Ivan Paduart

Belgian pianist Ivan Paduart discovered jazz when he was 17. A masterclass with Michel Herr (then pianist with Toots Thielemans) convinced him to pursue jazz full-time and in 1988, after six months at Antwerp's jazz-studio, and one year at Rotterdam's Royal Conservatory (where he studied with Rob Van Kreeveld), he joined the groups of American guitarist John Thomas, Italian trumpet player Gino Lattuca and Belgian trombone player Phil Abraham.
In 1989 he won the 2nd prize at "International Jazz Competition at La Défense" in Paris, and 1st prize at "Brussels's Jazz-Rallye". That same year Ivan formed the quintet Aftertouch, to play original fusion music. From 1990 to 1992 he toured Europe with his own group, played support for Bill Evans and recorded three albums. With his compositional mix of straight-ahead jazz and lyrical impressionism spiced with Latin influence he was awarded the 1993 Nicolas Dor prize for composition at the International Jazz Festival of Liège. In 1995, after tours of Italy and Canada, Ivan began a two-year international stint with Toots Thielemans. From 1996 onwards, the focus becomes almost exclusively the trio format with Hans Van Oosterhout as regular drummer and a variety of bass-players. He recorded his first cd’s with Challenge Records “White Nights” and "Clair Obscur" (both sold out), followed in 1998 by "Belgian Suites" (AL 73122) The trio occasionally calls on the collaboration of soloists like Rick Margitza or Toots Thielemans, Toon Roos, Bert Joris and Fay Claassen in the double album Live "A night at the Music village" (BMCD 395) in 2003.