The Time of Our Singing
2024 / FUGA LIBERA
The Time of Our Singing, Kris Defoort’s fourth opera, after The Woman Who Walked into Doors (2001), House of the Sleeping Beauties (2009) and Daral Shaga (2014), is the climax and culmination of twenty years of operatic composition. Richard Powers’ novel contains themes that have always been important to the composer and gave him the opportunity to explore the history of Western music and jazz. It is fascinating to see how Power’s poignant characters have found their musical and scenic incarnation in this work.
Each of Kris Defoort’s operas is an infinitely valuable account of our times and of the human condition today. Each of his works is a joyful, profound and intense combination of music and life.​
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PIECES OF PEACE
Kris Defoort & Veronika Harcsa
2023 / W.E.R.F.
Intimate and joyful, playful and complex, lyrical and rhythmic, ... and layered and full of detail, each track on this unique project unfolds like a story in itself. Chamber music, jazz, improvisiaton and electronics intertwine on extended compositions that are all states of emotions, impressions from real life - a clear reference to opera. They are also an ode to the voice, the human instrument par excellence. As improvised compositions (or composed improvisations?), Pieces of Peace represents a constant evolution that offers hope, softness and inspiration in times when all this sometimes dares to be lacking.
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Kris Defoort // Piano, compositions
Veronika Harcsa // Voice
Lode Vercampt // Cello
Jean-Philippe Poncin // Clarinets
Benjamin Sauzereau // Guitars
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Kris Defoort Diving Poet Society
2017 / W.E.R.F.
In Kris Defoort Diving Poet Society two brilliant musicians join the heart of the Kris Defoort Trio into a new musical adventure. Together they explore fresh compositions injected by the inspiring poems of Peter Verhelst, a unique stubborn writer, embracing life with all its dark mysteries. Balancing between improvisations, composed material & instant orchestration, it is the eternal search for this one magical, unknown moment. Five musical poets communicating the joy of diving into an ocean of unlimited colours, words & sounds...
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Kris Defoort
SOLO
Live in Tokyo
2012 / W.E.R.F.
‘Live in Tokyo’ proves once again Kris Defoort's outstanding talent for improvisations and the diversity he expresses as a pianist and composer, ranging from lyrical and intimist over rough to straight forward sounds.
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The House Of The Sleeping Beauties
2009 / FUGA LIBERA
This opera was recorded during the memorable performance given at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels under Patrick Davin's baton, in the spring of 2009.
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Antoine Prawerman & Vegetal Beauty Troposphere
2008 / MOGNO MUSIC
Antoine Prawerman // (Bass)clarinet, composer
Laurent Blondiau // Trumpet
Kris Defoort // Piano
Sarah Murcia // Contrabass
Sidiki Camara // Percussions
Axel Gilain // Contrabass
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Defoort-Turner-Thys-Black
Sound Plaza
2002 / W.E.R.F.
Kris Defoort // Piano
Mark Turner // Tenor saxophone
Nicolas Thys // Contrabass, el. bass
Jim Black // Drums
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Kris Defoort &
Dreamtime
Passages
1999 / W.E.R.F.
Through the collaboration with the French choreographer Fatou Traoré, the epic suit in five 'passages' saw the light. It was performed by Defoort's ensemble Dreamtime, composed of 11 outstanding musicians. Flute, hobo, cello en brass, formed around the piano trio K.D.'s decade.
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Garrett List
The Unbearable
Light
1998 / CARBON 7
Jean-Pol Zanutel // Cello
Pierre Bernard // Flute
Kris Defoort // Piano
Garrett List // Trombone & vocals
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Octurn
Ocean
1997 / W.E.R.F.
Laurent Blondiau // Trumpet
Ben Sluijs // Alto sax, flute
Bart Defoort // Tenor & alto sax
Jeroen Van Herzeele // Tenor & soprano sax
Bo Van der Werf // Baritone sax
Ilja Reijngoud // Trombone
Jacques Pirotton // Guitar
Ron van Rossum // Piano
Nicolas Thys // Bass, electric bass
Stéphane Galland // Drums
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K.D.'s Decade Live
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1994 / W.E.R.F.
Kris Defoort formed his first trio in 1993 with Dré Pallemaerts on drums and Nicolas Thys on double bass. As well as playing Defoort’s own compositions, the trio also performs interesting arrangements of pop material such as ‘Walking on the Moon’ and ‘Sometimes it Snows in April’.
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Kris Defoort TRIO
Monk's Dance
2015 / W.E.R.F.
On the occasion of the 100th performance of music theatre 'An Old Monk' (Kris Defoort Trio + Josse De Pauw). Adaptations of standards, collective improvisations in the spirit of piano player Thelonious Monk and bonus tracks with Josse De Pauw.
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Defoort-Turner-Thys-Black
New Sound Plaza
2015 / W.E.R.F.
Kris Defoort // Piano
Mark Turner // Tenor saxophone
Nicolas Thys // Contrabass, el. bass
Jim Black // Drums
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aRTET
WATTS UP
2008 / W.E.R.F.
François Delporte // Guitars
Tom Callens // Tenor saxophone
Ben Ramos // Contrabass
Lionel Beuvens // Drums
Kris Defoort // Piano
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KD's Basement Party
Live at The Werf
2006 / W.E.R.F.
Fabrizio Cassol // Alto saxophone
Bart Defoort // Tenor & soprano saxophone
Michel Massot // Tuba, trombone
Michel Hatzigeorgiou // Guitars
Stéphane Galland // Drums
Kris Defoort // Piano, Fender rhodes
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Pierre Vandormael
Vivaces
2001 / IGLOO RECORDS
The music of VIVACES is built on the confrontation between rhythmic cyclesand harmonic or melodic images that are both complex and simple. Everything that could touch people and the hearts, souls and bodies of men and women – for whatever reason – has its place here, independently of any stylistic or cultural reference.
