Luc Mishalle

Many people know Luc as a gifted saxophonist with a long-standing love for and keen analysis of (North) African rhythms and melodies. After years of playing with musicians from the Moroccan community, he has mastered the cross-pollination between Gnawa music, jazz, and brass. Just listen to Beats & Pieces (2018), the fourth album by his group Marockin' Brass and the apotheosis of a richly filled career.

Many people know Luc as a gifted saxophonist with a long-standing love for and keen analysis of (North) African rhythms and melodies. After years of playing with musicians from the Moroccan community, he has mastered the cross-pollination between Gnawa music, jazz, and brass. Just listen to Beats & Pieces (2018), the fourth album by his group Marockin' Brass and the apotheosis of a richly career. 

Luc began his career in 1976 as a musician and composer with theater groups: Welfare State International and Emergency Exit Arts (U.K.), Dogtroep (NED), Internationale Nieuwe Scene, and Tiedrie (BEL). At the same time, he also played in the Netherlands with the ‘jazz fanfare’ St Juttemis. Fascinated by the music of ethnic minorities, he founded MetX in 1981. He immediately created several groups that broke through at European level: Belçikal, Raï Express, and Marakbar (Antwerp '93).

He composes and develops projects for Flemish institutions such as Monty, Vooruit, Stad aan de Stroom, CCB, Walpurgis, and Zuiderpershuis. At the same time, he has been active for many years in the Werkgroep Improviserende Musici (Working Group for Improvising Musicians) in Antwerp, led by Fred Van Hove. He plays with just about all the big names in the improvisation scene. From 1988 onwards, he also devoted himself to contemporary music: he played with Blindman! for 10 years and occasionally with groups such as Ictus and QO2. He then returned to work as a composer and performer at LOD Muziektheater, De Werf, hetpaleis, Theater Stap (BEL), Ro-theater, and DNA (NED).

In 1998, he became artistic director at MetX, then known as De Krijtkring. After the first wave of successful productions (see above), he developed Al-Harmoniah, Fanfarrah (predecessor of the current Fanfakids), Aywa! and the aforementioned Marockin' Brass, among others. He also regularly acts as curator of city events such as the Opening Party of Brussels European Capital of Culture 2000, Zinneke Parade, OdeGand, BRXLBRAVO, and Stadsvisioenen Mechelen.

In between, he also launched several new brass bands at MetX inspired by rhythms from both North and West Africa: Remork & Karkaba, AGO! Benin Brass, and Ander Brass. As the crowning glory of his unparalleled career, he received the Princess Margriet Award from the European Cultural Foundation in 2017.