The 1974 album Open Sky Unit, a cornerstone of Belgian jazz fusion, returns to turntables today via Sdban Records, offering a fresh listen to one of the country’s most soulful and forward-looking jazz projects. Featuring Micheline and Jacques Pelzer, Steve Houben, Ron Wilson, Janot Buchem, and Michel Graillier, the record captures a vibrant moment when soul, funk, and free improvisation converged within a close-knit musical family.
Formed in Liège in the early 1970s as a tribute to Dave Liebman’s group Open Sky, Open Sky Unit grew organically out of informal jam sessions. At the heart of the collective was saxophonist Jacques Pelzer, joined by his daughter, drummer/vocalist Micheline Pelzer, his cousin Steve Houben on sax and flute, Janot Buchem on bass, Michel Graillier on percussion, and American pianist/vocalist Ron Wilson, who had settled in Belgium after his military service.
Wilson composed the group’s entire repertoire, and in 1974, the ensemble recorded their self-titled album live at the legendary Jazzland Club in Liège. Originally released on the Duchesne label (run by Pelzer’s brother-in-law), Open Sky Unit balanced heartfelt improvisation with tight grooves, blending the freedom of jazz with the emotional immediacy of soul. Though the live recording was technically imperfect, the spirit and spontaneity were undeniable. Tracks like “Open Sky,” “Sunshine Star,” and “Passion and Compassion” pulse with raw energy and communal warmth.
Decades later, Sunshine Star resurfaced on the cult compilation Funky Chicken (2014), a release that not only reintroduced the song to new audiences but also marked the birth of the Sdban label itself.
To celebrate the reissue, Sdban has also pressed a limited edition of 200 copies featuring a bonus 7” single of Ron Wilson’s Sunshine Star. Originally issued in 1973, the single includes the acoustic piano-and-vocal version of Sunshine Star on the B-side and Peace Is The Answer on the A-side—a track being reissued for the very first time. The single offers an intimate glimpse into the soulful core of the project, making it a prized companion to the full LP.
Though Open Sky Unit never reached major international fame, their music left an indelible mark on progressive European jazz. Their story and sound have since been chronicled in anthologies like Utopic Cities: Progressive Jazz in Belgium 1968–1979, reaffirming their status as key innovators in the Belgian jazz scene.
The Open Sky Unit reissue is out now via Sdban Records, available in standard and limited vinyl editions — a long-overdue revival of one of Belgian jazz’s most soulful and adventurous ensembles.
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