Born in Wilrijk (Belgium) in 1957, started learning piano, musical theory at the age of 7, then the violin. At the age of 13, he chose to study the trumpet at Antwerp Conservatory, where he won the prizes in: double-bass, accompaniment piano, harmony and counterpoint. In the meantime, he discovered jazz in listening to Miles Davis, Clark Terry, Dizzie Gillespie, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard...

In 1981 he became a member of the BRT Jazz Orkest, conducted by Etienne Verscheren and played in Tony Bauwens' Sextet. In 1982, he started his own group Impulse and played also with many others, among them: John Ruocco Sextet and Felix Simtaine "Act Big Band".

Many Big Bands engaged him: the NDR in Hamburg, the European Broadcasting Union Big Band in Sweden, the Sky-Masters, the WDR Big Band, the Klaus Weiss Orchestra, the Metropole Orchestra in Holland and the Mel Lewis/Joe Haider Big Band in Switzerland and Italy.

Bert Joris played also with smaller groups, with Paolo Radoni, Michel Herr, Hein Van de Geyn, Dre Pallemaerts, Charles Loos...

At the beginning of 1992, Philip Catherine created a new Trio with Bert Joris and Hein Van de Geyn: their first tour in Germany obtained a great success.

Incontestably being one of the best soloists of Belgium, Bert Joris is also appreciated for his talents of composer and arranger. He contributed to the repertoire of several big bands with whom he played. First class improviser, he has a resolutely modern style and present, especially with the flugelhorn, a captivating sonority.
He recently received the "Django d'Or" '96 prize from the Sabam.

DISCOGRAPHY

Leader:
Bert Joris Quartet, Sweet Seventina - Jazz Cats 6985 012

with:
Joe Lovano, Solid Steps - Jazz Club JC 6011
Tony Bauwens Sextet, Ke Atas - Jazz Cats 6983 007
Guy Cabay, Lemon Air-Vibes - B.Sharp 1006

Biography courtesy of EMMECI.