Toine Thys
"The Optimist is soulful, lyrical and harmonically rich, not to mention the quality improvisations. /.../ This music is going to appeal to many jazz fans, especially those of us in the African continent." - Murimi Eston, the Nairobian, 2019
Brussels-based saxophonist and clarinetist Toine Thys is a leading figure on the Belgian music scene. Renowned for his intensity and his ability to surprise, he constantly embarks on bold artistic ventures, often appearing where he is least expected.
Trained in the jazz tradition in both New York and the Netherlands, Thys continually pushes beyond his comfort zone through unexpected musical encounters, ranging from African traditions to Korean percussion. His adventures have led him to conduct a brass band deep inside a Congolese mine, provide live music for tightrope walkers crossing a lake, and teach music in a Kenyan slum.
On stage, Toine Thys possesses a unique gift for connecting with audiences. Engaging, witty, and charismatic, he creates genuine moments of exchange through spontaneous and insightful interactions. His concerts are above all celebrations of joy, discovery, and musical sharing.
As a bandleader, he leads the quartet Orlando alongside Teun Verbruggen, Florent Nisse, and Maxime Sanchez, performing poetic and hypnotic music. Their albums received both the Octave de la Musique award in 2021 and Jazzmag’s Discovery Prize. He also co-leads the trio Ibiyewa with Beninese drummer Angelo Moustapha and guitarist Joel Rabesolo, blending African rhythms with electronic influences. In addition, he has toured across five continents with the Hammond organ-based Toine Thys Trio, featuring Sam Yahel, Hervé Samb, and Karl Jannuska.
His international commitment is reflected in the co-founding of Les Ventistes du Faso, a music school in Burkina Faso, and through his collaboration with Kenya’s Ghetto Classics program. He is also a co-founder of FACIR, actively advocating for musicians’ rights. As an ambassador for Music Fund, Toine Thys supports the organization’s mission of training instrument makers and delivering musical instruments to underserved communities in places such as Palestine, the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, and Mozambique.
