Coming up: new collaboration with ESINAM, Aka Moon bringing new sounds from East & West to us in 'Alifbata', 'Nature City' by LABtrio and much more!

NEW COLLABORATION:

ESINAM DOGBATSE

We can start this newsletter with – again – announcing a great new collaboration. We're happy to tell you that Esinam Dogbatse is joining the Aubergine family. This Brussels musician plays flute and percussion with Témé Tan, Sysmo, Anne Wolf, Marockin’ Brass and Diab Quintet among others. In her solo project she proves to be a fierce multi-instrumentalist who uses electronics to add a new dimension to her set. Her warm voice is the icing on the cake. In December 2017, Esinam was the support act of Melanie De Biasio at a sold-out Ancienne Belgique four times in a row. This fall, she will release her first EP on Sdban Records. So, a musician from the 'New Wave of Belgian Jazz' to watch!

Join us at one of her upcoming concerts:

08.03 Human(art)istic Festival @ Beursschouwburg, Brussels

15.03 Le Rideau Rouge, Lasne

29.04 Les Nuits @ Botanique, Brussels

18.05 Jam'in Jette, Brussels

More information

AKA MOON:

ALIFBATA

This month, Aka Moon and some guest musicians will bring the sounds of the Balkan, the Middle East and India to France & Belgium. In Alifbata, compositions and musicians of two earlier created projects come together: The first one, Aka Balkan Moon, inspired by Balkan music with a special focus on the Bulgarian traditions, and second AlefBa, a project that uses the sultry sounds of the Middle East. Both projects arose under the wings of Fondation de Royaumont (Paris). Indian Sufi singer Zila Kahn will join the musicians with her lush chants. 

30.03 deSingel, Antwerp (BE)

31.03 De Grote Post, Ostend (BE)

03.04 Opéra de Lille, Rijsel (FR)

04.04 De Bijloke, Ghent (BE)

More information

NEW TEAM MEMBER:

SAY HELLO TO MARTIN!

Starting from March 1st, Martin Vernier joins our team doing an internship with us ‘till August 31st. Martin is a young music enthousiast from Saint-Etienne (France) who was recommended by i.a. Rhino Jazz Festival, Tremplin Jazz Avignon and Têtes de Jazz (AJMI, Avignon), where he did an internship as production assistant in the past.

LABTRIO:

NATURE CITY

If you didn’t have the chance to see ‘Nature City’ (Outhere Music, Febr. '17) by LABtrio live yet: the last three days of March, the trio presents its latest album once more to the Belgian crowd. A must-visit!

29.03 De Casino, Sint-Niklaas (BE)

30.03 CC HA: Piano days, Hasselt (BE)

31.03 CC De Ververij, Ronse (BE)

Aka Moon - Now (OUTHERE MUSIC 2018)

Since the group was founded 25 years ago, the career of Aka Moon has been punctuated by a myriad of original musical encounters. After their initiatory journey with the Aka Pygmies in 1992, an unappeased desire has always nourished the research of the three accomplices: the wish to share the knowledge, experience and secrets of other musicians from all backgrounds. Today, the necessity of the original trio is again expressed in NOW with the exceptional playing quality that has been acquired and refined over the course of numerous concerts. For although Aka Moon was undeniably born with a unique sound, the group has always made it evolve, absorbing, in particular, rhythms from the Orient, Africa or India.

The staunch friendship that binds these three musicians lets an artistic urgency resonate, borne by the joy of improvisation, lightness of interpretation as well as great depth of expression. NOW confirms this cohesion thanks to an ongoing counterpoint in which three mysteriously complementary worlds intertwine, revealing their own originalities and styles.The titles of the compositions (Nomadism, The Visitor, Spiritual Exile...) evoke the themes of travel and the fascination of elsewhere, as well as an artistic and human commitment always in the forefront.

