Jazz pianist Orson Claeys wins the very first Brussels Jazz Vanguard Award

“Honestly? I didn’t expect it,” he says with a smile. “I joined the competition without any thought of winning. But it feels like a small victory — a kind of recognition. Especially because this project has been growing for a while, and things are finally starting to fall into place.”

Claeys’ quintet stood out with its unique sonic identity: jazz interwoven with Eastern timbres and subtle influences from hip-hop and R&B. Not a coincidence, as that hybrid style has been central to his artistic quest for years. 

“I always try to be as honest as possible in my music. I start from my own intuition and mix in influences from daily life. Music is a mirror of everything I experience: art, sport, photography... it all seeps into my sound.”

Music as a reflection of who you are

That approach came through clearly during his recent session as a featured “Twintiger” on Radio Klara. “I’d known about the project for a while and secretly dreamed of taking part. When the invitation came, it felt like a beautiful affirmation.” The recording sessions at the legendary Toots Studio made a lasting impression. “It really felt like a milestone — especially because I was there with the quintet I originally put together for my master’s project at KCB.”

That quintet includes Pierre-Antoine Savoyat (trumpet), Akram Ben Romdhane (oud), Jim Monneau (double bass), and Gionata Giardina (drums). “I knew the drummer and trumpeter from KCB and had always dreamed of playing with them. For my master’s recital, I formed the group and added an oud player — because I wanted to explore the sound world of the Middle East. Right from the start, I could feel something special was happening. We didn’t want to let go of that chemistry.”

Although Claeys didn’t grow up in a musical family, music played a major role at home. “My parents are real music lovers. There was always music playing: from Johann Sebastian Bach and Frank Zappa to Miles Davis and Lauryn Hill. My father also listened to a lot of music from the Middle East. All of that had a huge impact on me.” At seventeen, he discovered Herbie Hancock — “a real eye-opener” — and fell in love with jazz. Today, artists like Aaron Parks, Immanuel Wilkins, Marquis Hill, and Kendrick Lamar are major sources of inspiration.

Conservatoire as a laboratory

Claeys describes his time at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel as formative — though not always easy. “I started out as a young guy who wasn’t even sure he wanted to pursue music seriously. The bachelor’s programme was tough; I really questioned whether I should continue. But during the master’s, I found my spark. I felt heard, and I had space to develop my own voice. Diederik Wissels and Nathalie Loriers were incredibly supportive throughout that process.”

Two years after graduating, he feels that education still supports him — but he also relies more than ever on his intuition. “The Conservatoire gives you the tools, but then you have to let go and start your own search. Who am I? What do I want to do? What do I have to say? That journey never really ends, but I feel like I’m standing on firmer ground now.”

To students just beginning their studies, Claeys offers one piece of advice: “Be honest. With yourself, and with your music. And don’t overthink it too much. Just go for it. You’ll find your way.”