AKA MOON - - - TAKE THE COLTRANE

Aka Moon, featuring Robin Eubank & Wajdi Riahi, will be celebrating the music of John Coltrane.

October 1, 2026, at Reflektor in Liège, BE.

https://reflektor.be/en/concert/aka-moon-take-the-coltrane/

October 3, 2026, at Le Marni in Brussels, BE

https://www.leslundisdhortense.be/en/event/aka-moon-and-guests/

AKA MOON

During its existence, the Carbon 7 record label released a couple of compilation albums.
The second one, called "The Carbon 7 Compilations - Volume 2" was entirely dedicated to Belgian modern jazz band Aka Moon.
Released in 1998.

It only occurred to me today that the final track, 'Invisible Targets' was only released on this compilation.

Furthermore, the album exists in two editions: one with an orange album cover and one with a black album cover. Other than that, they are the same, although I do have to admit that they look nice on the shelf, next to each other...

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PIERRE VAN DORMAEL - VIVACES

• pierre van dormael: vivaces
      (2001, cd, Belgium, igloo)

The late guitarist and composer Pierre Van Dormael is best-known for the soundtracks he did for films like "Toto Le Héros" and "Le Huitième Jour".
Less known is that, in 1989, Pierre started Nasa Na with Fabrizio Cassol, Michel Hatzigeorgiou and Stéphane Galland, a short-lived band that preceded Aka Moon.

Pierre only made a handful of albums, including the beautiful "Vivaces" one from 2001.

AKA MOON - QUALITY OF JOY

• aka moon: quality of joy
      (2023, cd, bel, outhere music)

The latest album by Aka Moon is entitled "Quality Of Joy". And although the title of the album as well as the names of the individual pieces sound a bit mellow and new age, those who will acquire this music to be used as background music for their weekly meditative yoga session to clear their head, will get quite a surprise.

Aka Moon is a Belgian jazz trio.
Fabrizio Cassol:alto sax - Michel Hatzigeorgiou: Fender bass - Stéphane Galland: drums.
They have been pushing boundaries for over thirty years: applying new ways to improvise and to interact as a trio, but also exploring new musical cultures, collaborating with artists from all over the world.

"Quality Of Joy" is a continuation of this journey. The guest musicians, aptly called The Orchestral Constellation, fit in perfectly: contributing but still keeping their distinctive sound.

Fabrizio Cassol is playing his 'B half flat key' saxophone throughout the album.
Listen to 'Where Are The Angels?', where the saxophone fuses with Claron McFaddon's vocals.

I've seen Aka Moon at Jazz Middelheim last summer where they performed as a quartet with João Barradas, enjoyed their 30th anniversary concert with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra a couple of weeks ago, and now there's this new album.
Impressive each and every time.

The official video for "Quality Of Joy":

'Where Are The Angels?'

AKA MOON 20 YEARS AGO

20 years ago, Aka Moon and guests performed at the Jazz à Liège festival.
On YouTube for everyone to enjoy.

A - ma - zing...

BJO INVITES AKA MOON

 On Bruzz TV :

Brussels Jazz Orchestra invites Aka Moon,
a glimpse of the rehearsal.

https://www.bruzz.be/videoreeks/maandag-15-februari-2021/video-brussels-jazz-orchestra-en-aka-moon-vieren-samen-30ste

AKA MOON ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM

and it should be out before the end of the month.
Just look at the name of the guests !!

And the trio will do some shows with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra as well.

• 16 feb 2023 20:30 - Bozar, Brussel (B)
• 18 feb 2023 20:00 - Palais des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi (B)
• 19 feb 2023 20:00 - De Bijloke, Gent (B)

AKA MOON

Bijloke Magazine #10, December 2022, has an article on Aka Moon in an attempt to present the band in five albums.
An impossible task, but a nice article and a fine selection:

• Aka Moon - Aka Moon (1992)
• Aka Moon - Ganesh (1997)
• Aka Moon - DJ Grazzhoppa's DJ Bigband + Aka Moon (2010)
• Aka Moon - The Scarlatti Book (2015)
• Aka Balkan Moon - Alifbata

Here's what I would say:

JAZZ MIDDELHEIM

Quite a number of the Jazz Middelheim jazz festival concerts were broadcast on Belgian national radio Klara.

As a result, and thanks to those people who record these broadcasts, I was able to revisit both the Aka Moon and the Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio concerts that we attended last week.

