SCHNTZL is a duo comprised of pianist Hendrik Lasure and drummer Casper Van De Velde. The two musicians first met at the ages of 12 and 14, respectively, and have never stopped playing together since, first performing as part of several larger collectives before breaking out on their own in 2014 as the duo, SCHNTZL. Their music sees improvisation intertwined with fully arranged compositions.

Hendrik and Casper are both currently studying jazz at the music colleges of Brussels and Antwerp, but are just as much inspired by other music forms, such as singer-songwriter, classical, and electronica. SCHNTZL is the constant search for the preservation of fragility: how can strict composition and free improvisation be combined? How do acoustic and electronic elements fit together? The unique minimalist way in which they answer these questions leaves enough space for silence and takes you to the essence of music.

In February 2015 they won the STORM! contest for young upcoming musical talent, which earned them a cd release on the W.E.R.F. label and a JazzLab tour in 2016. Last summer, they acquired the prizes for best composition and best instrumentalist as well, at the Tremplin Jazz d’Avignon Contest. This year will be especially exciting for the duo: they are recording their debut in June, which will be released in the fall of 2016 during a JazzLab tour of more than 20 concerts!