Gilbert Isbin Group

Artist Information

Biography

Belgian acoustic guitarist Gilbert Isbin has recorded thus far 13 albums, which have been highly acclaimed by the international musicpress and which are worldwide distributed. He played concerts all over Europe and in Los Angeles (USA). He has collaborated and/or recorded with American and European players, such as Cameron Brown, Joe Fonda, Jeff Gauthier, Judi Silvano, Ernst Reijseger, Mchel Godard, Jaap Blonk, John Ruocco, Sandor Szabo, ...
Gilbert has written music for documentaries and shortfilms and composed music for solo, duet, trio and quartet guitar settings of which his 'Summer Moon Dance' has been added to the repertoire of the internationally acclaimed Quartetto Chitarristico Italiano. Several of his compositions for guitar solo, flute/guitar,.. have been and are to be published by Copamusic Productions.
He is featured in the E-book '25 Great Fingerstyle Players' of Acoustic Guitar Workshop

Before becoming the lead singer of the Gilbert Isbin group, Lea Van Loo interpreted mainly brasilian songs in different bands. With her feeling for rhythm, unusual talent for improvisation and sensual voice she gives the listener the impression that every song on Water With A Smile is meant only for him or her.

Percussionist Peter Van Gheluwe plays a dozen different instruments on the album: djembe, tabla, framedrums, clavis, guiro, cajon, tampura, hi-hat etc. Peter finds his musical ingredients all over the word during his travels.

Electrical bass player Xavier Rau grew up in jazz, fusion, funk and rock. He gives the songs their pulsing beat and surprising solos.

Instrumentation

Gilbert Isbin : nylon string & jazzguitar
Lea Van Loo : vocals
Peter Vangheluwe : percussion (darbouka, tabla, djembe, Cajon, ...
Xavier Rau : electric and uprightbass

Discography

GILBERT ISBIN GROUP :

WATER WITH A SMILE , Cd, Jazz'halo TS023

GILBERT ISBIN SOLO :

RED WINE, CD, TRTR, Germany, 2003
BLISTERS, CD, JAZZ HALO, Belgium, 2002 (with JOE FONDA)
GILBERT ISBIN PLAYS NICK DRAKE, CD, TRTR, Germany, 2000
TWINS, CD, TERN, Belgium, 1999 (with GEERT VERBEKE)
SOLOWORKS, CD, VKH, Belgium, 1997
ACOUSTIC DIALOGUES, CD, TERN, Belgium,1995 (with RUDY DE SUTTER)
1,37, CD, EXT, Belgium, 1995 (with EXTENSIONS)
MOTIONS, CD, EXT, Belgium, 1994 ( with EXTENSIONS)
SPRING CLEANING, CD, VKH, Belgium, 1992
BLUE SOUNDS AND TOUCHES, CD, HWYL, UK, 1991
THE CLEAR PERCEPTION, LP, HWYL, UK, 1987
PURE, LP, TERN REC, Belgium, 1984

on COMPILATIE CD :
TRANCE PLANET VOL 4 , TRILOKA, POLYGRAM (USA) 1999 on which are also featured Camarón de la Isla, Abida Parveen, Marta Sebestyén, Brain Keane,...
The FINGERSYLE OF GILBERT ISBIN, MP3, UK, 2002
EUROPEAN TRYTONE FESTIVAL, 2003 (with IEP FOURIER)

Official Website

http://users.pandora.be/gilbert.isbin/gigbio.html

Audio

Lyrics

• Water With A Smile
• Picking A Flower
• Suite For Dark Shades

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• WWW.GUITARNOISE.COM (USA) [+ Show ]
  

  Anything bearing Gilbert Isbin's name is always welcome. Gilbert is one of the best guitarists world...Anything bearing Gilbert Isbin's name is always welcome. Gilbert is one of the best guitarists worldwide. Don't look for the guy playing scales at 300 miles per hour, Gilbert plays with his heart and does things that most of us can only dream of.
  
  Add to his music, the beautiful voice of beautiful singer Lea Van Loo, the percussion talents of Peter Vangheluwe and the bass talents of Vincent De Laat and you have a magnificent recipe.
  
  Water With A Smile is a beautifully rendered jazz album that one doesn't tire of listening to. And when I say “jazz,” I don't mean the kind where all the musicians attempt to outdo each other without paying much attention to the overall result. Here the musicians never put in too much, only what's needed, but with all their hearts. Which is not to say that the musicians don't play at full force, they do. But all together.
  
  
  

• DE MORGEN (Belgium) [+ Show ]
  

  Vocal jazz, folk and latin jazz beautifully merged in a surprisingly strong Belgian product. Insi...Vocal jazz, folk and latin jazz beautifully merged in a surprisingly strong Belgian product.
  
