My history
I am Peter Vandendriessche, saxophone player, living in Belgium since 50 years. I am a Jazz musician & music teacher and I want to share some information about my activities through this web site. I made this site on my iMac.
Please feel free to contact me when you need more info. I’ll be pleased to help you.
I was born in Leuven, Belgium on 24th March 1961. Leuven is famous for its university and beer. I have had a bit of both. I studied electronic engineering @ Groep T.
I started the classical clarinet at the local academy of Leuven for 5 years, finishing at the age of 14. After that I picked up the Alto Saxophone and participated at the Jazz Clinics in Dworp, one week per year. My teachers were Steve Houben, Etienne Verschueren, Greg Badolato, Hall Singer, Nathan Davies, and onfortunately, not John Ruocco -who was my favorite at that time- etc ... I listened all day to Phil Woods, Cannonball, Paul Desmond, Brecker, Mintzer, Getz etc ... I wanted to play the Alto Saxophone because of the size of it, cerainly not the sound because I really hated it. It felt strange to play in the key of Eb being used to play in Bb but after all, the key doesn’t matter.
I joined the European Jazz Orchestra Big Band in 1980 and toured all over Europe. At the same time, Milkshake Banana, my band with my two brothers and some other friends, became more and more popular. I toured with, Act big Band, Jan Muës multet, Yvan Paduard, Calvin Owens, Johan Verminnen, Kris De Bruyne, Liliane St Pierre and recorded with Soul Sister, Victor Laszlo and many Belgian singers.
I worked with many artists and had chances to perform with some big names. In 1983 I joined the BRT Radio Jazz Orchestra for a couple of years. Ever since I have been teaching, playing as much as possible, doing studio work, ...
This is the short version of my curriculum. Music and technology are both a passion to live for. I’ll never give up one of both!

My ...
  • ... hero’s: Michael Brecker, Arvo Pärt, Take 6, Bob Mintzer, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Torsten Goods, Cannonball, Phil Woods, Peter Erskine, Steve Gadd, Herbie Hankock, Paul Desmond, Till Bronner, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawkings, Frank De Winne, Vivaldi - Beethoven - Mozart, ...
  • ... perfect holiday: Toscany, Italy (with iPad)
  • ... passion: astronomy & maths, all Apple gear
  • ... hobbies: cooking with my mates, movies, weekend on holiday, my Mac, skiing & cycling with friends, ...
  • ... not interested: religion, football, weather, men, lyrics, astrology, ...
  • ... and I am a time freak:


My gear:
YAS62 DGSN
Alto Meyer 5
YSS62
Soprano Meyer 7
Benz reeds (EMD Music)
YCL special edition Europe
DPA microphones (Amptec)
AKG Pro wireless system
Stagepas250M
Quad 405 & 34 stereo amp
AR12 speaker system
HS50 & SW10 monitor system



My ‘other’ gear:
Apple iMac 27” i7
Apple iBook Alu
iPad I
iPod Touch 5G
Canon Eos 400D
Nikon Coolpix 570
Canon G12
iPhone 4 (which I lost in the mean time)
Blackberry Bold (hate it)




Thank you:
Hans Wuestenberg @ PMS Tienen
Pedro Gordts @ Yamaha
DPA microphones @ Amptec Belgium
Tesse @ Knoet
Wouter @ Abricot
Marcel @ Digame
Kris Leye @ Spider palletisers
Etienne Verschueren for his huge influence on my life!!