Piet Verbist

Born in Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium, Piet studied classical double bass at the Academy of Ekeren and Turnhout. He also took lessons with John Clayton, Hein Van De Geyn, Ricardo Del Fra and studied at the Antwerp Jazz-Studio where Dave Pike, Dennis Luxion and Hein Van De Geyn were his teachers. He graduated from the Brussels Conservatory in 1994 and then began lessons with Dave Holland.  Piet has been in high demand on the Belgian scene for decades. He spent 8 years with Universal Recording Artist Jef Neve Trio, touring around Europe as well as to Japan, China and Canada, and has performed with international giants such as Toots Thielemans, Paolo Fresu, Mark Turner, and Jacques Pelzer, and with prominent Europeans Eric Legnini, Phil Abraham, Nathalie Loriers, Erwin Vann, Richard Rousselet, Stefaan Debevere, Michel Herr, Kris Defoort, Jack Van Poll, Erik Vermeulen, Frank Vaganee, Dre Pallemaerts, Ben Sluys, Kurt Van Herck, Jan de Haas, Luk Mishalle, Dirk Wachtelaer, Koen De Cauter, Dirk Vanderlinden, Jeff Gardner, Charles Loos, Matt Renzi, Jasper Blom, Edouard Ferlet, Phillipe Thomas, Rob Van Kreefeld, the band Octurn, Bert Joris, Geoffrey Burton, Carmelo Muriel, Nono Garcia, Chad McCullough, John Bishop, Piotr Wojtasik, and many others.  Presently, he's active with the Francois Descamps Quartet, JDH (Jan de Haas) Band, Cezarius Gadzina Saxafabra, Ancesthree (Ben Sluys/Hendrik Braeckman), Vanishing Pictures, Carmelo Muriel, The Jazz Station Big Band. Piet leads his own band, "Zygomatik" with Herman Pardon (drums), Bram Weijters (piano) and rotating saxophonists including Vincent Brijs, Fred Delplanq and/or Matt Renzi (USA). Piet is on the faculty of the Antwerp Conservatory and at the Art High School of Antwerp.