Olivier Collette
Olivier Collette (born August 31, 1973 in the Congo ) is a Belgian jazz musician ( piano , composition ).
Live and act
Collette, whose parents returned with him to Belgium after his birth, played the piano autodidactically from the age of eleven . At the age of thirteen he first learned solfeggio and classical percussion . After he discovered jazz, he took lessons from Diederik Wissels in the jazz studio in Antwerp . He also studied classical piano with Marie Boulenger for a year and practiced intensively before studying jazz piano with Eric Legnini at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels , where he was awarded first prize at the age of 23. For three months 1998/1999 he took lessons in New York with Kenny Werner and Fred Hersch .
In 1998, Collette founded his first own quartet with Kurt Van Herck , Mimi Verderame and Nicolas L'Herbette, which mainly interpreted his compositions and existed for four years. In 2001 a double CD with the title Joy and Mystery was created with this band and guest musicians. Olivier then founded his second quartet with Bart Defoort , Bart De Nolf (bass) and Jan de Haas (drums), which also toured internationally. With guests and a string quartet conducted by Diederik Wissels, the quartet recorded a CD in 2003 entitled De l'Aube au crépuscule .
Colette worked as a sideman in the flamenco-jazz band Macande , with whom he played at the Couleur Café Festival in 1999, at the Jazz Marathon at Brussels' Grote Markt in 2000 and at the Gaume Jazz Festival and at the Paradiso in Rotterdam in 2001 . He continued to perform with Philip Catherine , Steve Houben , Bruno Castellucci , Olivier Ker Ourio and Salvatore La Rocca . Between 2004 and 2008 he worked as a pianist in the hotels and jazz clubs of Dubai . In 2008, back in Belgium, he founded a new quartet with Phil Abraham , Fabien Degryse and Jan de Haas.
In 2014 Olivier recorded his third album 7 Views of a Secret with Raphaëlle Brochet (vocals), Philippe Aerts (double bass) and Renato Martins (percussion). On another album Conceptions (2017) he is documented with Steve Houben, Sam Gerstmans and Matthias De Waele. With his quintet he released the concept album Phi in 2019 , which is based on the golden ratio .
Prizes and awards
In 2004, Olivier won the prize for the best jazz composition of the year, "Dancing Birds", at the Hoeilaart international jazz competition.
Web links
- Entry (Jazz in Belgium)
- Olivier Collette at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Collette, Olivier |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Belgian jazz musician (piano, composition) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 31, 1973 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Congo |