Charles Loos
Charles Loos was born in Brussels in 1951.
After formal training, he left, in 1972, to study jazz composition and orchestration
at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Back in Europe, he accompanied numerous soloists: Toots Thielemans, Chet Baker, Philip
Catherine, Johnny Griffin, Maurane etc... He also took part in more experimental
groups such as "Abraxis" and "Julverne" and founded and
recorded two albums with the Loos-Lazarevitch International Quintet (with Serge Lazarevitch,
Riccardo Del Fra, John Ruocco).
Loos particuarly likes playing intimate solo gigs and recording alone:
Solos include:
"Egotriste" & "Tout Seul"
Duos include:
"Comptines" with Steve Houben
"Summer Winds" with Jean-Pierre catoul (release Sept. '97)
Trios include:
"HLM" with Steve Houben and Maurane,(Igloo)
"Vagabondages" with Steve Houben and Ali Ryerson (Igloo)
"Unknown Mallow" with André Donni (Ph. Aerts - b, Rick Hollander (Igloo)
"Lust for Jazz" with Bas Cooymans and Dré Pallemaerts, Lyrae (June '97)
He usually plays his own compositions, inspired by serious music, folklore as
well as jazz of yesterday and today.
These various styles have taken him around the world.
In December 1966, together with bassist Philippe Aerts and drummer Félix Simtaine,
they joined an official delegation to China, where during one week
they played in Shanghai, representing Belgian jazz.
Teaching and writing for theatre ("Les poètes du jazz", "Antigone",
"Salut Lenny") and ballet ("No Wall No War", California 1991,
available on the B Sharp label) fill his time.
He received the "Sax Prize" for the best concert of the year 1988
The "Prize for the Jazz Rallye's more creative concert "in 1990.
"On his live recording the trio plays exclusively original compositions
mainly by Charles Loos but also by Diedrick Wissels or by Pascal Chardome.
Charles Loos can only be described as poetical inspiration made sound...He
acts as a painter, enamoured tonalities, aware of their magical power.
The compositions may be due to Wissels, Chardome or Loos, but they have in
common a certain bareness, an inexpressible purity... F. Simtaine and P.
Aerts are more than accompanists, they are inspired accomplices."
Discography on Quetzal:
"Summer Winds" (1997) with Jean Pierre Catoul (Quetzal 106)