Off The Record
Brussels Jazz Weekend proudly presents: Off The Record! In this online video series, jazz aficionado Frederik Goossens highlights 12 must-listen jazz records. Always passionately presented and accompanied by the best stories, Off The Record is there for any music enthusiast, and not just the die-hard jazz fanatic.
#offtherecord   4 september 2020
Episode 12 | Ella Fitzgerald sings the George & Ira Gershwin Songbook
We're closing off our first season with the First Lady of Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald. Frederik is going big, with a boxset that holds no less than six records, amazing artwork and a book. As enthusiastically as ever, he talks about Ella's delightful voice. A must-watch episode, or better: a must-listen. Enjoy! And thank you for sticking with us these past 14 weeks.
#offtherecord   28 August 2020
Episode 11 | John Coltrane Quartet - Crescent
About time we featured John Coltrane! Frederik talks about one of his lesser known records: 'Crescent'. And if you ask him, this is the kind of music that should only be listened to on vinyl. A blanket for the soul, especially during a global pandemic. Enjoy Coltrane & co, as he gladly shares the stage with the other three musicians (McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison & Elvin Jones) that are a part of this soothing LP.
#offtherecord   21 August 2020
Episode 10 | Duke Ellington - The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
Age is but a number. Duke Ellington definitely proves this with 'The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse', which he recorded at the age of 72 in 1971. By then, he'd had traveled the globe as a renowned band leader. In this album, he tries to fuse all of these influences into his own Western jazz music. Check it out!
#offtherecord   31 July 2020
Episode 9 | Chet Baker - Chet's Choice
Today, Frederik's choice is Chet's Choice. A marvellous album, with a star role for two of Belgium's finest: Philip Catherine & Jean-Louis Rassinfosse. "A continuous stream of pure poetry", as is written down in the liner notes. Or, if you ask Frederik: "the best of the Belgian jazz scene paired with the lyrical, eternally seductive trumpet of Chet Baker." Enjoy!
#offtherecord   24 July 2020
Episode 8 | Jazz at Massey Hall
"The greatest jazz concert ever", that's how jazz lovers around the globe refer to the bebop-filled performance of this super group. It's one of the last recordings where legends Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie play together. As popular as the concert is now, when it was actually played live, it had some fierce competition by a boxing match happening at exactly the same time. Curious why Frederik also talks about a white plastic saxophone and salt peanuts? Watch now!
#offtherecord   17 July 2020
Episode 7 | The Modern Jazz Quartet - Under the Jasmin Tree
What do The Beatles and The Modern Jazz Quartet have in common? Well, a record label! Discover why the "MJQ" was the odd piece of the puzzle and how 'Apple Records' came to exist. A story of tailored suits, cocktail dresses and lava lamps: enjoy our seventh episode!
#offtherecord   10 July 2020
Episode 6 | Jack Sels - Sax Appeal
The sexy sax of Jack Sels & Swinging Friends. That sort of sums up what this modern jazz record is all about. That, and the colorful cover, of course. For episode 6, we're staying in Belgium with Antwerp dockworker Jack Sels & a very young Philip Catherine.
#offtherecord   3 July 2020
Episode 5 | Louis Armstrong - Satchmo plays King Oliver
As if we could make a jazzy video series without including Louis Armstrong at least once! On 'Satchmo plays King Oliver', Armstrong shows everyone that traditional, New Orleans jazz was still alive and kicking in 1959, when free jazz and modal jazz were becoming all the rage. Check it out!
#offtherecord   29 June 2020
Episode 4 | Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
You have definitely already heard the infectuous tune of 'Take Five' at least once in your life. Frederik felt it was high time to talk about the brains behind this jazz classic: Dave Brubeck. Discover everything about odd beats and measures in our fourth episode!
#offtherecord   19 June 2020
Episode 3 | Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
This time Frederik takes us to Paris, together with jazz legend Miles Davis. It was there he arranged the soundtrack for 'Ascenseur pour l'échafaud', a French movie starring Jeanne Moreau. Safe to say the music was better than the film - and it marked the beginning of modal jazz.
#offtherecord   12 June 2020
Episode 2 | Art Pepper meets The Rhythm Section
In this episode, Frederik talks about saxophonist Art Pepper and an unexpected day in the studio with jazz band The Rhythm Section. Art's horn had been stashed away in his closet for 6 months, since he was having another one of his 'druggy spells'. How it worked out? Better start listening!
#offtherecord   5 June 2020
Episode 1 | Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
In this episode, Frederik talks about Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, also known as the Bill Evans Trio. Let him take you with him to a Sunday at the Village Vanguard, where this amazing live album was recorded.