Pierre Van Dormael // Guitar
Bo Van Der Werf // Bariton sax
Nicolas Kummert // Tenor sax
Manuel Hermia // Soprano sax, Alto sax
Kris Defoort // Piano
Anne Wolf // Piano
Otti Van Der Werf // Bass guitar
Stéphane Galland // Percussion
Chander Sardjoe // Percussion
Ben N'gabo // Djembe, Percussion
Michel Seba // Congas, Percussie
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Garrett List
The Voyage
1998 / CARBON 7
Garrett List // Trombone, Componist, Vocals
Benoît Paquay // Alto violin
Cécile Broché // Violin
Manuela Bucher // Alto Violin
Jean Paul Zanutel // Cello
Pierre Bernard // Flute
Rhonny Ventat // Alto sax
Marc Frankinet // Trompet
Kris Defoort // Piano
Benoît Vanderstraeten // Bass guitar
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Fabrizio Cassol / Kris Defoort
Variations On A Love Supreme
1995 / W.E.R.F.
An hommage to the life and music of John Coltrane by Fabrizio Cassol and Kris Defoort, in 8 'variations'.
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Fabrizio Cassol // Alto sax
Jeroen Van Herzeele // Tenor & soprano sax
Pierre Bernard // Flute
Antoine Prawerman // Clarinet
Jan Kuijken // Cello
Laurent Blondiau // Trumpet
George Alexander Van Dam // Violin
Michel Massotrombone // Tuba
Kris Defoort // Piano
Stéphane Galland // Drums
Michel Hatzigeorgiou // Electric bass
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KD's Basement Party
Sketches Of Belgium
1993 / W.E.R.F.
KD (Kris Defoort) is the pianist, composer and bandleader of KD’s Basement Party, whose ‘Sketches of Belgium’ was the first CD to be released on the W.E.R.F. label.
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Kris Defoort // Piano
Fabrizio Cassol // Alto & soprano sax
Bart Defoort // Tenor & soprano sax
Michel Massot // Tuba, trombone
Michel Hatzigeorgiou // Electric bass
Stéphane Galland // Drums
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Kris Defoort TRIO
Live in Bruges
2012 / W.E.R.F.
The 100th release on W.E.R.F. Records! Three generations of great jazz musicians brought together.
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Kris Defoort // Piano
Nicolas Thys // El. bass
Lander Gyselinck // Drums
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The Woman Who Walked Into Doors
2010 / FUGA LIBERA
Before publishing other aspects of his personality – jazz, instrumental compositions – here is the opera which revealed Kris Defoort to the public: created in 2001, The Woman Who Walked into Doors has been staged over fifty times in Europe. This strong and poignant work, inspired by the Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, gives universal meaning to a social drama on the fringes of society. Mixing storytelling and song, classical, contemporary, pop and jazz music (with the Prometheus Chamber Orchestra and Dreamtime jazz ensemble), the music leads its own life and by this successful fusion and its lucidity, leads us into the heart of the story’s emotions. Art at its best.
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2005 / W.E.R.F.
After his his first opera 'A Woman Who Walked Into Doors' premiered succesfully, Kris Defoort releases this new project on the balance between classical music and jazz. We encounter pieces of the opera, besides ‘pimenti’ inspired by Monteverdi and Dowland.
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His ensemble Dreamtime (cfr 'Passages') provides the jazz, while Quator Danel and Claron McFaddon beautiful vocals bring their classical touches. Conductor Koen Kessels guided the entire project.
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Aka Moon
Invisible Sun
2000 / Carbon 7
Fabrizio Cassol // Alto Sax
Michel Hatzigeorgiou / Bass
Stéphane Galland // Drums
Fabian Fiorini // Piano
Kris Defoort // Piano
Bo Van der Werf // Baritone Sax
Laurent Blondiau // Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Geoffroy De Masure // Trombone
Antoine Prawerman // Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Pierre Bernard // Flute
Bernard Foccroulle // Church Organ
Vincent Jacquemin // Musical Coordination
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Aka Moon
Elohim
1997 / Carbon 7
Fabrizio Cassol // Alto Sax
Michel Hatzigeorgiou / Bass
Stéphane Galland // Drums
Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman // Mrudangam
Kris Defoort // Fender Rhodes
Chander Sardjoe / Drumse
David Lynx // Lyrics, Vocals
Geoffroy De Masure // Trombone
Guillaume Orti // Alto Saxophone
Bo Van der Werf // Baritone Saxophone
Pierre Van Dormael // Acoustic & electric guitars
Marc Ducret // Acoustic & electric guitars
Benoit Delbecq // Synthesizer, sampler
Eric Legnini // Acoustic Piano, Synthesizer, Hammond B3
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Octurn
Chromatic History
1994 / W.E.R.F.
Octurn is a semi-big band led by baritone sax player Bo Van der Werf, with a repertoire of contemporary jazz . On their first CD they recorded the epic suite ‘Chromatic History’ composed by Kris Defoort.
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Laurent Blondiau // Trumpet
Ben Sluijs // Alto sax, flute
Bart Defoort // Tenor & alto sax
Jeroen Van Herzeele // Tenor & soprano sax
Bo Van der Werf // Baritone sax, clarinet
Ron van Rossum // Piano
Piet Verbist // Bass
Felix Simtaine // Drums
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Vincent Herring
Scene One
1989 / EVIDENCE
Vincent Herring // Soprano & alto saxophones
Darrell Grant // Piano
Kris Defoort // Synthesizer
Robert Hurst // Bass
Jack Dejohnette // Drums
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