Jack Sels

Jean -Jacques "Jack" Sels (* January 29, 1922, † March 21, 1970 in Antwerp) was a Belgian jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer.

Life and work

Jack Sels grew up in Antwerp and first learned the piano before switching to the saxophone. After the Second World War he was a member of the band by Mickey Bunner. He played for the troops support the U.S. Army and in various clubs, casinos and hotels. In May 1946, the Mickey Bunner band recorded the 78 record " The 13th Port". 1947 emerged Sels first recordings under his own name with a band, which also includes Toots Thielemans belonged. In the late 1940s Sels played with musicians such as Bobby Jaspar, Jacques Pelzer, René Thomas, Benoît Quersin, Jean Warland, René Goldstein, Christian Kellens, Francis Coppieters or Fats Sadi. In 1948, he stepped on the Knokke Jazz Festival. Modeled after the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band Sels formed his own band, for which he composed the title and wrote arrangements. The band debuted in 1949 Sels et al Herman Sandy, Jay Cameron, Bobby Jaspar and Jean Warland; However, he was able to keep the band for financial reasons, not for long. Under the influence of Miles Davis ' Birth of the Cool sessions, he presented in 1951 a 15 - piece ensemble together (including with Roger Vanhaverbeke ) and toured Europe.

After his return to Belgium, he played back in the club and concert scene and has accompanied Nat King Cole or Mezz Mezzrow ( 1955). Under his own name emerged in 1954/55 six albums for Ronnex Records. 1955 Sels wrote the film score for Meeuwen sterven in de haven of Roland Verhavert. In 1958 he appeared at the World Exhibition in Brussels and play some songs for Decca with Willy Rockin ' a. Two titles appeared on the Decca LP Jazz in Little Belgium; with Lucky Thompson, he recorded the album Bongo Jazz and worked at the radio series Levende Jazz ( Jazz Living ) with. In 1959, he played in Brussels with Lester Young and Max Roach at a jam session.

In September 1961, he recorded the album Sax Appeal for the label Relax; it had Lou Bennett, Philip Catherine and Oliver Jackson. In 1963 he was forced to leave the music scene temporarily and to work in the port of Antwerp. Soon after, he had the opportunity for the Belgian BRT stations to work; He wrote and starred in the series SAXORAMA; in this series was later BRT Jazz Orchestra. Title of Sels were also recorded by Johnny Griffin and Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Big Band. In the past three years forced him to health reasons to quit his musical career; he died in March 1970 of a heart attack in Antwerp.

After the figure of Jack Sels the Belgian feature film Just Friends (directed by Marc -Henri Wajnberg ) in 1993 turned. 2003, the play het Jack Sels Project.des Theater Antigone premiere.