerts with the Dutch top trumpeter Teus Nobel, at home and abroad.
• In recent years, Jef has also focused more and more on composing. In 2021 he wrote 3 piano books: “Start”, “2” and “Play for the 3 different degrees in the music academies. There is also a deluxe edition, “Sharing Life Stories”: a collection of the 3 books, in combination with illustrations by Oswald Cromheecke. All compositions are 2x on Youtube, 1x in the "concert version" played by Jef, 1x in a "tutorial version" where Jef explains the difficulties per song. There is the accompanying solo album on Spotify, Sharing Life Stories.
• In 2022 he again composed 2 piano books: "Reflections in Black and Reflections in White", in addition to the previous 3 books. These new books will be fully presented by Jef in the various music schools in the spring of 23.
• Jef Neve composed the next album “Mysterium”, which was released in August 2020. It was supposed to be released in March 2020, but the lockdown due to the corona pandemic decided otherwise.
• During the 2020 corona year, Jef Neve focused on live streaming from his own studio. He delivered no less than 150 live streamed concerts, first on Facebook, then on his own new subscriber website, www.jefneve-live.com, where people could register per series of 10 concerts. This continued until spring 2021.
• In the summer of 2020 and the summer of 2021 he performed “Ochtendglorenconcerten”, with soprano Hanne Roos, saxophonist Andy Dhondt and a string quintet. Neo-classical and minimalist music performed outdoors at dawn.
• In the autumn and winter of 2021, Jef played several concerts: “Jef Neve plays with you”, in which Jef improvised on stories that the audience provided.
• The “Mysterium tour” was finally kicked off with a headliner concert at Gent Jazz in July 2021, before touring throughout Flanders and the Netherlands from September to the end of December 2022.
• In March 2023: release of the documentary film “Rebound”, the story of Sebastien Bellin, the former basketball player who was seriously injured in the attack on the airport on March 22, 2016.
• April 21, 2023: release of his new album “That Old Feeling” an album on which Jef invites 8 international singers to sing a song with him. The first live shows in large venues are planned for May 2023.

TOUR HISTORY

• The Jef Neve Trio performed with the album 'Soul In A Picture' at festivals in the Netherlands and abroad.

• • In 2008 the trio received great acclaim at Bremen JazzAhead,

in Spain and their first performances in Japan where they also recorded a song with the trumpet player TOKU for the Japanese release of the new CD. Since then, the trio has performed just about everywhere, from tours in Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico to concerts in beautiful venues such as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and most European countries, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Bulgaria, UK, .

• • The concerts of the album 'Imaginary Road' in Belgium and the Netherlands drew full houses. The Trio also presented the album in Canada and Australia with great success, after the first concert in Wangaratta (Australia) the CDs were sold out and a reviewer wrote after their performance: "The guy is unbelievable, as a self-confessed atheist his concert was a religious experience”.
  • Also in Germany, France (Paris), In Japan, in the famous Cotton Club of Tokyo as well as in Osaka.
  • The concert in Brussels with the American singer Jose James in 2008 resulted in a collaboration for an r project “Facing East – the music of John Coltrane' with which they gave four sublime concerts in September 2009 in the AB/Brussels, Paradiso/Amsterdam , Ronnie Scott's/London and New Morning/Paris.The duo toured the USA, Canada and European summer festivals in 2010 with the album “For All We Know”.
  • The release concerts of the album 'Sons of the New World' in 2012 and the tour through the many cultural centers in Flanders in the spring of 2014 ensured that more than 15,000 spectators attended the concerts.
  • Jef Neve also formed a duo with pianist Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort in a 'classical & jazz' project. The duo toured in 2012-13 with the program “If Mozart and Monk were Brothers.
  • In 2013, Jef Neve made successful tours in Thailand, China, South Korea, Japan, Kenya, Australia, Denmark, where he performed successful jazz concerts in many sold-out halls, both solo and with the Jef Neve Trio, as well as with local musicians. Jazz pianist Jef Neve has been active in Japan and China for several years. In June 2013 he made the first contacts at a showcase festival in Ghuangzhou, in October that year he returned and played at various festivals.
  • Japan, Brazil and China were scheduled for 2014.
  • In January 2015, Jef Neve went on tour to Thailand again. Following this, the tour went to Australia where Jef played together with Maria Schneider (with the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra) and presented his solo album ONE in all major cities Down Under. In the same year he was a guest in South America (Chile, Argentina and Brazil), as well as in Canada
  • From October 2014 to spring 2016, most performances were part of Jef Neve's solo album.
  • In February 2016 he was a guest at the Safaricom international Jazz festival in Kenya. Jef shared the stage with Branford Marsalis, among others.
  • In April 2016 there were several concerts in New Zealand, the most important of which was the performance of the music of 'In Vlaamse Velden', in Auckland, with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, in memory of WWI.
  • In May 2016 Jef Neve played his 2nd piano concerto in Bangkok with the Thai Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Delta David Gier. In addition, he had (for the third time) a duo performance with the famous saxophonist Koh Mr. Saxman
  • In November 2016, Jef played in a sold-out Opera in Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), with the Vietnamese star Tuan Manh Tran on saxophone as special guest.
  • In the second part of 2016, concerts followed in Canada, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Rwanda, Uganda.
  • In 2017, the album Spirit Control was presented in Belgium and the Netherlands, also in New Zealand and Australia, France.
  • In 2018, many concerts with the Spirit Control program were played in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Bangkok, Australia, Canada. It was a great success everywhere.
  • In 2019 the tour through Flanders started by Jef with Natalia: “Jef Neve meets Natalia in concert”. All shows were sold out. The show coninued in 2021
  • Since May 2019 there was a concert tour by Jef Neve in duo with the Dutch top trumpeter Teus Nobel, both in Belgium and abroad, such as Canada, Bangkok, Australia). This duo will continue touring in 2023
  • 2021: Mysterium tour through Flanders and the Netherlands
  • 2022: resumption of Mysterium tour in Flanders, foreign tours with Neve-Nobel (Canada, Japan, Estonia/Latvia, Kenya)
  • 2023: Performances with Teus Nobel in Hungary
  • 2023: presentation of the 2 new piano books 'Reflections in Black and Reflections in White' in various music schools in Flanders
  • 2023: release new album That Old Feeling
  • 2023: presentation of the 2 new piano books 'Reflections in Black and Reflections in White' in various music schools in Flanders

