About this event
Please note: this concert will take place at Bozar (Hall M), 23 Rue Ravenstein, 1000 Brussels, located near Brussels Central Station. Tickets are available via: Aaron Parks & Walter Smith III | Bozar Brussels(JOHN) COLTRANE 100: A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL JAZZ INNOVATORS AB, Bozar and Kaaitheater join forces to present a unique tribute to John Coltrane: one of the most influential innovators in the history of jazz. Coltrane sculpted an entirely inimitable signature sound with his saxophone (a Belgian invention by Adolphe Sax). His rich oeuvre is now considered a sacred legacy: “Many artists achieve greatness but very few produce work that is so moving that it’s considered sacred.” To mark Coltrane’s 100th birthday, in 2026 we honour his legacy with a series of dance performances, concerts, screenings and artist talks. AARON PARKS & WALTER SMITH III PLAYING THE BALLADS OF AND BY JOHN COLTRANEJohn Coltrane’s free jazz of the 1960s is widely celebrated, but there is so much more to discover. His lyrical ballads are equally captivating. Whether alongside pianist Tadd Dameron (check their album Mating Call from 1957), Duke Ellington (as heard on Duke Ellington & John Coltrane from 1963) or his own quartet – as on the 1963 album Ballads – Coltrane refined a deeply personal and intimate sound. The recordings usually required only one take, since the notes flowed effortlessly through the saxophone. On Bozar’s initiative, pianist Aaron Parks and saxophonist Walter Smith III are touring with John Coltrane’s ballads. Parks, who had our Terarken Hall dancing in 2024, opts for tranquillity this time round. His Blue Note colleague Walter Smith III has frequently performed by his side and now delves into Trane’s softer repertoire. Line up:Aaron Parks : pianoWalter Smith III: sax
