Jack Sels
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Jack Sels was a Belgian jazz saxophonist active after World War II. Although he left only a few records, he was definitely an influential figure for the Belgian scene.
Born on January 29, 1922, Jack Sels grew up in Antwerp. He first studied piano before playing the saxophone.
After World War II he joined the band of Mickey Bunner. He played for the Red Cross and for the G.I.s. He appeared in various clubs, casinos, hotels... In May 1946, the Mickey Bunner Band recorded "the 13th port" on a 78 rpm record.
Jack Sels heard the English band of Ted Heath, and starts playing with musicians of the "new generation" like saxophonists Bobby Jaspar and Jacques Pelzer, guitarist René Thomas, bassists Benoît Quersin, Jean Warland and René Goldstein, trombonist Christian Kellens, pianist Francis Coppieters, Fats Sadi, Toots Thielemans. He appears at the Knokke Jazz Festival in '48.
Inspired by the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Jack Sels decided to form his own, for which he wrote music and arrangements. The band made an impressive debut with some of the best musicians around in 1949; a.o: Herman Sandy, Jay Cameron, Bobby Jaspar and Jean Warland, but financially it proved hard to keep such a large band together.
After hearing the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool sessions in 1951, he assembles a 15 piece band and tours Europe.
Back in Belgium, he played again the club and concert scene, a.o. supporting Nat King Cole or Mezz Mezzrow ('55). In '54 and '55, he recorded six sides for Ronnex Records, in a rather commercial "boogie" style.
In '55, Jack Sels wrote the soundtrack for the movie Meeuwen sterven in de haven, directed by Roland Verhavert.
In '58, he plays at the Brussels World Fair and records for Decca with Willy Rockin'. He appears on the Decca LP Jazz in Little Belgium for two numbers. He records "Bongo Jazz" with Lucky Thompson and participates in the radio series of Levende Jazz (Living Jazz).
In '59, Jack Sels had the opportunity to jam in Brussels with Lester Young and Max Roach.
In September '61, he recorded "Sax Appeal" for the Relax label (Relax30004) with organ player Lou Bennet, the young Philip Catherine on guitar and Oliver Jackson on drums.
In '63, financial difficulties force him to work at the Antwerp harbour to unload boats.
The Belgian BRT radio started a series of concerts, for which producer Elias Gistelinck called Jack to write and play. A very successful series of Saxorama followed, in which a sax section was featured, an ensemble that became the core of the future BRT Jazz Orchestra.
His music has been played and recorded by a.o. Johnny Griffinand the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band.
The last three years of his life, his health unfortunately declined, making it very difficult for him to play.
He died on March 21, 1970, from a heart attack, in his Antwerp home.
Jack Sels didn't record much. Most of the 78rpm and LPs are impossible to find.
The Belgian movie Just Friends (by Marc-Henri Wajnberg, 1993) was inspired by the unique figure of Jack Sels.
In 2003 a play was staged in Belgium by Theater Antigone; het Jack Sels Project.
