Born in 1974, studied jazz in Ghent at the Royal Music Conservatorium.
Freelance guitar player, leader and co-leader since 1993 in myriad projects: jazz, improvisational, pop, blues, Cuban, folk, New Orleans, roots, soundscape, bebop, theater music, classical, gypsy, avant-garde, tango, alternative rock,…
Combining a deep knowledge of classic and contemporary traditions with a unique and authentic, slightly disruptive voice.
Shared stages and studios with a mind blowing range of artists including alternative art rock band dEUS, classical upright bassist Ben Faes, American jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas, pop diva Axelle Red with her Nashville based Stax soul band, classical tango Orquesta Tanguedia, Belgian pop icons Raymond van het Groenewoud, Lady Linn, Kommil Foo...the list goes on.
His own pet projects, merging his broad background with jazz and improvisation, brewed three critically acclaimed full albums. The latest, 'Symphony for 2 Little Boys' from De Groote-Faes Duo, received a positive surge of raving press reviews from all over Europe.
"La musique semble vivre une vie entière, personnelle, riche, évocatrice, émouvante, enthousiasmante."
- Le Soir 2017
"De Groote-Faes, un duo exceptionnel, ils ont tout compris."
- La Libre 2017
"Belgium’s most original guitar player... ungraspable between classical music, Jewish, jazz and Jimi Hendrix"
- Bart Cornand, Knack 2017
"De Groote is haast akelig veelzijdig... Een kaleidoscoop van onherkenbare standards en herkenbare eigen composities."
- Guy Peters, 2017
"Die Geschichte der Klassik, des Jazz und des Rock und Pop hat Einfluss auf die Musikergeneration von heute."
- Jazzhalo, DE 2017
"An original current within the diversity of contemporary jazz."
- Jazzflits, NL 2017
"La musique semble faite de feu et de sang. Dave Douglas joue sur trois morceaux."
- CitizenJazz, FR 2017
"Een rijke wereld van energieke jazz, bevallige melodieën, intimistische soundscapes en ontwrichtende ambient."
- Karel Van Keymeulen, De Standaard, 2017
"Avontuur, improvisatie en experiment gaan een geweldig huwelijk aan."
- da music/ written in music 2017
"A sublime album, displaying characteristic originality and dazzling musicianship."
- Jassepoes, 2017
"Net als gitaristen Marc Ribot en Bill Frisell heeft ook De Groote lak aan de do’s en don’ts van een genre."
- Iwein Van Malderen, Jazz’halo / draaimojeoren 2017
"Ni jazz, ni rock, ni folk, ni classique, Symphony For 2 Little Boys est tout cela à la fois."
- Dragonjazz, 2017
"Symphony for 2 Little Boys is een integer plaatje met een bescheidenheid die te benijden is."
- Jan Van Steenbrugge, Enola, 2017
"La classe! L’un des projets les plus emballants du moment en nos contrées. Etroits d’esprits s’abstenir."
- Larsen Magazine 2017