★★★★ Nice words + 4 stars from DE STANDAARD
OTTLA
OTTLA

Ottla is the new band of the sedulous singer, songwriter and guitarist Bert Dockx (Flying Horseman, Dans Dans, Strand). What started as a modest thought, an ambiguous plan to start playing jazz again, spiralled into an idiosyncratic project with its very own identity. It became Ottla, Franz Kafka’s beloved sister’s surname, after whom the young Dockx once christened a bicycle, and later his first band.
Now, once again, Ottla is a band. And much more than a nod to Dockx’s past forays in the world of improv, it’s a new and different beast; a unique hybrid of musical moods and styles. Certainly not a casual exercise, but a very downright, vital sextet which was shaped and moulded under the guise of its instigator, after a yearlong of blowing and kicking up dust in the rehearsal room.
The outcome of said year, the first album of Ottla, sounds playful, mysterious, sometimes fragile, occasionally brute, vexed, but always exciting and intriguing. Bert dialled up producer and long-time collaborator Koen Gisen to capture the chemistry and energy of Ottla in a potent, analogue production. Eight songs made it onto the self-titled debut, six original compositions and two covers - one from Sun Ra, one from Thelonious Monk.
The raw, blues-infected guitar, the deliberate wandering through nocturnal detours, a soft spot for dissonant electronics… they’re all cornerstones of Bert Dockx musical cosmos. But still Ottla gracefully pedals her own distinctive way, with clashing or harmonious brass, two contending drummers, and brazenly roaring double bass.
Jazz? Rock? Psychedelia? Something in between or very much outside of it? It wholly depends on the listener. Or like Monk once said: ‘You're supposed to know it when you hear it’.
Bert Dockx (guitar)
Frans Van Isacker (alto sax)
Thomas Jillings (tenor sax)
Nicolas Rombouts (bass)
Louis Evrard (drums, percussion)
Yannick Dupont (drums, percussion, electronics)
Tourdates
No upcoming shows
Tour History
Date | Band | Location | |
---|---|---|---|
30-09-2020 | CC Diest | OTTLA | Diest |
25-09-2020 | CC Belgica | OTTLA | Dendermonde |
21-09-2020 | Jazz Middelheim | OTTLA | Antwerpen |
22-02-2020 | Peel Slowly and See | OTTLA | Leiden, NL |
21-02-2020 | De Doelen | OTTLA | Rotterdam, NL |
08-02-2020 | Bimhuis | OTTLA | Amsterdam, NL |
07-02-2020 | Cactus Club | OTTLA | Brugge |
01-02-2020 | De Roma | OTTLA | Antwerpen |
25-01-2020 | Rauwkost | OTTLA | Den Bosch, NL |
23-01-2020 | Handelsbeurs | OTTLA | Gent |
Albums
Press
pressview
22-09-2020 |
★★★★☆ from FOCUS KNACK for Ottla at Jazz Middelheim |
live |
24-02-2020 |
"Whether you think you like jazz or not, Ottla will fill you with emotion." THE DAILY INDIE on Ottla live |
live |
24-02-2020 |
"A fine performance, characterised by diversity, playfulness and guts" 3 VOOR 12 on Ottla live at Peel Slowly & See 2020 |
live |
27-01-2020 |
"A Wonderful Show" KLANKGAT on Ottla live at Rauwkost Festival |
live |
25-01-2020 |
★★★★☆ "We Want More" DE MORGEN on Ottla live at Botanique |
live |
24-01-2020 |
"Finger licking good" DANSENDE BEREN on Ottla in Handelsbeurs |
live |
23-01-2020 |
Great review on Ottla live at Handelsbeurs by JAZZ & MO' |
live |
21-01-2020 |
Interview with Bert Dockx on Ottla in HUMO |
album |
25-12-2019 |
"Stofwolk" is one of DANSENDE BEREN's best Belgian singles of 2019 |
album |
24-12-2019 |
Ottla's debut at N°2 in LUMINOUS DASH's Bram Gobbers' best of 2019 |
album |
18-12-2019 |
Ottla's debut is one of INDIESTYLE's favourite Belgian albums of 2019 |
album |
17-12-2019 |
Another great review from JAZZHALO |
album |
16-12-2019 |
N°1 album of 2019 + interview & concert review in JAZZISM (NL) |
album |
08-12-2019 |
Ottla's debut is at N°4 of WRITTEN IN MUSIC's best of 2019 |
album |
02-12-2019 |
"Dockx & his companions pull out all the stops on this crushing debut" JAZZFLITS (NL) on Ottla's first album. |
album |
27-11-2019 |
Ottla's 'Huisje Tuintje' on FRANCE MUSIQUE's Open Jazz |
onair |
31-10-2019 |
"...this might be the best album in Dockx’s discography. And that means something." INDIESTYLE |
album |
28-10-2019 |
"A great album that leaves pigeonholing to those still needing it." ENOLA on Ottla |
album |
26-10-2019 |
"Album of the year" according to LUMINOUS DASH |
album |
24-10-2019 |
"Brilliant" FOCUS VIF on Ottla's debut |
album |
24-10-2019 |
"Ottla is a world-class band and their first born is downright crushing!" WRITTEN IN MUSIC (NL) |
album |
23-10-2019 |
★★★★ Nice words + 4 stars from DE STANDAARD |
album |
23-10-2019 |
★★★★ from FOCUS KNACK for Ottla'sdebut album |
album |
22-10-2019 |
★★★★½ for Ottla's debut from HUMO |
album |
04-10-2019 |
Nice review on Ottla's debut by JAZZHALO (DE) |
album |
25-08-2019 |
"Shaking" JAZZQUES on Ottla live at Gaume Jazz |
live |
12-08-2019 |
JAZZ HALO on Ottla live at Gaume Jazz |
live |
11-08-2019 |
Bert Dockx in "My Favorite Things" on KLARA |
onair |
19-07-2019 |
"Stofwolk" sounds like a brooding musical exploration through a warm and desolate landscape. DANSENDE BEREN |
album |
02-07-2019 |
"Ottla surprises, amazes, grooves, moves & has humour" JAZZISM on Ottla live at Gent Jazz 2019 |
live |
30-06-2019 |
"An energetic atmosphere" DANSENDE BEREN on Ottla at Gent Jazz 2019 |
live |
29-04-2019 |
"Strong, energetic performance, which left no one untouched" JAZZFORUM (PL) on Ottla live at BJM 2019 |
live |
15-04-2019 |
Nice words from WRITTEN IN MUSIC on Ottla live at the Belgian Jazz Meeting |
live |
09-04-2019 |
"Most interesting music" LONDON JAZZ NEWS (UK) on Ottla live at the Belgian Jazz Meeting |
live |
09-04-2019 |
"Spectacular" JAZZ ENZO (NL) on Ottla live at the Belgian Jazz Meeting |
live |
29-03-2019 |
"A strong & intense performance" ENOLA on Ottla live in Ghent. |
live |