One

After more than a decade of traveling around the globe, Belgian jazz pianist Jef Neve is releases his first solo album.

This pianist/composer has become a prominent figure in his homeland and his reputation is rapidly spreading to the rest of the world.

Neve studied at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven and graduated in 2000 as Master of Music in Jazz and classical piano, both with great distinction. In 2001 he specialized in Chamber Music and was rewarded the diploma 'cum laude'. He followed master classes with Brad Mehldau, Martial Solal, Lew Tabackin, Billy Hart, Bill Carothers, Kenny Werner, Bruce Barth and others.

In between touring, Neve composes music for a solo album, for film and TV series as well as classical piano music.

[Neve has] an ornate, highly elaborate improvising style that joins the dots between the otherwise disparate approaches of McCoy Tyner and Keith Jarrett while also drawing heavily on the traditions of the Romantic-era classical composers - Marlbank

If there is an album out there that shows that Jef Neve belong to the absolute top, then it must be One. His qualities as a musician, composer and arranger show through more than ever. It makes One, one of the most impressive albums ever created by a pianist in the areas of Jazz, Classical and Pop. 5/5 stars. - Dick Hovenga