Xavier Verhelst

Belgian bassist/composer Xavier Verhelst may be the leader of Wofo, a Ghent-based innovative jazz group. Verhelst takes on both upright and electrical six-string bass, concentrating on the second option device on Wofo albums like the Total Hamsessions (2007), Tweedt (2009), and Bark (2011). The bassist also composes all the group’s original materials, which possesses an interesting, listener-friendly quality however no lack of difficulties in its multi-layered contrapuntal plans, world fusion components, and expansive soloing. The Wofo lineup offers assorted from a quintet to a sextet, with instrumentation including saxophone, clarinet, piano or acoustic guitar, trumpet, and drums — using the sharp sound of Verhelst’s electrical six-string adding to the band’s exclusive taste. In 2012 Verhelst organized the music of Raymond Scott for any Wofo tour, and in 2013 he made up songs for Belgian event appearances from the group having a three-piece string section.