- During the years, Roger had established himself as the connection between the Belgian scene and foreign, mostly American, musicians. His trio appeared with a guest musician and among the names are : Ingmar Washington, Toots Thielemans, Gianni Basso, Scott Hamilton,....
- Vanhaverbeke was trained as a classical violinist and even received a first prize on this instrument at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, after which he switched to jazz violin. Even during his classical training, he was already fond of great violinists such as Eddie South, Joe Venuti and Stéphane Grappelli.
- Maybe his most remarkable achievement is what he did with his trio (the New Look Trio) and the soloists he proposed, which was bringing jazz music to the most remote Belgian towns and villages.
- Roger Vanhaverbeke was also important as an impresario. He brought several international top musicians (such as pianist Don Friedman, ex-Clark Terry) and sometimes surprising talents such as vocalist Stephanie Nakasian (wife of pianist Hod O'Brien) to Belgium. He was also responsible for Toots Thielemans performing back in Belgium from the 1970s.
- He has toured with such famous soloists as the trumpeters Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Clark Terry, Carmell Jones, Art Farmer and Idrees Sulieman, the saxophonists Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Sonny Criss, Sonny Stitt, Chris Woods, Phil Woods, George Coleman, Ben Webster, Scott Hamilton, Don Byas, Lucky Thompson, Johnny Griffin and Dexter Gordon, trombonists Kai Winding, Frank Rosolino and Slide Hampton, vibraphonist Milt Jackson and singers Nat King Cole and Deborah Brown.
- He made his double bass debut on October 1, 1950 with Mickey Bunner's band at the Beaulieu nightclub, under the cinema Palace in Liège. He would stay with that orchestra for a year.
- Roger also played, 1st time, with the Golden Gate Quartet in 1957 became friend with the founder and leader of the group, Orlandus WilsonN, and for 3 decades joined them during every performance in the Benelux.
- On Thursday 29 July 2010, Roger was honored on the occasion of his 80th birthday in Hotel Andromeda in his hometown of Ostend. The hotel also named a seminar room, overlooking the sea, after this illustrious double bass player.
- In 1949, bass player Joe Brown, who appeared in a local cabaret, heard him playing/improvising on violin and congratulated him for his performance. He also oriented him toward the bass, reasoning that he will enjoy greater openness for jazz.
- As a jazz violinist he could be heard on recordings by the BRT, together with Jean Fanis, Nic Kletchkovsky and Al Jones.
- In 1952 and 1953 he joined the octet of the tenor saxophonist Jack Sels, including for the American Officers Clubs in occupied Germany. After his return to Belgium he formed the Belgian Bluebirds with Etienne Verschueren on alto saxophone and accordion, Willy Albimoor on piano, Cees See (and later Pierre Jowat) on drums.
- In addition to his impressive jazz career, Vanhaverbeke was also active in popular music. He accompanied his good friend Fernand Contandin (alias Fernandel), Danielle Darieux, Dalida, Yves Montand, Dario Moreno, Nicole Croisille, Cathérina Valente, Nat King Cole, Paul Anka, The Real Platters and The Golden Gate Quartet, to name but a few.
- In 1997, Roger Vanhavereke released a CD with his New Look Trio and singer Deborah Brown "Live at he Blue Note".
- He was a Belgian jazz bassist who was also active in popular music. He was also an important impresario who brought top international musicians to Belgium.
- In 1962 he accepted an invitation from Henri Segers who wanted to bring new life into the BRT big band. There he played together with well-known jazz musicians such as Sadi, Etienne Verschueren, Nic Fissette and Johnny Renard. After the dissolution of this orchestra in 1965, Vanhaverbeke went his own way and founded a trio, with Jean Fanis on piano as the first line-up and Al Jones on drums. With this trio, Roger Vanhaverbeke continued to perform throughout Europe, at festivals and jazz clubs.
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