JAZZAROUND was born in 1995 in the wake of the LYRAE Records label by the late Philippe VERMEULEN and Pascal NOEL who saw his musical productions refused by all the press. According to the adage "One is never better served than by oneself", graphic designer by profession, a first monochrome issue of 8 A4 pages printed in 1,000 copies is distributed free of charge in Jazz Clubs and music stores. Following the very positive reactions, the founders decided to switch to the quarterly edition, fully financed by their graphic design agency "KROKODEAL". A tour of musical organizations from the north to the south of Belgium in an attempt to group them together for more effective promotion very quickly proved to be impossible.

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You don't have to wait long to see the magazine evolve from a 16-page duotone, thanks to partners such as PROMEDIA, DUVEL, FEDEX and other advertisers, to a 32-page full four-color distributed free of charge for more than 17 years in FNAC, Media library, Discobus, Jazz Club, Cultural Center... and a distribution that is expanding internationally through collaboration with the HMV group in Canada, the Django d'Or, Citizen Jazz, the IRMA or the CIJ in France.

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Bernard LEGROS was the editor-in-chief for two years, to be soon replaced by Philippe SHOONBROOD in 1997, the year of the death of the founder Philippe VERMEULEN in a car accident, and the creation of the non-profit organization MUZAK which assumes its role as manager for 17 years without the slightest hitch with on board: Pascal NOEL, President - Jean-Jacques HAUZEUR, Secretary - Philippe SCHOONBROOD, Treasurer and Claude LOXHAY - Administrator.

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Despite a professional and regular work with a daily management according to the standards useful for a healthy situation for the financial institutions and the French Community of Belgium, JAZZAROUND sees itself cut off from its subsidies for obscure reasons. In response, JAZZAROUND collaborated with the SUD PRESSE group and published a weekly column from 2009 to 2011, a year that saw  the dissolution of MUZAK asbl for a rebirth in 2012 on the web of the internet. Through his company, Pascal NOEL once again brings the skills and finances necessary for a long-term vision with the help of Karim HAMRARAS who will assume the roles useful for broadcasting on the WEB.

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In 2015, following a dispute between Philippe SCHOONBROOD and Pascal NOEL, the latter grants the editor-in-chief the right to use the site in order to perpetuate the magazine and above all, to continue the promotion of Belgian musical heritage. An agreement which reinforces the recognition of JAZZAROUND thanks to the regular and serious work of its editor-in-chief.

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At the end of 2019, Pascal NOEL offered Philippe SCHOONBROOD to republish JAZZAROUND in a paper version with a private financial partner. A news that once again tightens their bond of friendship since 1997 and creates a new enthusiasm for this new ambition...

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... Unfortunately, this ambition was destroyed on May 30, 2020, following the death of Philippe SCHOONBROOD, as well as the theft and elimination of all JAZZAROUND data by the JAZZMANIA team. Following the complaint filed with the Liège public prosecutor's office, which was rejected for saturation of the file, these unfortunate events will definitely impact JAZZAROUND and impose a new vision on the editorial level...!

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A new story begins...

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Pascal NOEL
Founder