Lovely.

I also treated myself to the Aka Moon concert at Jazz Middelheim from two years ago.

What a joy...

AKA MOON AT JAZZ MIDDELHEIM

The 15th of August is a public holiday in Belgium (Ascension Day / Mothers' Day).
And I have to admit that it was a very special day for me as well as I went to the Jazz Middelheim festival to see Aka Moon.
True, there were other bands as well, but we went for Aka Moon.
For the occasion, the trio had invited João Barradas, Portugese accordionist and composer to join the ranks.

Open air, Park Den Brandt, Antwerp, Belgium.
Beautiful location. The perfect spot for some exiting music.

And the Aka Moon concert was just amazing. 
Polyrhythmic, polyphonic and interspersed with improvisations.
Loved it.
What a way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Aka Moon...

Fabrizzio Cassol

João Barradas

Michel Hatzigeorgiou

Stéphane Galland

If you get the opportunity, go see these guys live. Or check out the "Constellations" 20 CD box set that they released last year.

AKA MOON AT JAZZ MIDDELHEIM

If I would have to pick one day to attend the upcoming Jazz Middelheim festival in Antwerp next August, it would be Sunday, the final day.
Not only will Aka Moon perform with special guest Joao Barradas, but Kurt Rosenwinkel is scheduled to perform, and Philippe Catherine has been added (with guest Alexandre Cavalière on the violin) as well.

August 15, 2022

• 12.45 – 13.45: Flight of the Black Zebra ft. Jakob Bro
• 14.30 – 15.45: Aka moon with João Barradas
• 16.30 – 17.45: Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio
• 18.30 – 19.45: Philip Catherine Piano trio
• 20.30 – 22.00: Fred Hersch Trio & Desguin String Quartet

BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA INVITES AKA MOON

• February 16, 2023 at Bozar in Brussels, BE
• February 19, 2023 at Bijloke in Ghent, BE

Aka Moon celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2022. The Brussels Jazz Orchestra will do the same, but in 2023.

AKA MOON TOURDATES

AKA MOON FLASHBACK

Aka Moon recorded "Live At The Kaai" in 1993. The album got released the same year.
For some reason or another, this amazing CD was not included in the Aka Moon 20 "Constellations Box" that got released in 2017.
If I'm not mistaken, physical copies of the "Live At The Kaai" album are still available through label owner Guy Segers' Bandcamp page.

 

AKA MOON AT BROSELLA 2020

On August 9th 2020, Aka Moon was invited to close down the special, corona proof XXS-edition of Brosella Festival. There and then, the legendary Belgian jazz band could present their acclaimed new album ‘Opus 111’ for the very first time live, since it was released on April 3rd 2020 (Outhere Instinct Collection). Enjoy this beautiful recording of a selection of songs from that night .

 

TRIO BRAVO

Belgian jazz ensemble Trio Bravo recorded a handful of albums during the late eighties.

Featuring:

• Fabrizio Cassol (soprano and alto sax) (Aka Moon)
• Michel Massot (tuba, trombone) (Rêve d'Eléphant Orchestra)
• Michel Debrull (drums) (Rêve d'Eléphnat Orchestra)

Their excellent "Quatrième Monde" release has been made available through Bandcamp.
From 1990. Their final album.

AKA MOON - ELOHIM

Record label owner Guy Segers says : "... one of the best CDs of the decade.", and I can't really disagree with him. 

Aka Moon's "Elohim" got released in 1997 and it's a superb album.
It still is. I'm listening to it now.

Guy still has some copies for sale.
Or you can check it out & get it from Bandcamp.

https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/album/elohim-1997-06-01-full-album

ELVIN GALLAND

 Meet Elvin Galland (keyboard)

Saturday, January 16, 2021, Elvin and his dad (Stéphane Galland) will do an on-line concert as part of the Brussels Jazz Festival, billed as The Gallands.

https://www.flagey.be/en/activity/7921-the-gallands

AKA MOON CONCERT BROADCAST

 Earlier today, Aka Moon did a live concert broadcast from Bozar in Brussels.

Aka Moon plays Beethoven's Opus 111

JAZZ MIDDELHEIM

 Tonight at the Jazz Middelheim festival in Antwerp, BE.

19.00-20.00 u. – Jeroen Van Herzeele & Stéphane Galland play ‘Interstellar Space’

21.00-22.30 u. – Aka Moon