"incredible keyboard virtuosity"
Louder Than War (UK)
'De Soep Schreeuwt om Zout'
Bandcamp Weekly (Oct 23)
Karel Cuelenaere (Eeklo °1989), in the wake of Black Flower, John Ghost and Ping O.D. has gained numerous compliments from the international press. Louder Than War (UK) talks about his “incredible keyboard virtuosity” and OOR (NL) labels him as a “descendant of Keith Emerson”. The Standaard and Da Music praise his “decisive contribution to the sound” of the aforementioned bands.
While Karel is now mainly perceived as a keyboardist within the prog-, rock- and hybrid jazz scene, with KCT – abbreviation of Karel Cuelenaere Trio – he resolutely opts for the grand piano. He is assisted by double bass and drums, respectively performed by Toon Rumen (Paul Bernewitz Trio) and Gert-Jan Dreessen (Bram De Looze, FES).
The trio is stylistically anchored in the Belgian jazz tradition, building on the work of Aka Moon, Octurn and Jozef Dumoulin, among others, and incorporates the atmosphere of 'saudade', a kind of melancholy that Karel got to know on a tour in Brazil and recognizes in the recordings of pianist Keith Jarrett during the 60s.
16.08.2024 - Wonderland - De Bijloke - Ghent (BE)
01.03.2025 - Ha Concerts - Ghent (BE)
11.05.2025 - STUK - Leuven (BE)
Album 'Adult Swing' was created with the support of the Flanders State of the Art.
