Briskey is the musical child of Gert Keunen. With the new album ..before_during_after.. Briskey has headed into a new direction: darker, slower and an even higher soundtrack-factor; but at the same time it sounds stimulating, pulsing and dynamic. Cinematic postjazz.
..Cucumber Lodge.. (2003)..Scarlett Road-house.. (2006) showcased the unique synthesis of jazz and electronica, live instrumentation and samples and garnered a lot of attention from the press. Several tracks from these albums were licensed for use on compilations in the Netherlands, Germany, France (on the bestseller ..Saint Germain Des Prés Café ..
The Briskey live-band is formed with experienced players like Bart Maris (trumpet, Flat Earth Society), Nicolas Roseeuw (sax, Dolfijntjes), Isolde Lasoen (drums, Daan), Tim Vandenbergh (double bass, Sukilove), Sara Gillis (keys, Motek) and Dorona Alberti (vocals, Gare Du Nord). They bring the music to life and add a strong new dimension as well as a vibrant jazz-feel to the music. The Briskey live-band played a number of important clubs and prestigious festivals in Belgium (Ancienne Belgique, Vooruit, Blue Note Festival), the Nederlands (North Sea Jazz), Italy (Arezzo Wave, RomaEuropa Festival) and France (Jazz Sous Les Pommiers). In 2007, a Japanese label (Rambling Records) even decides to put out their own briskey compilation.
By forming the Briskey Big Band in 2007 the music received its perfect interpretation. Gert Keunen arranged old and new briskey-tracks for a 15-headed big-band and saw his dream become reality. The Briskey Big Band (see ..Live At The Ancienne Belgique.., 2008) had nothing to do with the old big-bands but instead became a solid, contemporary big-band that had fire, strong rhythms and wild horns as its focal point. Not only is the Briskey Big Band the ultimate briskey live experience but it is also a separate project that will continue to let itself be heard in the future.
This big band enables the ‘regular’ briskey to explore new grounds. ..Before_during_after.. showcases a different sonic palette: more atmospheric and instrumental, filmic and especially: less ambiguous. ..before_during_after.. sounds like a soundtrack to a film that has yet to be released. You can instantly imagine its dark alleys, nightly scenes, abandoned cities and dilapidated factories. At the same time the music suggests melancholy, hope and even moments of triumph. ..Before_during_after.. is the album briskey had meant to make all along: uncompromising, suggestive and (hopefully) especially seductive.