Effective period / Period of releases: 1988

Members: Michel Herr, Bert Joris, Richard Rousselet, Johan Vandendriessche, Paolo Radoni, Nicolas Fissette, Steve Houben, John Ruocco, Felix Simtaine, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, Pierre Vaiana, Paul Bourdiaudhy, Jean-Pol Danhier, Guy Cabay, Robert Jeanne, Laurent Hendrick, André Knapen, Alain Devis

Drummer Felix Simtaine founded Act Big Band around 1979, with Michel Herr acting as a musical director and composer. In two decades of existence, the band became a true institution on the Belgian jazz scene. They played in all the major festivals in Belgium, gave some concerts in France, and appear on 4 albums, sometimes with guests. The first line-up included 12 musicians: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 4 saxes, piano, guitar, bass and drums. One of the first concerts took place at the Halles of Schaerbeek in Brussels, and US guitarist Bill Frisell, who lived in Belgium around that time, was part of the band.