Belgian saxophonist and flutist Manuel Hermia has been at the top of his game in recent years. And he has a clear goal in sight: Hermia approaches music philosophically, as a universal language that allows musicians from different cultures to talk to one another. Hermia works not only with saxes, but also plays the flute and bansuri (a type of Indian flute). He is also a talented photographer. Hermia’s interests range from world music, jazz and free jazz, to rock and a more classical approach to jazz. He explores this approach with cellist Valentin Ceccaldi and drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq. Ceccaldi is a virtuoso known for his precision and percussive playing of motifs in which he uses his entire instrument. Creative drummer Darrifourcq is finely attuned to this. Together, the trio produces surprising and inventive music that is built around a Henry Miller quote that Hermia cherishes: ‘The purpose of discipline is to promote freedom.’
