Laurent Blondiau

Although he has played with musicians from all over the world, Lauren enjoys developing projects starting from his Mâäk Quintet. Together with Jeroen Van Herzeele, Michel Massot, Samuel Ber and Grégoire Tirtiaux, they are constantly searching for new sound, rhythmic and harmonic possibilities. The compositions are spontaneous and improvised, but also orchestrated.

Although he has played with musicians from all over the world, Lauren enjoys developing projects starting from his Mâäk Quintet. Together with Jeroen Van Herzeele, Michel Massot, Samuel Ber and Grégoire Tirtiaux, they are constantly searching for new sound, rhythmic and harmonic possibilities. The compositions are spontaneous and improvised, but also orchestrated.

For many years, Laurent and the musicians of Mâäk have been involved in projects that combine improvisation and non-Western traditions. They have worked with the Gnawas of Morocco (Al Majmaa - 2004), the Bambara Hunters of Mali (Djekoulou - 2005), South African poets Kgafela oa Magogodi & Samantha7 (Stroke - 2008) and a group of dancers from Burkina Faso (Kawral - 2015).

Laurent Blondiau's musical activities know no boundaries. After being named European Revelation of 2009 by the Académie du Jazz de France, he also won the Sabam Jazz Award in 2015. A year later, he joined the MetX team as artistic co-coordinator. There, he set up projectslike Mâäk Kojo, Les Ventistes du Faso and Bakanaï.