Manuel Hermia - Rajazz (2006)

The quartet, with Eric Vermeulen on piano, Lieven Venken on drums, Sam Gertsmans on bass, and me on the alto and soprano sax, presents a serie of new compositions where I try to explore the yet unknown lands between jazz and indian ragas. Altough the sound of the quartet remains without any doubt in the esthetic of modern jazz, some compositions and improvisation techniques which are here proposed are based on what I called “Rajazz”.

Some other compositions are still in the usual modern repertoire, but I always tent to use the most epured melodic material I can, and I try to write compositions which don’t need particular arrangements, in order to allow the maximal space of freedom for each musician.Through this repertoire, I efforced myself to propose a language which is rooted in the tradition of jazz, and which is in the same time concerned in opening new doors. This program is indeed in the continuity of the sixties, very influenced by my favorites, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, but tries nevertheless, through open space and through the Rajazz concept, to sign up our present time.

Manuel Hermia Flute, saxophone
Sam Gerstmans Double bass
Lieven Venken Drums
Erik Vermeulen Piano