Lucid Lucia

Founded by saxophonist Vincent Brijs, BRZZVLL have been a household name in Antwerp and the Belgian jazz scene since 2008 but after a fifteen-year period, the sextet has decided to embark on a new chapter in their story with a name change and new line-up. Enter Lucid Lucia, named after Brijs’ eldest daughter and also the name of a track which first appeared on BRZZVLL’s 2016 album ‘First Let's Dance’. It also symbolizes a brighter, clearer sound.

On the 8th October, Lucid Lucia are set to release their self-titled debut EP via Belgian tastemaker label Sdban Ultra. Searching to unwrap the bundle of complexity, contradictions and mystery that is a human life, across six tracks of jazz and space funk-infused grooves, Lucid Lucia look to the sound of Herbie’s ‘Head Hunters’ and Miles’ acid funk of the mid-70s for inspiration.

Continuing with an instrumental core, ‘Lucid Lucia’ is a mind-expanding celebration centred on freedom and rhythm. Free-spirited saxes, futuristic-sounding keys, monstrous bass lines and shifting drum beats fuse, resulting in an uplifting and joyous celebration of jazz, funk and groove.

The Vincent Brijs story began in 2007 when BRZZVLL won Jong Jazztalent Gent – a competition that taps into the unbridled creativity of one of the most creative music scenes in Belgium; the jazz scene. A performance at the prestigious Gent Jazz Festival followed with the band releasing their debut album ‘Days of Thunder, Days of Grace’ in 2008, which included contributions by Zap Mama's Marie Daulne among others and was voted ‘Best Jazz Album of 2008’ by Le Soir newspaper.

As musicians, the band honed their sound performing with numerous artists from home and around the world as part of the monthly ‘Nuff Said’ evenings in Antwerp as the house band, performing with artists including Ursula Rucker, Joseph Bowie (Defunkt), Amir Sulaiman, Anthony Joseph, Zena Edwards, Ayanna Witter Johnson, Baloji, Mo & Grazz, Kain the Poet (The Last Poets), Marie Daulne, Dizzy Madjeku, Ida Nielsen and many others.

They would go on to release five more albums including teaming up with Trinidad-born poet, novelist and musician Anthony Joseph on the 2014 critically acclaimed album ‘Engines’ and with hip-hop MC, writer and producer Amir Sulaiman on the 2016 album ‘First Let’s Dance’. The 2017 album ‘Waiho’, the band’s first instumental album and final album received glowing praise from numerous tastemakers including UNCUT magazine, The Line of Best Fit, XLR8R and Record Collector magazine.

And so to 2021 and Lucid Lucia. A new chapter for Vincent Brijs and his band - a marvellous jazz-funk odyssey that strikes the perfect balance between the freedom of jazz and the repetitions of funk. Enjoy the luminous sounds….