After touring for more than a decade with all different kinds of formations and bands it was the right time for Jef Neve to go solo.
One piano, one pianist and that's it. Take the musician out of his 'comfort zone', strip down that rhythm section and watch this pure, naked form of art appearing on stage.
Who is Jef Neve? I'm a Belgian pianist/ composer, educated both classical as jazz and I’ve been performing for more than 15 years all around the world, in all different settings, but most of all with my jazz trio. Now finally I've come to the point where I can say that I'm ready to play solo concerts and bring out my first solo album, ‘ONE’.
I sound like... Well, difficult to say about myself, sometimes minimalistic, sometimes orchestral and huge, then again virtuoso and fast but always in search of that catchy melody that takes you away!
My first gig was... In Belgium in one of the smallest, dodgiest 'jazz clubs' in Leuven, the city where I studied then.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... Well, there is no group name, it's just my name, so that wasn't really hard :-)
In the studio I usually... Need to have my own zone. I don't want to see visitors. I hide away in a studio in the forest, cell phone switched off, just me, my music and the necessary people to record it.
If I could tour with anyone... I'd like to join the stage with so many people if I may dream away, going from Prince, U2 or Radiohead, to jazz musicians such as Chris Potter or Branford Marsalis.
Branford MarsalisSocial media is... Very important to me, and I think that my Facebook and Twitter reach out to more people nowadays than my own website!
My favourite app at the moment is... I don’t really have a favourite.
Life on the road can be... Very tiring, but mostly very inspiring! The biggest part of my compositions is made in airport terminals, hotel lounges.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... Nothing special, I'm not a diva ;-)
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... When I was on tour in South Africa and decided to leave the bar where we were having a drink afterwards earlier than the rest of the group. I forgot that I was in a part of Cape Town where I shouldn't be walking alone at night.... Let's say I had a good run!
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... That's not really my thing actually, I'd like to focus on music, not on speaking.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Michael Jackson, James Brown and Prince; how they wrote the history of our pop music!
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Haha, good question, I'd pour a drink as a starter and take you out to a fine restaurant, because I can't cook at all!
No matter the expense, send me a case of... A case? No, just one, very beautiful nice old-timer Jaguar or Aston Martin!
Aston MartinThe last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Today. I try to go every day.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? What most men dislike, cleaning my house.
Do you have any phobias... please explain? Not really, however I can get really sad and angry about cruelty with no reason; things like gay bashing, racism, burglary (I got robbed several times when I lived in Brussels).
Would you ever partake in a reality show? No, if I show up on TV it is to talk about music or to perform. I want people to know me by my music, not by silly things I'm telling.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? That would be my manager; we make so much fun on the road! Thinking of a good prank now, but he will read this, so I have to just do it on the next flight :-)
Jef Nev Tour Dates
Thu 15 Jan - Brisbane Jazz ClubSat 17 Jan - Wood Works Gallery (Bungendore)
Thu 22 Jan - City Recital Hall (Sydney)
Fri 23 Jan - Bennetts Lane Jazz Club (Melbourne)
