Recognition

Press comments Quiet Dreams

Reviews on the album 'Quiet Dreams'

'This Belgian debut immediately grabs you by the collars and, more importantly, rarely lets you go afterwards'
Jordi De Beule
Jazz & Mo' magazine

Click here to read the full review

'The first album by Ramon van Merkenstein is a jewel... his compositions are superb'
Jean-Claude Vantroyen
Le Soir Newspaper
'Ambitious and demanding'
Pierre Dulieu
JazzMania Magazine

Read the full review here

'Ramon van Merkenstein Trio is of intellectual kind'
Jan Bol
JazzNu Website
'Beautiful music, played with love and intention, by a well rehearsed trio’
Petros Klampanis
Bass player & composer
'Not just any guitar trio! One can immediately hear that the driving force and composer behind this band is a bass player. All details are well eloborated and melodies are propelled
by whirling rhythm section. Highly recommended!!
'
Bart Maris
Trumpet player

Ramon van Merkenstein selected as delegate for 'Belgium Booms' on Jazzahead! 2021

Belgium Booms supports and promotes Belgian artists abroad, and helps them and their entourage to develop a sustainable international career. From this moment on, we will use our brand Belgium Booms to champion our entire music scene, no matter what genre.

Belgium Booms welcomes you at their virtual Belgium Booms stand at Jazzahead 2021, where you can meet & greet with Ramon van Merkenstein and many other interesting delegate.

Source:

https://www.belgiumbooms.be/events/jazzahead-2021

“Ramon van Merkenstein Trio” selected as a Culture Laureate by Belgium’s Liège Province

Belgium’s Liège Province praises this trio for expressing their passion for jazz and for their intimate connection with audiences. Grooving bass lines are combined with melodic storytelling. Lyrical melodies and modern sounds are integrated in a unique rhythmical universe. The interaction between the group members is surprising and full of adventure and creative freedom.

Belgium’s Liège Province has selected this jazz music project as a culture laureate through its “Ça Balance” program. Committed uniquely to original compositions, “Ça Balance” supports promising bands to further develop their talent, composition, arrangement and ensemble performance. “Ça Balance” provides expert assistance such as studio time and professional sound engineering and production, as well as national and international promotion.

In addition, the “Ça Balance” program will feature this unique music project to be performed at the Jazz à Liège Festival in September 2021.

Source:

https://www.provincedeliege.be/fr/cabalance/groupe/15686?retour=liste

Ramon van Merkenstein Quartet nominated for:

Maastricht Jazz Award 2018

The Maastricht Conservatory (NL) and the renowned organization Jazz Maastricht selected the Ramon van Merkenstein Quartet for their prestigious Maastricht Jazz Award 2018.

Selected from a field of more than 60 candidates, the Ramon van Merkenstein Quartet was judged to be musically distinguished and qualified for top nomination among 3 professional finalists. In addition, Ramon’s innovative quartet was invited for a public performance at the annual awards ceremony held in Maastricht.

According to the award sponsors, the Ramon van Merkenstein Quartet represents one of “the most promising jazz bands in the European region.”

 

“Songs Between Two Lands,” Jazz Music Project Selected as a Culture Laureate by Belgium’s Liège Province

Songs Between Two Lands is a collection of musical travel notes bridging Africa and South America. The songs are stories of people and places deeply connected but separated by distance as reflected in original compositions.

Belgium’s Liège Province has selected this jazz music project as a culture laureate through its “Ça Balance” program. Committed uniquely to original compositions, “Ça Balance” supports promising bands to further develop their talent, composition, arrangement and ensemble performance. “Ça Balance” provides expert assistance such as master classes, studio time and professional sound engineering and production, as well as national and international promotion.

In addition, the “Ça Balance” program will feature this unique music project to be performed at the Jazz à Liège Festival in May 2019.

Source:

http://www.provincedeliege.be/fr/cabalance/groupe/14347?retour=liste

Review (in French) of “Songs Between Two Lands” at Dinant Jazz Festival 2019

Songs Between Two Lands kicked of the Dinant Jazz Festival 2019. Jacques Prouvost wrote a review about the festival, including our concert

Click here to read the article.

'La rythmique (Ramon Van Merkenstein (b) et Pierre Hurty (dm)) est impeccable et solide'