ALBUMS

• • The Jef Neve Trio's first album, 'Blue Saga' (Contour, 2003), was an instant bestseller.
  • The second jazz album 'It's Gone' (Contour, Nov 2004) received the prestigious Radio Klara Award for 'Best International Jazz Album 2005' and received unanimous acclaim in the international press.
  • In 2004 the album Witches Dance with the Frédéric Delplanc Quartet was released.
  • Jef Neve signs with Universal Music Belgium in 2006 for the album, 'Nobody is Illegal' (Universal/ Emarcy). It became again the best-selling jazz album in Belgium.
  • The album 'Soul In A Picture' was released in May 2008 through Universal Music Belgium, followed by worldwide release in 24 countries
  • In the band 'Groove Thing', with James Muller on guitar, Nicolas Kummert on sax, Nic Thys on bass and Lieven Venken on drums, Jef Neve Hammond played B3. They performed at Jazz Middelheim '08 with great success, and in April 2009 the live CD 'the Love Album' was recorded at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels.
  • In 2010 he made (on 1 studio day!) the duo album with José James, For all we know. The Impulse label was reopened especially for this album.
  • Het album Jef Neve Soundtracks – De Helaasheid der Dingen - Dagen Zonder Lief (two films by Felix van Groeningen) was recorded at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Ghent and released by EMIMusic Publishing Belgium. (2009)
  • The album 'Imaginary Road' was released in September 2010 (Universal/Emarcy) together with Teun Verbruggen drummer and a great new young bassist: Ruben Samama, of Dutch descent.
  • The album 'Sons of the New World' was written for his trio with 5 horns added. This was released in late October 2012 on Universal. The composition is based “on all recent developments in the Arab world and everything that moves on a global level”.
  • His 'Second Piano Concerto' was recorded in 2013 with Jef Neve himself at the piano, together with the orchestra Il Novecento conducted by Dirk Brossé. This album was released in the spring of 2014.
  • 'In Flanders Fields', the soundtrack of the prestigious TV series 'In Flemish Fields' was released in March 2014.
  • In October 2014, the very first solo album “One” was released worldwide. The album was recorded at Abbey Road studios in London
  • In May 2016 Jef Neve played his 2nd piano concerto in Bangkok with the Thai Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Delta David Gier.
  • In March 2017, the album 'Spirit Control' was presented. In the meantime, 75 Spirit Control concerts have already been performed, at home and abroad.
  • In May 2019, the album “Sharing Life Stories” was released, a solo album consisting of a compilation of the works he wrote for the 3 piano books “Start”, “2” and “Play”.
  • Mysterium was released in August 2020, with a special line-up: a septet and without drums, Jef Neve at the piano, three saxes: Andy Dhondt, Nicolas Kummert, Bruno Van der Haegen, double bass: the Dane Jasper Høiby (Phronesis), bass trombone: Pieter Kindt and trumpet Teus Nobel.
  • April 2023: That Old Feeling. The new album by Jef Neve, with 8 different guest singers, such as Madeleine Peyroux, Sam Sparro, Johnny Manuel, Robin McKelle, Sam Merrick, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Typhoon, Monique Harcum. Jens Bouttery on drums, Nathan Wouters on bass, Teus Nobel on trumpet.

