21/04/2015, 21:30
LINUS
Linus is the duo of guitarist Ruben Machtelinckx and reed player Thomas Jillings. Their debut album Onland, released in January 2014 was well-received by international press and put the two young musicians on the map as part of the new generation of improvising musicians in Belgium, with their melodic and personal compositions and the intimate sound of the tenor saxophone (or alto clarinet) and the rarely heard acoustic baritone guitar.
Onland was described as “combining the qualities of the best of the ECM-catalogue, the poetry of Nick Drake and the graceful suppleness of old Jimmy Guiffre recordings”.
For their second album, Thomas and Ruben collaborated with two guest musicians: Frederik Leroux, a guitarist based in Brussels and Ghent who is a leading figure of Belgian underground impro scene; and Øyvind Skarbø, one of Norway's prominent young drummers. As a quartet, they expanded their sonic palette with banjo, electric guitar, electric baritone guitar, synthesizers and drums/percussion, and recorded.
Linus + Skarbø/Leroux combines influences from jazz, American and European folk, pop and contemporary music to create a unique musical bubble.
Thomas Jillings – saxophones, alto clarinet, electronics
Ruben Machtelinckx – acoustic baritone guitar, electric guitar, banjo
Frederik Leroux – guitar, baritone guitar, banjo
Øyvind Skarbø – drum