An exquisite double bill with none less than JOAN WASSER better known as JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN and the (relatively new) jazz hope: JOSÉ JAMES.

7:30 pm (sharp!) - José James (us) vs Jef Neve
'This cast iron debut really does something to you.' (Humo)
'Aside from being a sublime interpreter, José James is also a gifted writer and composer.' (De Standaard)
JOSÉ JAMES is barely 30 but even so he's immediately been bombarded to 'the great jazz hope'. He lives in Brooklyn and made quite an impression with his debut 'The Dreamer' - a contemporary mix of jazz, blues and soul. He cites Billie Holiday and John Coltrane as his greatest influences but vocally he sounds more like Gil Scott-Heron or Terry Callier. His goal? To make jazz for the hip-hop generation. It's not without reason that he reworked the hip-hop song 'Park Bench Life' from the late Freestyle Fellowship. His visit to Jazz Middelheim didn't go unnoticed either. Finally: be there on time, because José James begins at 7:30 pm sharp! Don't say we didn't warn you.

Apparently it 'clicks' between our national jazz-pride annex pianist JEF NEVE and the (relatively new) jazz-hoop JOSÉ JAMES. So it came that JEF NEVE, together with his drummer Teun Verbruggen, will form the backing band during JOSÉ JAMES' autumn visit to Belgium and AB on MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER. José James and Jef Neve first met for the recording of the radio-programme 'Neve' on Klara. They later ran into each other a number of times at foreign festivals where they shared the bill. The idea of playing together in AB came about at Jazz Middelheim earlier this year. Be there on time this evening, as the unique quartet will already start at 7:30 pm on the dot (followed by JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN).

9:00 pm - Joan As Police Woman (us)
JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN is still synonymous with Joan Wasser. This immensely honest singer-songstress learned the ropes in the backing bands of Rufus Wainwright and Antony & The Johnsons (with whom she wrote the fantastic 'I Defy'). Sometimes the perfectly arranged piano-pop from the album 'Real Life' tends toward jazz and her voice summons comparisons with Dusty Springfield and Chrissie Hynde. Personally she calls her music American Soul Music with a subtle wink to her punk past. In the meantime her much appreciated follow-up 'To Survive' has been released and we're completely convinced: Joan is a stayer.

Timing:

7pm doors

7:30pm JOSÉ JAMES

9pm JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN

Joan As Police Woman - To Be Loved

José James - Park Benc