Tassin/Hermia/Joris, Marni Theatre Brussels, Feb. 20, 2025

Tassin - Hermia - Joris, performing at the Marni Theatre Bistro Cafe, presented a compelling evening of music drawn primarily from their recent album, "Midnight Sun" (2024).

This concert also marked the culmination of their tour, a fact that perhaps added an extra layer of both intensity and reflection to the proceedings. The trio – featuring Julien Tassin on guitar and compositions, Manu Hermia on saxophone, and Chris Joris on percussions and drums – offered a refined and engaging sound that blended contemporary blues with elements of jazz, African music and world music. The absence of a bass player, a defining characteristic of this trio, created a spacious and transparent sonic environment, highlighting the intricate interplay between the three musicians. The overall concert was marked by a balance between composed structures and improvisational explorations, creating a dynamic and captivating listening evening.

The core of the evening's performance revolved around the compositions from "Midnight Sun", and other pieces, showcasing Tassin's distinctive musical voice, alongside contributions from Hermia and collective improvisations. These pieces, while rooted in the blues, extended beyond conventional genre boundaries.

Julien Tassin's guitar work was central, providing both the harmonic foundation and melodic direction. His playing was characterized by a deliberate and understated approach, favoring subtle textures and dynamic nuances. He demonstrated a mastery of technique, drawing on blues traditions while incorporating a sophisticated jazz sensibility in his chord voicings and improvisational lines. "Elephant" and "Blow" established the trio's core sound, while "Dissolution" and "Midnight Sun" explored more introspective and atmospheric territories. Two solo guitar pieces ("Ancestors" and "Traditionel") and  interspersed throughout the set, offered a further glimpse into Tassin's musical world, highlighting his melodic gift and his ability to create a compelling narrative with a single instrument.

Manu Hermia's saxophone provided a subtle and expressive counterpoint to Tassin's guitar. His warm tone and fluid phrasing were consistently engaging, and his improvisations were both inventive and emotionally resonant. He seamlessly transitioned between soulful, blues-tinged phrases and more abstract, free-jazz explorations, always maintaining a strong melodic focus. Compositions like "Organic Soulfood" and "Talinn" showcased his own compositional side.

Chris Joris's contribution on drums was essential to the trio's unique sound. He created a complex and varied rhythmic foundation, drawing on a variety of rhythms and utilizing diverse percussion instruments including the berimbau on one piece. The berimbau's unique timbre and rhythmic capabilities added a distinctive flavor, highlighting Joris's versatility. Pieces like "Firefly" and the collectively composed "Reverie" demonstrated the trio's ability to create moments of quiet beauty, while "La Danse Des Larmes" and "Morning Hymn" provided a poignant and ultimately uplifting conclusion.

The intimate setting of the Marni Theatre Bistro Cafe provided an ideal environment for the trio's performance. The close distance between the musicians and the audience fostered a sense of connection and shared participation. The cozy atmosphere encouraged attentive listening, allowing the audience to fully appreciate the nuances of the music and the intricate interplay between the musicians. The evening, within this context, transcended the usual concert format, becoming a more direct and personal exchange.

In conclusion, the Tassin/Hermia/Joris Trio's concert, featuring music from "Midnight Sun" and marking the end of their tour, was the enduring power of jazz to adapt and evolve, incorporating diverse influences while remaining true to its core values of improvisation, expression, and collaboration. Concert highlighted the individuality of Tassin, Hermia, and Joris, as well as their synergy as a trio.

Text © Ieva Pakalniškytė  -  photos © Olivier Lestoquoit