"Would you fancy doing something with a poem of mine? Recitation or singing, or both, for experimentation ... You in Dutch with a poem of mine, I think that could provide sparks!" It started with a timid Instagram message, but meanwhile Alex Deforce and Charlotte Jacobs share an endless email stream.

The two had known each other for some time. Deforce once even created two paintings for the ep and single covers of Jacobs' musical project 'SEIREN'. She moved to Brooklyn a little later, he devoted more and more time to poetry. Still - and fortunately - their paths crossed again. Their collaboration is a story of firsts, what-ifs and how-abouts. For a long time, they exchanged emails full of poems and inspirations. These would eventually culminate in a series of improvised live performances.

After one meagre rehearsal in Deforce's painting studio, the duo debuted on the low-key free stage 'The Talking Donkeys' in Brussels. There, they felt it tasted like more. A few months later, Deforce and Jacobs presented their first single at Jazz Middelheim: 'She' was released on 7-inch vinyl by Brussels-based Lexi Disques. They streamed their way through the pandemic and are currently working on a full-fledged live set. Jacobs handles the music production, Deforce the poetry.

In April 2023, after a multi-day residency, they presented new work at the AB Salon. And now, a debut album 'Kwart Voor Straks' is out on the acclaimed Belgian Stroom, which they have come to premiere at the AB Club.

Photo credit: Mayli Sterkendries

Support for this evening are:

Suzan Peeters is an accordion player, experimenter and improvisational musician from Brussels. She is always searching for new timbres and sounds with her accordion. Peeters

experiments with the acoustic constraints of her instrument. She pumps the bellows so extensively that, when you close your eyes, it seems like she’s playing a synthesizer. Through blending with electronica, the boundary between acoustic and electronic is entirely blurred. Peeters writes her own work, likes to improvise freely on it, and also plays contemporary, classical music.

Hanne De Backer has been topping the Belgian improv scene in recent years. Her first creative steps were taken as theatre-maker at KVS, later she focused more on her sax and music. She plays in her band g a b b r o and is also a part of Mudskipper and Condor

Gruppe, and she regularly performs with other improvisational artists like The Ex, Paal Nilssen-Love and Ken Vandermark. Her live sets are always very intense experiences and brimming with energy.

Cor Gout is a Dutch scholar, philosopher, writer, singer and programme maker for

radio and television. In the ‘80s, he wrote for the pop mag Vinyl and subsequently

created the magazines Trespassers W (also the name of his band) and Mondain Den

Haag, both expressions of underground culture. Aside from quite a few

publications, including novellas, poetry and theatre pieces, Gout also worked with

the legendary industrial techno band Unit Moebius, amongst others.

© Cristina Vergara