Wajdi Riahi Trio 08-10-24

di 8 okt '24

Jazz with bridges to Tunisia

In a very short time, pianist Wajdi Riahi has become one of the most acclaimed voices in
Belgian jazz, both alongside the likes of Stéphane Galland (Aka Moon) and with his own music.

In the sound of his trio, he combines his love of jazz with his Tunisian roots. The result is intoxicating and lyrical, accessible yet surprising. Their second album Essia is also a stunning calling card: the trio is a keeper, adding an original color to our vibrant scene.

Wajdi Riahi Trio
Wajdi Riahi (piano), Basile Rahola (double bass), Pierre Hurty (drums)

Their trail

Wajdi Riahi, Basile Rohola and Pierre Hurty founded the band in 2020 in Brussels, a vibrant melting pot of styles and cultures. The musicians are inextricably linked by a strong friendship and involvement in many projects together. This immediately fuels their organic interaction. Their first album Mhamdeya (2022), named after the Tunisian city where Riahi grew up, was immediately praised in the Belgian and French press.

For the follow-up, Essia, tribal beli and gnawa traditions form the basis. The result is a sound that is as unique as it is subtle - full of narrative power. The trio is virtuosic and poetic, playing with precision and dynamism. That this is yet another very personal statement can be heard in the way free melodies and Arabic songs, sometimes sung by Riahi, are constructed and combined.

The album feels like a collection of musical short stories, with ever new perspectives and ideas woven into a cleverly interwoven whole. Thoughtful, with soul and character.