Eclectic Maybe Band | Guy Segers | Interview
Guy Segers, a major force in experimental music, has profoundly shaped the genre with his innovative approach to music-making.
As a founding member of the iconic Univers Zero, Segers played a crucial role in the Rock in Opposition movement, where he seamlessly blended diverse styles with an adventurous spirit.
His current venture, Eclectic Maybe Band, is a testament to his ongoing innovation. Established by Segers in 2015, the band is a vibrant ensemble of musicians from varied backgrounds, including alumni of Univers Zero and Art Zoyd. Their music is a dynamic fusion that defies conventional boundaries, crafting a distinctive and immersive atmosphere all its own.
The band’s discography, including the album ‘Bars Without Measures,’ highlights Segers’ dedication to pushing musical boundaries. It features a rich interplay of carefully composed works and spontaneous improvisations, resulting in a unique sonic tapestry. Collaborations with guest artists such as Julie Tippetts and Dani Klein further enhance this innovative sound, adding their own distinct elements and broadening the band’s creative horizons.
How did it all started for you?
Guy Segers: I first played in a small band with Roger Trigaux (RIP), and we had a large rehearsal room. At some point, we shared this space with Arkham, a Belgian trio playing music very similar to Soft Machine (I’m referring to the late sixties).
In the early seventies, the drummer and keyboard player of Arkham joined the French band Magma. The keyboard player, Jean-Luc Manderlier, stayed with Magma and played on the famous MDK [‘Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh’] record. However, Daniel Denis didn’t stay with Magma—having two drummers with such a wide range was too much.
When Daniel Denis returned to Belgium, he asked me and Roger Trigaux to start a new band. This became Necronomicon, which included a trumpet player who influenced us towards free and new jazz. At one point, we also had percussion, saxophone, keyboards, and violin.
In 1974, we changed the band’s name to Univers Zero. We were still heavily influenced by Tony Williams Lifetime, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Weather Report—it was the most interesting movement at that time. About a year later, we settled on a lineup with violin, guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums. It was then that we began to draw on other inspirations to create our own style.
What currently occupies your life?
At the moment, I’m working on the fifth album under the name Eclectic Maybe Band. This album will feature many guest musicians, with a mix of composed pieces and entirely improvised music.
The previous album, ‘Bars Without Measures’ (2023), also included a large number of musicians, with each piece performed by a different ensemble. My process involves composing the music first and then contacting the musicians best suited to perform it. The style of each track varies, allowing me to express the full range of musical influences that have shaped me, while also avoiding a strict adherence to the Univers Zero style.
The improvisations are recorded in a one-day studio session with musicians who live near Brussels. This upcoming album will include contributions from some former members of Univers Zero.
You can find the album here.
Can you please share some further words about Eclectic Maybe Band?
The Eclectic Maybe Band album ‘Bars Without Measures’ features contributions from a diverse group of musicians, including several former members of Univers Zero:
Dirk Descheemaeker on clarinets
Marianne Denoïa on violin
Michel Delory on guitar
Andy Kirk on keyboards
Additionally, two members of Art Zoyd also participated:
Jean-Pierre Soarez on trumpet
Thierry Zaboitzeff on cello
Beyond this core group, the album also includes a wide array of talented musicians:
Julie Tippetts (formerly Julie Driscoll), who has sung with Keith Tippett, Carla Bley, and Robert Wyatt, though she was most famous in the sixties.
Dani Klein, the voice behind the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios.
Sibel Dinçer, who performs Turkish music with her band. I also played with her band briefly.
Pierre Bernard on flute, who plays with many bands, including Aka Moon.
Piet Van Bockstal on oboe, who plays with the Ictus Ensemble.
Stephan Köhr, a German bassoonist with a classical background who produces music under the name Eskalation. He also plays contrabassoon on the record.
Martin Archer on saxello, from the UK. He plays in various ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere, and owns the Discus Music label.
Joe Higham on saxophones, who was part of the band Morton Fork Gang, where I also played.
Mark Bogaerts on saxophone, who also played in the Morton Fork Gang.
Dave Newhouse on saxophone, who was a member of the American band The Muffins. I sometimes play on his albums.
Franck Cottret, who plays in a band with Jean-Pierre Soarez.
Cécile Broché on violin, known for improvisation and using effects. She has worked with many jazz bands and recently released a record on Discus Records, the same label as Eclectic Maybe Band.
Ariane Plumerel on violin, who plays with the Belgian National Orchestra. We also played together in the rock band Guts.
Forrest Fang, an American composer with numerous albums. On this record, he plays processed violin and is familiar with electronic sounds.
Daniel Vincke, Sibel Dinçer’s husband, is a multi-instrumentalist and a talented singer.
Pierre Vervloesem on guitar, often referred to as the “Belgian Frank Zappa.” He has released numerous albums, one of which includes me and Charles Hayward. He also worked with Morgan Ågren and X-Legged Sally and does most of the mastering for my records.
Michel Delville on guitar, who has his own band, The Wrong Object. We played together in a band called Moving Tones.
Ángel Ontalva on guitar, a Spanish guitarist who leads the band October Equus.
Matvi Bilis on guitar, who played in the band Guts, where I also played.
Catherine Smet on keyboards, a classically trained musician who became well-known in jazz. We played together in the band Moving Tones.
Sean Rickman on drums, an American drummer who has played with Steve Coleman and has performed with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Marcus Miller.
Fabrice Owerzarski on drums, who mostly plays in Andy Kirk’s band. I produced their first album, Faith-Live Backstage.
Dirk Wachtelaer on drums, with whom I played in Galileo’s Left Wing. I also produced the album for that band. He has played with Bill Laswell, Raoul Björkenheim, Toshinori Kondo, and DJ Grazzhoppa.
Eclectic Maybe Band has released four albums:
‘The Blind Night Watchers’ Mysterious Landscapes’ (2018)
‘Reflection In A Moebius Ring Mirror’ (2019)
‘Again Alors?’ (2022)
‘Bars Without Measures’ (2023)
Klemen Breznikar
Eclectic Maybe Band Facebook