  Insiders know guitar player Gilbert Isbin since long. Influences from classical music, jazz, folk, blues and all sorts of traditional ethnic music transpire in his refined acoustic style. Rhythmically, melodically and harmonically Isbin strives for a perfect balance between virtuosity and a warm sound. All of the music on this album was composed by Isbin and the English lyrics by Emile Clemens. On this very versatile album Lea Van Loo showcases her talent as a singer and her feel for improvisation and timing. She feels at home on jazzy tunes (Snake Talks), folkinfluenced ones (The Ladybird Song), or a flamencosong like 'Suite For Dark Shades', but also in Indian rhythms (the title song) and even in the very groovy 'Simple Pleasure'. The percussion player on this CD is Peter Vangheluwe and the electric bass is played by Vincent De Laat
  

• SONG OF THE YEAR CONTEST (USA) [+ Show ]
  

  'PICKING A FLOWER' LYRICS: The lyrics on this jazz number are superb. Excellent word usage, styl...'PICKING A FLOWER'
  
  LYRICS: The lyrics on this jazz number are superb. Excellent word usage, styling, tempo, and complexity. Great job. MUSIC: The vocals are awesome! The guitar, baseline, and percussion are wonderful on their own and blend wonderfully! MELODIES: The melodies were absolutely wonderful! Pure jazz riffs with a perfect flow! STRUCTURE: I cannot say anything about the structure of this song. The chord progressions are great. The musical elements come together and blend well, harmonizing fluidly. Tempo, flow, levels, breaks, changeups…everything is as it should. Excellent! MARKETABILITY: This is a jazz work of art that in said genre should be a dominating song. I thoroughly hope to see this song on the market and on the airwaves soon. EMOTIONAL RESPONSE : : Coming from a virgin jazz enthusiast, I must say that this song grabs me in every way, making me want to dance, sing along, tap my toes, and just feel the music!
  
  
  
  
  
  

• ROOTSTOWN MUSIC ZINE #98 [+ Show ]
  

  (translation) Water With A Smile could be described as an excursion into vocal jazz with influence...(translation)
  Water With A Smile could be described as an excursion into vocal jazz with influences of latin and bossa nova. Not that Isbin wants to walk into the footsteps of Jobim, therefore he has too much personality. The songs have a light exotic tinge, but are rooted very strongly into the jazztradition. Besides, as we could expect, the rhythms vary from subtle quiet melodies to more complex structures (Simple Pleasure, Virago). The voice of Lea Van Loo fits perfectly into the groupsound, of which each member gets the opportunity to focuss on their own musicality. A perfect example is ‘Stories’. A fascinating CD.
  The opening track Picking A Flower has been chosen as January winner in the American Songwriting contest 'Song Of The Year'
  
  

• GONZO CIRCUS MAGAZINE (B) [+ Show ]
  

  Wonderful songs full of craftmanship with here and there a snuff of latin and bossa nova. The le...Wonderful songs full of craftmanship with here and there a
  snuff of latin and bossa nova.
  The leading part is taken by singer Lea Van Loo who, with her warm funky voice, lift up the already amazing contributions from the other members to an even higher level
  

• ACOUSTIC GUITAR WORKSHOP REVIEW (UK) [+ Show ]
  

  "Gilbert Isbin, the phenomenal Belgian fingerstyle guitarist, has formed a new band. Immaculate voca..."Gilbert Isbin, the phenomenal Belgian fingerstyle guitarist, has formed a new band. Immaculate vocals from Lea Van Loo, cooking bass provided by Vincent De Laat, solid grooves from percussionist, Peter Van Gheluwe and of course guitar from the man himself. The Gilbert Isbin Group combines modes and rhythms from various cultures into refreshing songs."
  
  

• ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE issue 95 (USA) [+ Show ]
  

  With almost a dozen albums under his belt, Belgian guitarist Gilbert Isbin is an acclaimed fingersty...With almost a dozen albums under his belt, Belgian guitarist Gilbert Isbin is an acclaimed fingerstylist whose music walks the line between classical and jazz styles. On this unique concept album, Isbin has chosen 11 songs spanning Nick Drake’s short career as the basis for rich guitar instrumentals. It is startling to hear songs like "River Man" and "Three Hours" in this new context. The absence of Drake’s plaintive voice allows the enchantment of his music to take center stage, and Isbin gives Drake’s airy and magical melodies a new sense of nobility.
  
  

• ALL ABOUT JAZZ (USA) [+ Show ]
  

  Belgian acoustic guitarist Gilbert Isbin’s intricate finger picking and seamless blend of folksy the...Belgian acoustic guitarist Gilbert Isbin’s intricate finger picking and seamless blend of folksy themes, combined with a reconstruction of Hendrix’ “Little Wing,” is enhanced by his jazz-based sensibilities. His articulations might spur notions of the late, great American guitarist John Fahey.
  
  

• RECORD COLLECTOR (UK) [+ Show ]
  

  The album as a whole is deeply satisfying- an ardent tribute by one of the guitar's great masters. ...The album as a whole is deeply satisfying- an ardent tribute by one of the guitar's great masters.
  
  

Setlist

Our repertoire consists of all the songs from our Cd Water With A Smile and new material

Basic Requirements

Calendar