01. Persevering

02. The Visitor

03. Nomadism

04. Now

05. The Year of Fire Horse

06. 2Moro or 2Day 5

07. Old and New Dreams

08. Spiritual Exile (For Ezgi)

Fabrizio Cassol, saxophone

Michel Hatzigeorgiou, bass guitar

Stéphane Galland, drums

www.outhere-music.com

www.akamoon.be

25 YEARS OF AKA MOON: NEW ALBUM

25 YEARS OF AKA MOON:

New trio album "NOW" & music box "Constellations Box"

25 years... the perfect moment to look back on a career. And that's what Aka Moon is doing, in style. This October, a big birthday concert took place at the Festival des Libertés (Brussels). The band invited several renowned international guests whom they worked with in the past. Next, the long-expected music box “Constellations Box” was released (Outhere Music, November 2017). Since 1992 - the very beginning of this group - many albums mark the successful journey of this mythical jazz trio. The box selects 20 albums that help you relive the most memorable musical moments of Aka Moon. The last album in the box, “Light Ship Trio”, is an exclusive, never-heard recording dating back from 1998. A true gem! 

And if that's not enough, Aka Moon celebrates its 25th birthday also with a new trio album “NOW”, which will be released this January (Outhere Music). After numerous recordings with guest musicians, this trio album goes back to the roots.

Ever since their initial journey through Central Africa, where they met with the Aka Pygmies, the integration of Oriental, African and Indian rhythms gives the band its unique sound which has evolved throughout the years and is still evolving. "NOW" is an extension of this desire for cultural musical integration. It also  marks the unrivalled talent of this band, acquired by their 25 years long career, performing all over the world, as well as the long friendship of these three musicians and the fusion of their individual styles. Titles as Nomadism, The Visitor and Spiritual Exil show that the album doesn't shun current themes as migration and cultural diversity. 

Come see it for yourself at one of the six release concerts in France, Belgium or The Netherlands:

01.12.17 La Dynamo de Banlieues Bleues, Paris (FR)

03.12.17 Bozar, Brussels (BE)

06.12.17 Rataplan, Antwerp (BE)

21.12.17 De Casino, Sint-Niklaas (BE)

17.03.18 Rockerill, Charleroi (BE)

04.05.18 Paradox, Tilburg (NL)

Aka Moon Website

Double concert fun at AB & De Casino (BRZZVLL, De Beren Gieren & Aka Moon)

RELEASE CONCERTS: 

Double fun in Brussels & Sint-Niklaas for a successful conclusion of the year

We're approaching the end of BRZZVLL & De Beren Gieren's release tours. The past three months, both bands presented their brand new albums "Waiho" & "Dug Out Skyscrapers" in Belgium, The Netherlands & UK. The (inter)national press, programmers and audience were wildly enthusiastic, resulting in multiple five stars reviews and sold-out concert halls. 

We end the year with two - not the least - Aubergine double bills in Brussels & Sint-Niklaas.

BRZZVLL and De Beren Gieren are performing together during “The New Wave Of Belgian Jazz” in AB, a terrific seven-dayer to conclude the outstanding JAZZ 100 series. The two bands will obviously present their new albums that day. Other inspiring bands joining them that day are Black Flower, Taxiwars, AAN/EOP & The Mechanics.

Further, December 21st in De Casino (Sint-Niklaas), Aka Moon & De Beren Gieren share the stage presenting "NOW" and "Dug Out Skyscrapers". An adventurous, exciting line-up, so save the date!

16.12 BRZZVLL & De Beren Gieren @ AB, Brussels (BE)

21.12 De Beren Gieren & Aka Moon @ De Casino, Sint-Niklaas (BE)

CALENDAR: DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018

03.12 Aka Moon @ Bozar, Brussels (BE)

06.12 Aka Moon @ Rataplan, Antwerp (BE)

15.12 De Beren Gieren @ Paradox, Tilburg (NL)

16.12 BRZZVLL @ AB, Brussels (BE)

16.12 De Beren Gieren @ AB, Brussels (BE)

21.12 Aka Moon @ De Casino, Sint-Niklaas (BE)

21.12 De Beren Gieren @ De Casino, Sint-Niklaas (BE)

02.01 BRZZVLL @ Wintervuur, Antwerp (BE)

16.01 LABtrio @ CC Diest, Diest (BE)

19.01 LABtrio @ Flagey: Brussels Jazz Festival, Brussels (BE)

Find more Aubergine concerts here

25 Years of Aka Moon: New Constellation Box & Trio Album 'NOW'

New Trio Album

Fabrizio Cassol (sax), Michel Hatzigeorgiou (el.bass) & Stéphane Galland (drums)

​
In December 2017, Aka Moon will proudly release a new trio album. After 25 years of musical complicity & numerous musical encounters, the trio goes back to its 'roots'. Find out soon more about it!