In 2007 we decided to stop
performing with this formation.
Mistral is become a live entertainment and
DJ-concept:
Mistral Musical
Entertainment
Historical
review
The band Mistral is born in
the year 2000, as a result of the need of 'live' music in our
region. Disco bars replace orchestras and only a few of those
DJ's are able to enjoy people and fulfil their wishes. This
we are trying to chance, with success. With the tree of us,
myself (synth and vocal), Sonja (alt- and tenor sax) and Fons
(tenor sax en vocal), we play a rich repertoire for all ages
and every occasion. I started following education on the
music academy from Borgerhout when I was 7 year old and
played meanwhile with my organ on all kind of festivities and
party’s. From within the local brass band was a
temporary band made, called The Clementines. This group was
made of 10 musicians and had a lot of success in the region.
In this band I played the Hammond organ. When I was 16 I join
the band The Willows with the saxophone and performed weekly,
even until far into Holland. After my Army service I was
asked to join The Sparrows, a 4 person counted
band. With this band we had concerts weekly in and outside
Belgium, like regular monthly performances in
dancing’s and roadhouses, like the Blauwe Donau in
the town Brasschaat. We decided to dive into the studio
and recorded our first album. Even a "Night from The
Sparrows" was organized, with guest preformance of famous
singers from the showbisnis. Unfortunaly I had a
car-accident on the age of 22, become completely
paralyzed, and needed a wheelchair to live further.
Because my hands are also paralyzed, I could play no more
the organ. After different years of musical non-active,
the electronic progress offered me a way to play the
keyboard again. So it happened in 1990 that I join the
band The Music Makers and start playing the keys again.
Also my wife Sonja and friend Fons were part of this band.
Internal brawls made after 8 years an end to the existence
of this band, so it becomes very quiet in the musical
land. However not for long, because after I bought new and
modern equipment to perform better the recent music,
musicians from former bands came to join me and we had
concerts far out of our region borders. A new smaller band
was born with the name... Mistral
In 2007 we decided to stop playing with this formation. It's
better to stop while everything is going fine, instead
otherwise. There where never discussion within the group, but
after a few years not everyone was on the same level, so it
was better to stop playing. We had a wonderful time and
amused many people. This was the goal and with this memories
in thoughts we thank everyone who asked us to play for them.
