Tom Bourgeois Quartet feat. Courtois & Harcsa: Lili (FR/BE/HU)

Tom Bourgeois’s musical world lies at the intersection of modern jazz and contemporary music. He composes for all kinds of ensembles, from soloists to large orchestras; alongside his own bands, he performs with groups such as Odil, Vestige and the Jelle Van Giel Group, and has also composed around twenty film scores. He founded his new quartet in 2023 with renowned fellow musicians based in Belgium, offering a personal, jazz-infused interpretation of Lili Boulanger’s compositions. These lyrical pieces faithfully preserve all the harmonic nuances and melodiousness of early 20th-century music, which a clear structure and simple, uncluttered instrumentation make an even more enjoyable listening experience.

Marie-Juliette Olga ‘Lili’ Boulanger (1893–1918), who died tragically young, was born into a family of musicians, so her talent was recognised early on. At the age of five, she was already accompanying her sister, Nadia Boulanger, to her lessons at the Paris Conservatoire, and soon began playing various instruments herself. Her transition to serious musical studies was hampered by a chronic illness until she was 16. She was the first female composer to be awarded the Prix de Rome: in 1913, her cantata *Faust et Hélène* was recognised, and it was performed several times during her lifetime. Her compositional style was most strongly influenced by Claude Debussy and Gabriel Fauré.

Two guest artists will be performing at the concert: Veronika Harcsa enriches the pieces not only with her singing but also with her own lyrics, whilst Vincent Courtois brings his supple cello tone and his experience of contemporary and classical music to the songs. The album was released in April 2025 as a result of a collaboration between Igloo Records and BMC Records.

Photo: Tibor Radványi