Formed in the early 1970s as a homage to Dave Liebman’s group Open Sky, Open Sky Unit grew out of informal jam sessions in Liège, Belgium, into a unique collective. One of the central figures was Jacques Pelzer, father of drummer and vocalist Micheline Pelzer, alongside his second cousin, saxophonist/flutist Steve Houben, bass player Janot Buchem, percussionist Michel Graillier and American pianist/composer Ron Wilson.
Their 1974 debut album was released on the Duchesne classical music label, run by Pelzer’s brother-in-law. The group’s sound carefully balanced jazz and soul and was largely directed by Wilson, a Californian pianist and singer who settled in Liège and nearby Maastricht after his army service. Wilson composed the entire repertoire. Open Sky Unit was recorded live at Jazzland club in Liège, and the band made several short tours in Belgium and abroad (including Tunisia) until around 1975–1976, when Houben left for Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music.
Although the band never achieved a major international breakthrough, they were highly valued in progressive European jazz circles and later secured a place in anthologies such as Utopic Cities: Progressive Jazz in Belgium 1968–1979. The reissue of Open Sky Unit brings their music back into the spotlight and reaffirms their role as key figures in the Belgian jazz scene of the seventies.
Line up of musicians:
Micheline Pelzer – drums
Jacques Pelzer – flute, alto saxophone
Steve Houben – flute, saxophone
Ron Wilson – composer, piano, vocals
Michel Graillier – percussion
Janot Buchem – bass
