Manuel Hermia 

FR

Manuel Hermia, est un musicien de jazz belge, improvisateur, compositeur et explorateur des musiques du monde, jouant principalement du saxophone (alto, soprano et ténor), de la flûte et du bansurî. le souffleur incontournable de la scène jazz européenne aux nombreuses collaborations internationales (Trio Hermia/ Ceccaldi/Darrifourcq, Bahdja, Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, Slang, Majid Bekkas, Le Murmure de l’Orient, …).

À la recherche de nouvelles formes, Manuel Hermia développe un langage musical ancré dans son époque, alliant un esprit libertaire et contestataire du jazz inspiré par John Coltrane. Explorant les musiques du monde, il intègre des influences indienne, arabe et africaine autant à ses compositions qu'à ses prestations scéniques, par exemple avec le musicien indien Purbayan Chatterjee, le musicien marocain Majid Bekkas ou encore avec son projet Le Murmure de l'Orient basé sur le râga indien.

Manuel Hermia est l'auteur d'une théorie innovante basée sur une tentative de combiner deux systèmes musicaux — la musique modale indienne et la musique tonale — en un système hybride qu'il a appelé Rajazz, contraction des mots râga et jazz. En développant une maîtrise du bansuri (longue flûte en bambou de l'Inde du nord), il a exploré en profondeur une forme d’organisation de notes et un ensemble de règles répondant simultanément aux attentes des deux systèmes. Les Rajazz en sont l'aboutissement : ils réunissent la tonalité et la modalité en conciliant le matériel mélodique limité du râga avec la volonté du musicien de jazz d'étendre au maximum sa palette de couleurs.

Manolo Cabras est né à Cagliari en 1971. Il a étudié le violon classique au Conservatoire de Cagliari où il assiste également à un cours de composition expérimentale. Après quelques années, il découvre la basse. Il prend des leçons avec Dave Holland et Attilio Zanchi. En 1996, Manolo reçoit la mention ‘High qualification for jazz musicians à Sienne (dirigé par Furio Di Castri). Il prend part aux ateliers de Marc Johnson, Miroslav Vitous et Palle Danielsson. En Italie, Manolo se produit dans différents festivals de jazz aux côtés de Enrico Rava, Roswell Rud, Maria Pia De Vito, Tino Tracanna, Roberto Cipelli, Gianluca Corona, Augusto pirodda, Alessandro Diliberto, Massimo Ferra, etc … En 1998, il se déplace en Hollande où il joue avec des musiciens qu’il apprécie: Eric Vloeimans, Rob Madna, Ferdinand Povel, Marc Murphy, Jasper Blom, Ack van Rooyen, Jesse van Ruller, Eric Inneke, Wim Bronnenberg, Wolfert Brederode, etc …. Six ans plus tard, il est diplômé du master au Conservatoire Royal de La Haye. En 2003, Manolo est impliqué dans la scène du jazz en Belgique. Il joue et fait des enregistrements avec le «Ben Sluijs Quartet, Toots Thielemans Quartet ‘, Manuel Hermia trio, Chris Joris Quartet’, ‘Frederik Desmyter Quartet (feat. John Ruocco)’, ‘Pierre Vaiana Quartet» et «Erik Vermeulen trio », Eve Beuvens Heptatomic. Et joue également en “freelance” avec des musiciens comme:, Jozef Dumoulin, Bert Joris, Bart Defoort, Erik Thielemans et beaucoup d’autres. Il a également ses propres groupes comme: Manolo Cabras Quartet, et Basic Borg, et il est impliqué dans plusieurs projets en tant que co-leader, entre autres: Augusto Pirodda quatuor, Alexandra Grimal quartet, Riccardo Luppi Mure Mure, doux Cut, Bad courrency, Visioni Sonore, Skunk trio, quartet Filippo Castellazzi, Triotonik, Malm.

En 15 ans de carrière, Jean-Paul Estiévenart a eu l'occasion de rencontrer et de jouer avec plusieurs grands noms de la scène jazz internationale : Enrico Pieranuzzi, Nathalie Loriers, Avishai Cohen - trompette, Logan Richardson, Eric Legnini, Dré Pallemaerts, Joe Lovano, Noel Gallagher, le Brussels jazz Orchestra, Perico Sambeat, Maria Schneider, .... Il a joué dans une douzaine de groupes belges en tant que sideman et tourne actuellement avec Antoine Pierre URBEX, Alex Koo Quartet, Mik Maak, Steven Delannoye Brandhaard, Manu Hermia Freetet, Jazz Station Big Band, God Save The Swing, Marco Locurcio Group, Filippo Bianchini quintet et ses propres projets : son trio et son quintet.
Cela fait de lui le trompettiste le plus demandé du pays, avec plus de 40 albums à son actif.