FILM MUSIC

• • Jef Neve composed the music for the film 'Dagen Zonder Lief' by filmmaker Felix Van Groeningen (2007). He was invited to perform a suite of the soundtrack arranged for orchestra and piano at the 2007 World Soundtrack Awards. The film was also chosen for the European Film Awards in Berlin.
  • Jef Neve wrote the music again for Van Groeningen's 'De UHelaasheid der Dingen' ('The Misfortunates'), which premiered in October 2009.
  • Jef Neve also wrote the music for the documentary 'Lost in the Memory Palace' by Klara Van Es (2010), for the theater production 'De Tocht van de Olifant (2012), and others
  • Jef Neve played the piano for the recording of the soundtrack of Michel Havanicius' film “The Artist”, for which composer Ludovic Bource received both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
  • Some of Jef Neve's works can be heard in the soundtrack of the award-winning film “The Broken Circle Breakdown” (2012), by Felix Van Groeningen.I
  • in 2013 he collaborated with Isolde Lasoen on the soundtrack for an animated film 'Rhapsodie en Rose' by Bram Mondy.
  • In 2013, Jef Neve composed the music for the most prestigious fiction series ever made by the VRT, 'In Vlaamse Velden', a series about WW1. The soundtrack was released separately in 2014.
  • In 2015 the film “Carnotstraat 17” was released, the 2nd collaboration with Klara van Es for the soundtrack.
  • In 2016 he wrote the soundtrack for a series for Dutch TV: 'De Maatschap', directed by Michiel van Jaarsveld.
  • Also in 2016 he wrote the soundtrack for the film “Sprakeloos” (after the book by Tom Lanoye), directed by Hilde Van Mieghem,
  • In 2017, Jef composed the music for the film “See Me Doing” by Klara van Es. This film won the top prize at the Docville docu-film festival in Leuven and is now touring the world.
  • In 2022, Jef finished the soundtrack for the docu-films “T(w)o work/weg naar werk”.
  • March 2023: release of the docu-film “Rebound”, the story of Sebastien Bellin, the former basketball player seriously injured in the airport attack on March 22, 2016.

OTHER RECENT COMPOSITIONS

• • Jef composed for De Grote Schijn, a sound and light spectacle in the Rivierenhof, Antwerp, autumn 2018
  • In 2018, he wrote a hymn for the Tramp colonies of Merksplas and Wortel, which are competing to become Unesco World Heritage.
  • In April 2018, the world creation of 'Fantasy for piano solo, violin solo and string orchestra', a work by Jef for and with Lorenzo Gatto, took place in the Basilica of Tongeren as part of the B-Classic Festival of Flanders.
  • He composed and arranged several songs for the tour with the Flemish singer Natalia.
  • He composed a 45-minute work commissioned by Bozar, specifically for the majestic organ in the main hall, accompanied by a piano, string and wind ensemble. Creation was on 16/09/2019
  • For the Bach Festival Dordrecht he wrote a work for string orchestra and accordion (2021).
  • Together with author David Van Reybrouck, he wrote the “Rain Requiem”, the requiem for our planet, for Festival van Vlaanderen. Creation with orchestra, choir and soloists in June 2022.
  • In April 2023: creation of Rebirth of the earth, a composition for Brass-Aux-Saxes fanfare orchestra.
  • For Casco Phil he wrote “Frank Sinatra Concerto”, a piano concerto in the style of and incorporating elements of Frank Sinatra's music. Creation in May 2023.

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Since 2003, Jef Neve has been releasing albums with his trio such as 'Blue Saga' and 'It's Gone'.

• 'Nobody is Illegal' (2006, Universal)

• 'Soul In A Picture' (2008, Universal)

• 'Face to Face' (2010, Enja Records)

• ‘Imaginary Road’ (2010, Universal) and 'For All We Know' (2010, Impulse)

• “Sons of the New World”, (2012, Universal).

• “2nd Piano Concerto” (2013, Universal)

• 'In Flanders Fields', (2014, Universal)

• “One” (2014, Universal)

• “Spirit Control” (2017, Universal)

• “Sharing Life Stories”, the music of “Start, 2, Play” (2019, Blue Keys Productions)

• “Mysterium” (2020, Universal)

• “That Old Feeling” (2023, Universal)

Awards

2004: Klara Prize in the best jazz category for It's Gone

2005: Laureate of the culture prize 2005 Capilla Flamenca

2005: ZAMU Award, for the Jef Neve Trio prize for the best international jazz album of the year.

2006: Prix Choc in France for the album 'Nobody is illegal'

2007: ZAMU Award in the jazz category

2008: Music Industry Award (MIA) MIA 2008 for Best Musician

2009: MIA 2009 for best musician

2010: Edison Award for the album 'For all we know'

2010: MIA 2010 for best author/composer

2012: MIA 2012 for best author/composer

2012: MIA 2012 for best musician

2012: Voted Best Gentenaar in the music category

2016: Jef Neve became an honorary citizen of his hometown of Geel

2016: Jef Neve received the United Humans Award for mutual Respect in May

2017: Jef Neve received Best World Soundtrack Award of a Belgium Production at 'Film Fest Gent' for the film 'Sprakeloos' by Hilde Van Mieghem.

Jef Neve was nominated for several prizes: the ZAMU Awards 2004 and 2005 in the category ‘best artist’; the ‘Cultuurprijzen Vlaanderen 2005’ in the category ‘music’ (next to Tom Barman/DeUs and Capilla Flamenca), and the ‘Octaves de la Musique 2005’. In 2007 he received the ZAMU Award Jazz, and he received the award ‘best musician’ at the Music Industry Awards both in 2009 and 2010.