PJDS

Pieter-Jan De Smet, the man behind the group PJDS, is not just starting out. Since the end of the 1980s, and even as a teenager before that, this musician/producer has been a well-known face in the belpop scene. He began with a spot in the final of Humo’s Rock Rally in 1988 with The Lionhearts. When this group split up, Pieter-Jan and guitarist Geoffrey Burton started a new band under his own name. Their début, 'Antidote’ from 1993, was well received; the singles had a great deal of airplay and tours sold out internationally and at home, in Europe but also in China, Moscow and Canada. The second album 'August’ is also looked at as one of the belpop classics. Then, things went a bit quiet for the group.

But they made a comeback in 2001. Under the name PJDS and with a new album 'Light Sleeper’ - a masterpiece according to De Morgen - De Smet is back on the big stage. Two new releases followed, along with a compilation, all released by De Smet’s own label BEUZAK Records. At the beginning of this year, the label also issued 'Extinct Birds’, the sixth record on the list from De Smet and the band. It is a raw, exotic and fiery ode to the sea and Ostend; it is understated and excessive all at the same time. Both the record and the live shows - with bassist Mirko Banovic (Arno, Arsenal…), drummer Teun Verbruggen (FES, Jef Neve Trio…), guitarist Frederik Segers (Stadt) and keyboard player Jan Duthoy (Absynthe Minded) - have been lauded by the critics, using every possible superlative. There are also many references to the fact that the brilliance of PJDS is underestimated. Let Gent Jazz provide an opportunity for that notion to be disproved!