The international jazz quintet Idle Moments has been crowned the winner of the 45th edition of the B-Jazz International Contest, the prestigious competition for young jazz musicians organized by Muziekmozaïek. The group claimed victory after a thrilling final round at the renewed Jazz in ’t Park festival in Ghent’s Voorhavenpark.
Six finalist bands, eleven countries
Over the course of three days, both jury and audience were treated to performances by six outstanding finalist bands: Răzvan Florescu Quartet (Romania), Elena Stamatopoulou Quartet (Greece/Luxembourg/Netherlands/Romania), Anja Gottberg Quartet (Sweden/Norway/USA), The Green Mean Machine (Belgium), Andrea Cardone 4tet (Italy), and Idle Moments (Australia/Belgium/Spain/USA). With musicians representing no fewer than eleven nationalities, the international spirit of the contest was more vibrant than ever.
Following the final performance, the international jury – consisting of Aygül Günaltay-Weyler (Turkey), Irja Zeper (Netherlands), Leon Lhoëst (Netherlands) and Maarten Weyler (Belgium) – retreated to deliberate. Despite the exceptionally high level of all participants, the jury reached a unanimous decision: Idle Moments is the winner of B-Jazz 2025.
Idle Moments wins the Grand Prix Albert Michiels
The quintet is made up of Emiel Verneert (trumpet, Belgium), Nikita Sipiagin (alto saxophone, USA), Genius Wesley (drums, USA), Joan Codina (double bass, Spain), and Max Teakle (piano, Australia). They earned their place in the finals as one of the two Belgian bands selected through the preliminary rounds. The five young musicians first crossed paths in Basel (Switzerland), where they rehearse and perform daily at the prestigious Jazz Campus Musik Akademie – the creative ground where Idle Moments was born. The jury praised the band with the following remarks: “Their repertoire is both challenging and inviting, firmly rooted in jazz tradition while remaining open to contemporary influences. Their compositions reflect strong musical ideas and rich harmonies. The band performs entirely from memory, demonstrating impressive stylistic knowledge and remarkable cohesion. A rightful and well-deserved winner of B-Jazz 2025.”
With the Grand Prix Albert Michiels in hand, Idle Moments will tour over the coming year, performing at renowned jazz venues in Spain, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The stage of the future: young jazz talents shine at B-Jazz
The B-Jazz International Contest is a leading springboard for young jazz musicians under the age of 30. Organized by Muziekmozaïek, the contest featured four Belgian preliminary rounds this year, in collaboration with local jazz partners De JazzOntspooring (Harelbeke), Jazz at Felix (Hoeilaart), Rataplan (Antwerp) and Pelt Jazz (Pelt). From these rounds, two Belgian bands advanced to the finals at the Jazz in ’t Park festival in Ghent.
In addition, international partners – Getxo Jazz (Spain), Saint Louis College of Music (Italy), Brașov Jazz & Blues Festival (Romania), and Conservatorium Maastricht (the Netherlands) – each contributed a finalist, further underscoring the international character of B-Jazz. The contest was founded by Albert Michiels (1923–2008), who launched the first edition in 1979 under the name Jazz Hoeilaart International Contest.
Photo © Patrick Clerens
Six finalist bands, eleven countries
Over the course of three days, both jury and audience were treated to performances by six outstanding finalist bands: Răzvan Florescu Quartet (Romania), Elena Stamatopoulou Quartet (Greece/Luxembourg/Netherlands/Romania), Anja Gottberg Quartet (Sweden/Norway/USA), The Green Mean Machine (Belgium), Andrea Cardone 4tet (Italy), and Idle Moments (Australia/Belgium/Spain/USA). With musicians representing no fewer than eleven nationalities, the international spirit of the contest was more vibrant than ever.
Following the final performance, the international jury – consisting of Aygül Günaltay-Weyler (Turkey), Irja Zeper (Netherlands), Leon Lhoëst (Netherlands) and Maarten Weyler (Belgium) – retreated to deliberate. Despite the exceptionally high level of all participants, the jury reached a unanimous decision: Idle Moments is the winner of B-Jazz 2025.
Idle Moments wins the Grand Prix Albert Michiels
The quintet is made up of Emiel Verneert (trumpet, Belgium), Nikita Sipiagin (alto saxophone, USA), Genius Wesley (drums, USA), Joan Codina (double bass, Spain), and Max Teakle (piano, Australia). They earned their place in the finals as one of the two Belgian bands selected through the preliminary rounds. The five young musicians first crossed paths in Basel (Switzerland), where they rehearse and perform daily at the prestigious Jazz Campus Musik Akademie – the creative ground where Idle Moments was born. The jury praised the band with the following remarks: “Their repertoire is both challenging and inviting, firmly rooted in jazz tradition while remaining open to contemporary influences. Their compositions reflect strong musical ideas and rich harmonies. The band performs entirely from memory, demonstrating impressive stylistic knowledge and remarkable cohesion. A rightful and well-deserved winner of B-Jazz 2025.”
With the Grand Prix Albert Michiels in hand, Idle Moments will tour over the coming year, performing at renowned jazz venues in Spain, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The stage of the future: young jazz talents shine at B-Jazz
The B-Jazz International Contest is a leading springboard for young jazz musicians under the age of 30. Organized by Muziekmozaïek, the contest featured four Belgian preliminary rounds this year, in collaboration with local jazz partners De JazzOntspooring (Harelbeke), Jazz at Felix (Hoeilaart), Rataplan (Antwerp) and Pelt Jazz (Pelt). From these rounds, two Belgian bands advanced to the finals at the Jazz in ’t Park festival in Ghent.
In addition, international partners – Getxo Jazz (Spain), Saint Louis College of Music (Italy), Brașov Jazz & Blues Festival (Romania), and Conservatorium Maastricht (the Netherlands) – each contributed a finalist, further underscoring the international character of B-Jazz. The contest was founded by Albert Michiels (1923–2008), who launched the first edition in 1979 under the name Jazz Hoeilaart International Contest.
Photo © Patrick Clerens
