The Vaults Are Open.
Jazz Middelheim on vinyl.
After more than fifty years, the vaults of Jazz Middelheim are finally being opened. The result? A musical treasure trove: Jazz Middelheim – The Vaults Are Open, a brand-new compilation album that dives deep into the festival’s rich history and brings together unforgettable live recordings from across the decades.
Curated by DJ Grazzhoppa and Jens Tytgat (Inside Jazz), this project explores over 960 hours of live material dating from 1969 to today. The album is both a tribute to Belgian jazz heritage and the starting point for a promising series of future releases.
For this first edition, the spotlight is on the Belgian artists who helped shape the legacy of Jazz Middelheim. The tracklist is a vibrant homage to local legends and trailblazers, featuring rare live cuts from Aka Moon, Flat Earth Society, Toots Thielemans, Nicolas Thys & the 68 Monkeys, Greetings From Mercury, and Marc Moulin’s Placebo. These recordings, long treasured in jazz circles, are now officially released for the first time.
“A true honour to be able to bring you the cream of the crop of Jazz Middelheim LIVE performances throughout the years. This is just the tip of the iceberg – so much more in the vaults. Get ready for Volume 2!”
– DJ Grazzhoppa
More than just nostalgia
For this special release, DJ Grazzhoppa teamed up with New York-based jazz poet Sharrif Simmons, whose spoken word performances bring a raw and rhythmic layer to the project. His words echo the energy of the 1990s — a decade that left a lasting mark on the festival and its audience.
The Vaults Are Open isn’t just a retrospective — it’s a bold new beginning. With hundreds of unreleased gems still waiting in the archives and fresh recordings being added every year, this album marks the launch of an exciting new chapter for jazz lovers in Belgium and beyond.
