Etienne Déconfin - Wanted (2024)

Although the trio was officially born in 2021, we’ve been playing together regularly, in different settings, for almost 15 years. In particular, we’ve engaged with saxophonist Gael Horellou’s quartet, whom I can’t thank enough for having gathered us countless times over the years. It was therefore so obvious for me to ask Antoine and Viktor to share this new adventure and this new music, specially written for the occasion.

Following our first concert as a trio, I felt something completely new in my life as a musician, the feeling of being free, for real, in the moment, here and now, and of belonging. And God that felt so good!

As I’m writing those few lines, I become aware of how important it is, should I say ‘essential’ as far as I am concerned, for one to play their own music with musicians they have freely chosen.

Music is a serious thing! Some spend their whole lives playing it, writing it or simply listening to it in order to understand it. Whether we’re born talented or not, it is the will, often the passion, and always the hard work that make great musicians.

Music is a serious thing! We do not do music, we’re In music. Music is a game, of fathomless richness and depth once we’ve found the right partners. Music is a ‘serious game’ might have said Socrates! And for being even slightly able to approach its beauty and power, let’s just be playful and not take ourselves too seriously!

—Etienne Déconfin