Du jazz à la musique gnawa, de la transe électroacoustique à l'improvisation totale, en solo ou au sein d'un big band, collaborant à des productions de danse et de théâtre et réalisant des bandes originales de films, João Lobo mène une carrière polyvalente en tant que musicien, jouant principalement de la batterie. Il a publié deux disques sous son nom : "Nowruz" en 2017 et "Simorgh" en 2020.Il est le cofondateur d'Oba Loba, Going, Tetterapadequ, Norman, Mulabanda, et un fier membre de Giovanni Guidi Trio, Manuel Hermia Trio, Punk Kong, Daniele Martini Quartet.

Il a enregistré plus de 50 albums, certains autoproduits et d'autres pour des labels tels que ECM, Clean Feed, CamJazz, De Werf, El Negocito, three : quatre records, Challenge, NEOS. Il s'est produit et/ou a enregistré dans de nombreux pays du monde avec de nombreux musiciens, dont Enrico Rava, Marshall Allen, Rosewell Rudd, Carlos Bica, Nate Wooley, Maalem Hassan Zogari, Tatsuhisa Yamamoto, Thomas Morgan, Chris Corsano, et collabore intensément avec Norberto Lobo, Giovanni Di Domenico, Lynn Cassiers, Manolo Cabras et Giovanni Guidi.

EN

Manuel Hermia's Freetet proposes libertarian music, where order and chaos are constantly balanced, as in nature.

The compositions are clear, but the arrangements, rather than being written, draw directions, balances and role plays, so that each protagonist of the group can permanently appropriate his voice as he feels like.

And what protagonists: a horn section where Manuel Hermia, on saxophones, gathered around him Samuel Blaser on trombone and Jean-Paul Estévienart on the trumpet, all supported by the strong complicity of Manolo Cabras on bass and Joao Lobo on drums . A modern quintet, which tends to sketch joy as much as depth, having fun in surprising us, while honoring this libertarian music that is jazz.

PS: note that the Freetet is the extention of the former Manuel Hermia trio, with Manolo Cabras and Joao Lobo. That trio had recorded two albums on Igloo label, ("Long Tales and Short Stories", and "Austerity ... And what about rage? ") and has extensively played live for seven years.

Manuel Hermia is a Belgian jazz musician, improviser, composer and explorer of world music, playing mainly the saxophone (alto, soprano and tenor), the flute and the bansurî. He is a key player on the European jazz scene with numerous international collaborations (Trio Hermia/ Ceccaldi/Darrifourcq, Bahdja, Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, Slang, Majid Bekkas, Le Murmure de l'Orient, ...)

In search of new forms, Manuel Hermia develops a musical language anchored in his time, combining a libertarian and protesting spirit of jazz inspired by John Coltrane. Exploring world music, he integrates Indian, Arab and African influences in his compositions as well as in his live performances, for example with the Indian musician Purbayan Chatterjee, the Moroccan musician Majid Bekkas or with his project Le Murmure de l'Orient based on the Indian râga.

Manuel Hermia is the author of an innovative theory based on an attempt to combine two musical systems - Indian modal music and tonal music - into a hybrid system that he has called Rajazz, a contraction of the words raga and jazz. By developing a mastery of the bansuri (a long bamboo flute from northern India), he explored in depth a form of note organisation and a set of rules that simultaneously met the expectations of both systems. The Rajazz are the result: they bring together tonality and modality by reconciling the limited melodic material of the raga with the jazz musician's desire to extend his palette of colours to the maximum.

Samuel Blaser is a 21st century trombonist. Born in 1981 in the town of La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Swizterland, he emerged professionally after graduating from conservatory in 2002. During the next five years he developed associations with the Vienna Art Orchestra and the European Radio Big Band, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, pursued graduate studies at the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, State University of New York, and recorded his first album as a leader, the Samuel Blaser Quartet’s 7th Heaven (Between The Lines). Since 2009 he has been based in Berlin.

The foundations of Blaser’s art are the breadth of his influences, his technical fluency, and the clarity with which he applies these assets. He grew up learning classical and Swiss folk music as well as jazz, and his projects include jazz-informed investigations of operatic, rock stead, and blues music. He understands that growth is relational, and has sought out and sustained relationships with veteran and senior musicians, such as Pierre Favre, John Hollenbeck, Gerry Hemingway, Marc Ducret, Paul Motian, Oliver Lake, and Daniel Humair, all of whom have helped him to develop his own sense of who he is.

He exercises the full range of the trombone’s possibilities, including fluid melodic statements, emphatic rhythmic punctuations, earthy interjections, and abstract sound effects, with a clear sense of purpose. He approaches each endeavor as a leader and collaborator with a clear sense of purpose, knowing what he wants to accomplish and what each musical situation requires from him. Blaser’s responsiveness is never more evident than in his solo performances, which use his bold sound to draw out the qualities of both architectural and environmental settings.

