Born of the countless, turbulent and illegitimate love affairs that jazz had with all the music in the world: Laughing Bastards. Bastard music as a manifesto, the lyrical as a common denominator, interwoven interplay as a starting point. Laughing Bastards is the alchemy of the youngest generation from the booming Ghent jazz and improv scene and the experience and hunger for innovation of an old hand in the field. Together they profess their love for the jazz tradition, with a quirky twist. Founded as a trio in 2012, Laughing Bastards has been operating as a quintet since 2018.

Their new album Fetish is released this month jointly by BMC Records and W.E.R.F. Laughing Bastards prove they are a quintessential Belgian band with an international appeal – soaking up sounds and influences from all over the place while maintaining a tight unity. Combining jazz and chamber music with ideas from pop music and multi-colored strains does not only give their music an iridescent edge, but also keeps the interplay fresh and inspired.