Born in Brussels on June 21st, 1964, Philippe Aerts made his first musical experiences at the age of 11, playing guitar and bass-guitar with some school friends. At that time, he played rock and pop music.

About three years later, his father (who was playing Dixieland and Middle-Jazz at that time), introduced him to the double-bass and to Jazz music. Philippe started then to listen to records (many of them featuring Ray Brown on the bass) and to practice. Very soon, he had got enough capacities to go on the band stand with some dixieland and Middle Jazz bands.

A few years later, when he was about 18, he met pianist-composer Charles Loos. They started playing home-sessions together, rehearsing and giving concerts.

Since that time, he had become one of the most in demand bassists. He had been playing with many great musicians in Belgium: Diederik Wissels, Jan de Haas, Steve Houben, Jacques Pelzer, Felix Simtaine, Dre Pallemaerts, Frank Vaganee, to name just a few.

Also, ha had had the opportunity to play with some of the greatest artists, touring in Europe: Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, Steve Grossman, Lee Konitz, Lew Tabakin, Charlie Mariano, Larry Schneider, Tom Harrell, Chet Baker, Bob Brookmeyer, Art Lande, Mal Waldron, David Kikoski, Richie Beirach, Toots Thielemans...

He played in many Jazz Festivals: Northsea, Angouleme, Wien, Grenoble, Budapest, Bucarest, Zagreb, Cracow, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Dakar...

Biography courtesy of EMMECI.