In the acoustic guitar world today, Jacques Stotzem is one of the “fingerstyle” guitarists with the most diversified style. Born in 1959 in Verviers, the Belgian guitarist has recorded 12 CDs and is high up on the list for fans of the acoustic guitar. Readers of the influential German acoustic guitar magazine “Akustik Gitarre” have likened Stotzem to artists such as Leo Kottke, Paco De Lucia, Neil Young and Keb’ Mo’.
That’s not really astonishing. His unique and highly refined playing style combines a well-developed melodic sense with a rare dynamic approach to the instrument that speaks directly to the listener. Jacques, unlike many guitar players today, possesses an in-depth sense of harmonic knowledge, which is evident throughout his compositions. All of this is cemented together by his perfect command of the instrument and by his optimistic personality.
Jacques Stotzem has become a regular guest at European festivals and is often invited for tours in Japan, China or Taiwan. Since 2006, the famous American guitar company “Martin Guitar”, produces an “OMC Jacques Stotzem Custom Signature Model”, a dream for every guitar player, a consecration for Jacques.
The two CDs « Catch The Spirit » (Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, U2 arranged on acoustic guitar) have been a big success and stayed respectively 41 and 23 weeks in the Belgian Pop Charts. These two albums have been followed by « To Rory », an acoustic tribute to the Irish Blues-Rock guitarist Rory Gallagher which got rave reviews all over the world. Jacques’ new CD « Handmade » (released in April 2021) features 10 original compositions, mainly ballads in his unique lyrical and melodic style.
SETLIST :
- Slow Motion
- Looking Back
- Pick Me Up
- Blues Print
- Les Beaux Jours...
- Big Deal
All songs are compositions by Jacques Stotzem.
With the support of Visit Brussels.
Production: www.muziekpublique.be​​​​
Booking: stotzem.com/
The performance was recorded on April 24 @ Molière Theater, Ixelles/Elsene, Belgium
Sound: Christophe Loncour
Video : Simon Bésème
Lights: Erik Janssens, Alex Dick
Technical production: Mathieu Alexandre
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The Solo Challenges:
Muziekpublique challenges musicians to one of the greatest artistic challenges: playing solo with nothing to fall back on but yourself, your ideas and your instrument and / or voice. It is confronting and challenging: “Can I convince the audience all by myself”. It forces you to vary, to hold a tension arc. It is a way where your instrument or voice comes into its own. Moreover, you can make unexpected decisions, you do not have to take the other into account… And the silence suddenly becomes an important creative element.