Dominique Vantomme of VANTOMME, is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, band leader, music educator and producer, equally well known for his work with many European pop and rock acts as for being the jazz piano instructor at the Music Conservatory in Kortrijk, Belgium. This album was born from his nomadic adventures: traveling in 2016 to see Stick Men, in Holland, and meeting up with old pal, MoonJune's Leonardo Pavkovic; and shortly thereafter befriending the legendary bassist/stickist Tony Levin of the King Crimson, Peter Gabriel and Stick Men hall of fame. In the studio session which shortly followed, Dom and Tony were joined by veteran MoonJune artist, also from Belgium, Michel Delville (The Wrong Object; douBt; Machine Mass), who was recruited on guitar, and another Belgian musician, Maxime Lenssens, tasked with holding down the timekeeping duties. The spontaneity and freshness of this sizzling, high-altitude set reflects the equally unpretentious manner in which the session itself came together.
Tackling some decidedly hip musical sketches of Dominique Vantomme, the band is given full artistic liberty – and with all participants in top form, the resulting music weaves and winds its way across paths previously untrodden ... in stunning fashion, and with sure footing! In the truest MoonJune tradition, "Vegir" thumbs its nose at convention and showcases these seasoned veteran musicians at the top of their game: with the skill set, bravery and chutzpah to follow their instincts and, in the process, allow the music to seek out and ultimately capture its own form. It slinks; it growls; it stalks; it devours! It grooves; it stutters; it holds you in suspense, then explodes! (... think 'juggling chainsaws' in the sonic realm.
1. Double Down 07:36
2. Equal Minds 10:19
3. Sizzurp 10:45
4. Playing Chess With Barney Rubble 09:04
5. The Self Licking Ice-cream Cone 13:08
6. Plutocracy 04:38
7. Agent Orange 09:46
8. Emmetropia 09:00
9. Odin's Wig 01:54
MICHEL DELVILLE: Electric Guitar
TONY LEVIN: Bass Guitar, Chapman Stick
MAXIME LENSSENS: Drums
Produced by DOMINIQUE VANTOMME
Recorded by Pascal Deweze at Studio Jezuz, Hoboken, Belgium, October 29th 2016
Mixing by Fritz Sunderman
Mastering by Mark Wingfield
Photos by Perry Schrijvers
Artwork by Marcel van der Heyden
In 1996, he attended another workshop with Andy Laverne and David Baker at the University of Louisville, Kentucky (USA).
From '96 to '98 he had electric jazz bands 'Fuzzlite' and 'Jazziz' together with one of his best friends and musicians Tom Mahieu. In 98, he studied in New York with US pianist Kenny Werner. In 99, he received a Prize at the Europ' Jazz Contest in Hoeilaart (B) and was laureate of the Torneo Internationale Musicale (Jazz) Rome.
Dominique Vantomme leads his own bands and works as a freelance pianist and keyboard player for various bands, including work in recording studios for jazz and folk/world. He has played with Toots Thielemans (B), Judy Niemack (USA), Theresa Malenfant (Can), Laurent Maur (Fr), George Kilby Jr. (USA), Aidan Burk (Irl), David Ray Hadley (USA), Jakob Rostoll (Dan), Louisiana Red (USA), Hans Van Oost (B), Rietta Austin (NZ), John O'Leary (UK), Daithi Rua (Irl), Pascal Schumacher (Lux), Rufus Stone (UK), Jules Fothergill (UK), Coco Jr. (B), Laïs (B), Cosmo St.-Clair (USA), Plane Vanilla (B), Boo Boo Davis (USA), Ana Popovic (Yo), Junior Jazz (B), Roland Van Campenhout (B), Viktor Lazlo (B), An Pierlé (B), PJDS (B), Ronny Mosuse (B), etc.
