Philippe Aerts
Born in Brussels on June 21st , 1964, self-taught, Philippe begins his musical career at the age of 15, playing mostly with Dixieland bands.
Very soon, he starts to play more modern Jazz and works with the best musicians of the belgian Jazz scene ( Steve Houben, Charles Loos, Félix Simtaine, Michel Herr, Toots Thielemans, Jacques Pelzer, and many others).
Becoming one of the most “in demand” bassplayers, he also had the chance to play with some of the greatests artists touring in Europe: Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, Larry Schneider, Steve Grossman, Tom Harrell, Lew Tabackin, Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Richie Beirach, Art Lande, Mal Waldron, David Kikoski, Charlie Mariano, and many more.
Philippe has been touring all over Europe, Africa, Asia, and played in most of the major Jazz Festivals (Northsea, Vienne, Porto, Montreal, Dakar, etc.).
He formed his own trio (with John Ruocco and Tony Levin, ) and recorded the CD “Cat Walk” on the Igloo label, wich was really well received by the belgian as well as foreign press. He also worked regularly with Philip Catherine trio and quartet, with Richard Galliano trio, with Serge Lazarevitch Quintet, with Michel Herr-Bert Joris quartet, and with the Lew Tabackin Trio.
He was also teaching the bass at the Jazz department of the Lemmens Institute in Leuven(Belgium), from October 93 until December 97.
In December 1997 he moves to New York City and plays with the Toshiko Akiyoshi / Lew Tabackin Jazz Orchestra, (monday nights at NYC’s Birdland), with the Lew Tabackin Trio, Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio, and is very active within the New York Jazz scene, working with, among others: David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander, John Hicks, Mike LeDonne, Nicholas Payton, Valery Ponomarev, Ralph Lalama, Mike Karn, Ray Gallon, Joel Fram, Hellen Merrill, Tom Harrell, Billy Drummond, Bill Stewart, Lewis Nash.
He has been touring with the Toshiko Akiyoshi / Lew Tabackin Jazz Orchestra in Japan, Korea, and in the US (many festivals, including Monterey Jazz Festival), and also toured in Europe, the US and Japan with the Lew Tabackin trio, and the Toshiko Akiyoshi trio.
Since living in New York,he appears on two recordings with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, one recording with Toshiko Akiyoshi trio, and also a recording with the Richie Vitale / Ralph Lalama quintet.
In March 2000, he moves to Switzerland, Europe.
Since then he has been and still is working all over Europe with, among others, the Philip Catherine trio and quartet, the Bert Joris quartet, the Michel Herr Quintet, with his own group (Bert Joris, John Ruocco, Tony Levin). And within Switzerland with Matthieu Michel, Maurice Magnoni, Malcholm Braff, Pierre-Luc Vallet, François Lindeman, etc.
He is teaching at the Lemmens Instituut, Jazz Department from 2000 to 2003.
In Decemcer 2002, he is nominated Belgian Jazz Musician of the Year and receives the “DJANGO D’OR”.
Philippe Aerts moves back to Belgium in 2003.
He is a regular member of the Philip Catherine trio, Bert Joris Quartet, Richard Galliano trio and quartet, Nathalie Loriers quartet and trio , Ivan Paduart trio and quartet , and plays often with Rick Margitza, Pierre-Luc Vallet trio, Vladimir Cosma, Tineke Postma Quartet, Geri Allen, Terri Lynn Carrington, and works as a freelance with many others.
He appears on many recordings. (See selected discography)
His playing is being appreciated by many jazz greats, because of its precision, the quality of its support, based upon a deep knowledge of jazz and its roots, coupled with a great inventiveness. Constantly seeking for the perfect sound, Philippe Aerts has created a very personal sound.
Starting September 2010 Philippe started teaching at the Maastricht conservatory