Manolo Cabras was born in Cagliari in 1971. He studied classical violin at the Conservatory of Cagliari where he also attended a course in experimental composition. After a few years, he discovered the bass. He took lessons with Dave Holland and Attilio Zanchi. In 1996 Manolo received the 'High qualification for jazz musicians' in Siena (directed by Furio Di Castri). He took part in workshops with Marc Johnson, Miroslav Vitous and Palle Danielsson. In Italy, Manolo performed in various jazz festivals with Enrico Rava, Roswell Rud, Maria Pia De Vito, Tino Tracanna, Roberto Cipelli, Gianluca Corona, Augusto Pirodda, Alessandro Diliberto, Massimo Ferra, etc. In 1998, he moved to Holland where he played with musicians he liked: Eric Vloeimans, Rob Madna, Ferdinand Povel, Marc Murphy, Jasper Blom, Ack van Rooyen, Jesse van Ruller, Eric Inneke, Wim Bronnenberg, Wolfert Brederode, etc .... Six years later, he graduated from the Master's degree at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. In 2003, Manolo became involved in the Belgian jazz scene. He plays and records with the 'Ben Sluijs Quartet, Toots Thielemans Quartet', Manuel Hermia trio, Chris Joris Quartet', 'Frederik Desmyter Quartet (feat. John Ruocco)', 'Pierre Vaiana Quartet' and 'Erik Vermeulen trio', Eve Beuvens Heptatomic. He also plays freelance with musicians like Jozef Dumoulin, Bert Joris, Bart Defoort, Erik Thielemans and many others. He also has his own bands like: Manolo Cabras Quartet, and Basic Borg, and he is involved in several projects as co-leader, among others: Augusto Pirodda quartet, Alexandra Grimal quartet, Riccardo Luppi Mure Mure, Soft Cut, Bad Courrency, Visioni Sonore, Skunk trio, Filippo Castellazzi quartet, Triotonik, Malm.

Within a 15-years career, Jean-Paul Estiévenart had the opportunity to meet and play with several big names in the international jazz scene : Enrico Pieranuzzi, Nathalie Loriers, Avishai Cohen - trumpet, Logan Richardson, Eric Legnini, Dré Pallemaerts, Joe Lovano, Noel Gallagher, the Brussels jazz Orchestra, Perico Sambeat, Maria Schneider, ... He has been playing in a dozen Belgian bands as sideman and is now touring with Antoine Pierre URBEX, Alex Koo Quartet, Mik Maak, Steven Delannoye Brandhaard, Manu Hermia Freetet, Jazz Station Big Band, God Save The Swing, Marco Locurcio Group, Filippo Bianchini quintet and his own projects : his trio and his quintet. 

​This makes him the most demanded trumpet player in the country, with more than 40 albums to his credit.

From jazz to gnawa music, electro-acoustic trance to total improvisation, in solo or in a big band, collaborating on dance and theatre productions and making soundtracks for movies, João Lobo maintains a versatile career as a musician mainly playing the drums. He has released two records under his name: “Nowruz” in 2017 and “Simorgh” in 2020.He is the co-founder of Oba Loba, Going, Tetterapadequ, Norman, Mulabanda, and a proud member of Giovanni Guidi Trio, Manuel Hermia Trio, Punk Kong, Daniele Martini Quartet.

He has recorded more than 50 albums, some self-produced and others for labels such as ECM, Clean Feed, CamJazz, De Werf, El Negocito, three:four records, Challenge, NEOS and has performed and/or recorded in many countries around the world with many musicians including Enrico Rava, Marshall Allen, Rosewell Rudd, Carlos Bica, Nate Wooley, Maalem Hassan Zogari, Tatsuhisa Yamamoto, Thomas Morgan, Chris Corsano, and collaborates intensely with Norberto Lobo, Giovanni Di Domenico, Lynn Cassiers, Manolo Cabras and Giovanni Guidi.

DE

Manuel Hermia versteht sein Freetett als modernes Quintett. Es ist die Erweiterung des Trios mit Manolo Cabras und Joao Lobo, das zwei Alben beim Label Igloo veröffentlichte und über sieben Jahren ausgiebig live spielte. 

Mit den hochkarätigen Bläsern Samuel Blaser (Posaune) und Jean-Paul Estiévenart (Trompete) dreht sich in der aktuellen Formation alles um die Frage der Freiheit. Noch besser: Eine Musik, die freiheitsorientiert erlebt werden will. Stichwort: libertär. Ähnlich wie in der Natur soll Ordnung und Chaos ständig in Verhandlung sein. Die Kompositionen stehen zwar fest, aber ohne festgeschriebene Arrangements.

Es gibt lediglich Richtungen, Orientierungspunkte, den Versuch einer Gleichgewichtsfindung, instrumentale Rollenspiele. Die einzelnen Protagonisten sind also stets dazu aufgefordert, ihre Stimme neu aufzusuchen, zu etablieren und weiter zu entwickeln. Dank des fulminanten und langjährigen Zusammenspiels zwischen Bläsersektion und der starken Komplizenschaft Hermia-Cabras-Lobo steht einem freiheitsliebenden Jazzfeuerwerk nichts im Weg. 

Ein modernes Quintett, das Freude und Tiefe problemlos verbinden kann. Spaß daran hat zu überraschen, Freiheit liebt und den Jazz zu ehren, weiß.

https://manuelhermia.com/