Cel Overberghe (°1937 Deurne/Antwerp) has enjoyed a long career both as a painter and as a musician. At the end of the nineteen fifties he performed quite often in his hometown of Antwerp as a jazz musician. Depending on the musical constellation of the moment he played trumpet, bass, drums, piano, alto and tenor saxophone. He is self-thaught on all these instruments. Cel played and toured with Jack Sels, The Jack Van Poll Trio, The Paul Van Gysegem Trio and with his brother-in-law, Fred Van Hove. Fred and Cel recorded a few highly acclaimed albums in the early seventies.
A few years ago Cel Overberghe acquired four track recording equipment on which he recorded original compositions in his own workshop. In 2005 these recordings were released on cd. On "Transparent Selfportrait" Cel plays all instruments. The key-words of this engaging selfportrait are: thoughtful, intimate, reflective, homogenous, atmospheric, lyrical and organic.
Early 2005 Cel Overberghe formed a new trio: C.O.I.N., Cel Overberghe Intuition. Cel, on piano and tenor, is joined by Kris Nelissen on bass and Michael Weilacher on drums. Self-thaught Nelissen, before playing with Bert Joris & Impuls, was member of Cel's Relax 85. Weilacher is alumnus of various classical music academies in the USA and is at home in contemporary classical music settings. He played with Zeitklang, Ictus, Champ d'Action and his own Streetbeat.
Early 2007 C.O.I.N. recorded its first album "Expressions". The disc contains three studio recorded improvisations. Each selection was played and recorded according to the phylosophy of free jazz and improvised music and although there are no written compositions nor harmonic restrictions, there is still an undercurrent feeling of pulsating swing. Cel Overberghe, while claiming absolute freedom of expression, never disavows his deeply rooted jazz sensibilities.
On his previous cd, "Transparent Selfportrait", Cel was his own sparring partner. On "Expressions" his rhythm section stimulates and inspires him to reach new heights. Trio interaction results in high voltage energy, giving this new recording a more restless, nervous and agitated soundscape than its predecessor.
The first improvisation on present recording "Expressions 1" starts with dark piano chords introducing a thirty minute dialogue. The mood varies from austerity to high energy. Regarding style and content "Expressions 2" is its perfect partner. Cel Overberghe's fast statements on piano want to convey us an urgent or even threatening message. But what is this message about? Is Cel trying to make us part of an existential adventure full of inner struggle and strife? Anyway, it's not a free ride, no life in jazz without conflict.
On "Saxism", last track of present cd, Cel Overberghe turns to his tenor saxophone. From this historic instrument, once the horn of legendary Fud Candrix, Cel sometimes draws solemn and elevated sounds, then all hell breaks loose and raw, gritty outcries dominate the soundscape.
The music on these recordings is fundamentally lyrical, but aware, the performers take no prisoners. "Expressions": a convincingly painted musical group portrait. (Patrick Auwelaert)
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