Not having the money to purchase sophisticated photo equipment, it took several years of dedicated saving to be able to call himself a serious photographer. His professional photographic career began in the early seventies after landing a job as a photo-journalist with Het Nieuwsblad, one of the largest newspapers in Belgium.

His interest in jazz also blossomed during these years and it was during the seventies when pirate radio was popping up all over Belgium. Jos began moonlighting as a DJ with his first radio show, Radio North Sea on Thursday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. "Pirate radio was really a wild thing in those days," said Jos. "Broadcasting from a van, we had to go from one place to another in order not to get caught. Between my photo assignments and radio show, I was always on the move."

Jos' photographic work continued during the early 1980s and his award-winning action photography was exhibited regularly throughout Belgium. By 1985, his professional photography career took a hiatus until 1990 when he began again, this time limiting his photography strictly to jazz, one of the great loves of his life.

Jos continues as a jazz DJ in Belgium and his stunning jazz photography can be seen on display at many jazz venues, in publications throughout Belgium and published worldwide on the Internet. His photos capture the real spirit of jazz, but go far deeper than simple photographic talent. It is the heart and soul of a 25-year jazz DJ, combined with the gift of vision, that captures a moment in time in the world of jazz.

Other Jos Knaepen Exhibits @ AAJ
Jazz Expressions, Vol 1
Jazz Expressions, Vol 2
Jazz Impressions, Vol 1
Jazz Impressions, Vol 2

All photos copyright © Jos Knaepen. All Rights Reserved.
Captions by Suzi Price

Anne Drummond. Originally from Seattle and discovered by pianist Kenny Barron, flautiste Anne Drummond fits into Barron's Canta Brazil Band like a glove.

Bert Joris. Belgium's trumpet player par excellence. He has managed his trumpet to sound like a fluegelhorn. Extremely lyrical like many well known Italian jazz musicians.

Brad Mehldau. You compare him to Bill Evans and you're certainly in for a riot, yet, Mehldau is the ultimate pianist to walk in Bill's footsteps. This year's Marciac Jazz 7000 head audience raved during and after his concert.

Cassandra Wilson. Promoting her latest Blue Note Release "Belle of The Sune", Miss Wilson was warmly welcomed to the unfamous North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague, The Netherlands. An intimate concert before a 2000 people audience.

Delfeayo Marsalis. As a member of the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, Delfeayo as he was perfoming here at the very first Blue Note Jazz Festival in Ghent, Belgium. A really magnificent concert, wish you were there.

Diana Krall. One of the few Miss Krall concerts in Europe this fall. On her way to the far east she was top of the bill in Brussels just this 1st October. No strings, no Claus Ogerman but lovely swingin' jazz by a beautiful vocalist and piano player.

Elvin Jones. At age 75 he's still traveling the world and putting his audiences in awe...A tribute to John Coltrane and goosebumps were all over.

Fred Hersch. In the liner notes of his Concord Jazz recording of October 1993 at the Maybeck Recital Hall Fred Hersch says: "When I'm playing music that I connect with, the form and the changes don't limit me, they inspire me to say something original and personal". That was exactly the mood we felt at Hersch's Luchtbal Antwerp, Belgium solo piano performance earlier this year.

Charles Lloyd. If not for Michel Petrucciani, Charles would have remained comfortably in his beautiful Big Sur, CA retreat. Fortunately MP could persuade Lloyd to rediscover the world of Jazz.

Daniel Pollain. Stan Getz still influences many tenorsax players. This young Belgian player comes close to “The Sound”, but there’s only one Getz, of course.