JULIEN TASSIN / ERWIN VANN / JEAN-MARC BUTTY
Guitar player Julien Tassin is as eager as ever to seek new musical partners and to broaden his scope of influences. Next on his long list of inspired collaborations is his new trio with prolific saxophone player Erwin Vann and drummer Jean-Marc Butty, mostly known for his work with singer-songwriter PJ Harvey.
The music of this trio conjurs up vivid images, allows the listener to dream, to observe and to contemplate. It aims to embody a form of collective storytelling, where ego and virtuosity take a backseat to the shared experience. “The project is a way to express and fulfill my need to slow down in a world that moves faster and faster, where everything has to be immediate and dazzling”, Julien Tassin says. “It has a spiritual and healing dimension, which is present in both Erwin and Jean-Marc and echoes my personal search.”
The result is music that takes influence from folk, jazz, ambient and contemporary classical music, while developing unique, intimate sensibilities. It is far from a traditional jazz project, which is also reflected by the influences of artistic director John Parish, an English musician and producer who has worked with many alternative rock artists such as PJ Harvey and Eels. “John will enhance the organic quality of the sound by using analog effects, tapes, etc”, Julien adds. “He and Jean-Marc have an organic, minimalist and raw approach to music, which I love.”
Guitar player and composer Julien Tassin has many identities. Since his graduation from the Brussels conservatory, he has released eleven albums in his own name, four of which being solo albums. With the blues as a constant thread and through many different influences, he has developed his own kind of minimalist and improvised guitar music, making use of every option the acoustic guitar has to offer, including experimenting with tunings and preparing the guitar in different ways. He is currently touring in Europe with his latest solo album ‘Wild Around’, the trio album ‘Midnight Sun’ (with Manuel Hermia and Chris Joris) and his duo album with Finnish guitar player Heikki Ruokangas, called ‘Behind The Mask’.
Erwin Vann is a Belgian saxophone player and composer. Among his most prolific projects is his trio with Dré Pallemaerts and Michel Hatzigeorgiou, which was later joined by Jozef Dumoulin to form Let’s Call Ed, and the ambitious project Worlds, a large ensemble for which he invited Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone, among others. Vann has played with musicians like Toots Thielemans, Joe Lovano, Paolo Fresu, Wayne Shorter and the Brussels Jazz Orchestra and has composed for film and dance performances.
French-Belgian drummer Jean-Marc Butty gained notoriety through his work with English rock pioneer PJ Harvey. He worked with her on the album To Bring You My Love (1995) and was her regular drummer until the year 2000. In 2009, they started working together again and have been since. Besides his work with PJ Harvey, Jean-Marc Butty has played with the Belgian band Venus, British band The Raincoats and artists like Jean-Louis Murat.
Julien Tassin (BE) – Nylon guitar, compositions
Erwin Vann (BE) – Saxophone
Jean-Marc Butty (FR/BE) – Drums
INSIDE JAZZ MANAGEMENT
BOOKING
Belgium
Manchesterstraat 49A/f, 9000 Ghent
Jens Tytgat
jens@insidejazz.be
IGLOO RECORDS
LABEL
Belgium
Pierre Villeret
direction@sowarex.be
