Barbastelle

Barbastelle is a musical hybrid, blending the timbres of strings and woodwinds with impressionistic drumming, merging composed chamber jazz with the spontaneity of free improvisation. Drawing on the spirit of Renaissance broken consorts and the legacies of Mal Waldron and Eric Dolphy, their music evokes the delicate sonic calligraphy of Debussy, Bartók, and Takemitsu.

‘Vestige Étésien’ is their first album, their logbook of sound, inspired by geological formations shaped by winds, currents, and time. Over the last decade, these compositions have taken shape through the ensemble’s singular voice, revealing subtle textures, polyphonic layers, and moments of quiet revelation.

Barbastelle creates a world that is both tranquil and vibrant, where improvisation and written music coil around each other like Etesian winds, drawing listeners into immersive sonic landscapes.

Line-up:
Hanne de Backer – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Yann Lecollaire – clarinet
Annemie Osborne – cello
Samuel Ber – drums
Jordi Cassagne – double bass, composition