© Danny Willems
© Danny Willems
© Danny Willems
© Danny Willems
ABOUT
"One of the most fruitful, surprising and innovative European bands, always on the forefront of avant-garde, constantly reinventing itself, while ever staying true to the sound of ‘Aka Moon’."
© Alexander Popelier
Since their debut in 1992, it has been hard to imagine the Belgian jazz scene without the innovative Aka Moon. Their refreshing approach to jazz gives the trio a highly distinctive sound. Since their first encounter with the Aka Pygmies in 1992, Aka Moon’s focus has shifted towards various different African, Indian, Maghrebian, Cuban, Arab, Afro-American and European traditions. The unique place Aka Moon occupies in todays music scene is down to the fact that they, independent of any particular trends, combine art with inspired musical craftsmanship. Aka Moon juggles with polyrhythms and polyphonies like mad DJ’s. They slide from one phrase into another, opening up new harmonic and rhythmic paths. As a trio or in larger formations they cross over in a kaleidoscopic and elusive way creating a whirlwind of unclassifiable, transcending and cosmic music. They released more than 20 albums, played in more than 30 countries & worked together with the most virtuoso musicians, choreographers and artists from all over the world.
BIO'S
STEPHANE GALLAND
His appearance at countless albums and tours holds evidence for Galland’s inmeasurable experience within various
music scenes. His collaborations transcend multiple genres: from Oumou Sangaré to David Linx, from Doudou N’Diaye Rose to Joe Lovano, from Toots Thielemans to Philip Catherine and even to theatre & dance projects. In 2011 he launched his own project 'LOBI', in which he - together with Tigran Hamasiyan, Magic Malik, Petar Ralchev, Misirli Ahmet and Carles Benavent - researches antique musical traditions framed in a contemporary approach. Since 2014 he performs regularly with Ibrahim Maalouf. In 2018, he started another project of his own: the Mystery of KEM.
FABRIZIO CASSOL
Fabrizio Cassol is the composer and saxophone player of Aka Moon for more than 25 years. He worked with choreographers Alain Platel (Coup Fatal, VSPRS, Pitié!, Uit De Bol), Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Lemi Ponifasio and Faustin Linyekula, with composer Philippe Boesmans and with opera & theatre director Luc Bondy (TJ Stan). His interest in extra-european music arose from his visit to the Aka Pygmies (The Republic of Central
Africa) in 1992 resulting in his examination of the link between orality and musical transcription. This passion is demonstrated in numerous collaborations & projects like with Oumou Sangare, Baba Sissoko, U.K. Sivaraman and Doudou N'Diaye Rose and in AlefBa & Aka Balkan Moon.
With Dj Grazzhoppa he created the very first bigband consisting of 14 DJs and together with instrument builder François Louis he invented the concept of the Aulochrome, the first chromatic polyphonic wind instrument.
MICHEL HATZIGEORGIOU
Before he discovered the electric guitar, Michel first started practicing the mandolin and bouzouki. Not long after that, he assured a spot as bass player in the band of Carolo Samayana. He accompanied numerous renowned singers as Plastic Bertrand, Mino & Renaud and explored jazz along the way. In 1983, Michel joined the quartet of Toots Thielemans and met bass player Jaco Pastorius, who, together Jimi Hendrix, would become one of his biggest inspirations. Next, he played with guitar player Mike Stern, participated in the Baldwin Project of David Linx and formed the band Nasa Na with Pierre Vandormael, Stéphane Galland & Fabrizio Cassol, which would become Aka Moon later on. In 1998 he was proclaimed as best electric bass player in Europe. Besides his many musical experiences, the bass player also worked with choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and with composer Philippe Boesmans (opera Wintermärchen).