As a composer, improviser and musical explorer, Manuel Hermia's approach to music is first and foremost a global one. This approach is expressed through several axes: multiculturality, diversity of musical styles, multidisciplinary approach and social commitment.
Multiculturality
Generally speaking, through his many travels and encounters, he has tried to gradually integrate into his language all the cultural elements that his career has brought him. His first overtures were towards Latin America and certain African cultures, then he began to broaden his knowledge of modal music by integrating the learning of Indian and Arabic music - ragas and maqâms - into his field of exploration.
Over the years, he has also developed his own melodic-harmonic system with a theory he calls “rajazz”, bridging the gap between tonal thinking and a modal approach to music. This contemporary system has the potential to be used in any stylistic framework.
Style diversity
As an instrumentalist, he has also given free rein to his discourse as a saxophonist and to his love of the bansuri - the North Indian flute. Very active in the world of jazz, where he began his career, he leads an international career that has taken him to play on every continent with the Darrifourcq/Hermia/Ceccaldi trio, the Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, the Manuel Hermia trio, the Freetet, ...
He is also involved in a series of hybrid projects between jazz and world music: Metanoïa, Le Murmure de l'Orient (India, China, Pakistan), Majid Bekkas Afro Oriental trio (Morocco), Mamady Keita and Sewakan (Guinea), Nawaris (Iraq), Bahdja (Algeria), Cumali Bulduk (Turkey), Slang (Belgium)...
Finally, he approaches contemporary music by writing works inspired by his Rajazz theory. The main component is Fluid Suites for Cello, performed by Sigrid Vandenbogearde on cello ( Fluid Suites for Cello, Kalki label 2019 ).
Multidisciplinary approach
As his primary desire is to participate in a global vision of music, beyond stylistic diversity, he is also involved in a series of projects with multidisciplinary approaches.
Manuel has composed and performed in several contemporary dance-circus shows (Feria Musica, Babafish companies). He also composes sporadically for feature-length and short films ( Sans Soleil ; Bruxelles-Beyrouth ), for creative sound documentaries ( Perle ; Le lieu de toutes les histoires ).
The “Murmure de l'Orient” project took the form of two double CD's-books in which music, philosophical texts and photos share the space.
In 2022, he created a theatrical musical tale, all original music, inspired by Arabic, written and composed by Manu, directed by Michael Delaunoy and narrated by Alain Eloy.
Today, his Rajazz theory rubs shoulders with mathematics, opening up new horizons for exploration.
A commitment to society
For him, art is a way of looking at the world, and therefore a commitment. His projects are often - but not always - in the wake of a commitment. Sometimes philosophical and spiritual, like his double album “Le Murmure de l'Orient”. Sometimes political, like the CD “Austerity... and what about Rage”. Sometimes between philisopia and politics, like “Freetet”. Sometimes ecological, like “There is still Live on earth” by Orchestra Nazionale della Luna.
RAJAZZ THEORY:
Since 2005, he has been developing his “rajazz theory”, an original melodic-harmonic system. FRArt research funding received in 2023 will enable him to explore further the interrelationships between this way of organizing musical material and various geometric representations.
Similarly, he sees composition and improvisation as complementary and equal disciplines. These personal projects all leave room for a balance between the two. Some of the works he writes for other performers also strive to maintain a space generating a coexistence these two disciplines.
COMPOSITION:
In addition to compositions for his many personal projects, he composes works in contemporary classical music (such as Fluid Suites for Cello), music for performance (theater, dance and contemporary circus for the Feria Musica and Babafish companies), music for feature-length and short films (Sans Soleil, Bruxelles-Beyrouth...) and music for radio sound documentaries (Perle, Pleuvoir sur les morts, Le lieu de toutes les histoires...).
TEACHING :
He teaches jazz saxophone at the Brussels Conservatory, as well as jazz ensemble classes. He has also initiated an improvisation seminar for Master's students in the classical section.
ASSOCIATIVE LIFE
Has been a member of Sabam 's Board of Directors since May 2013 (due to end in 2025).
Has been a member of the Board of Directors of Smart asbl since 2002, and then of the Smart Foundation, until 2022.
Vice-President of Jeunesses musicales de FWB from 2011 to 2019
Was president of the Belgian association of jazz musicians “les lundis d'Hortense” ( from 2003 to 2005) and director from 2000 to 2014.
Awards and scholarships
Octave de la Musique in Jazz with Slang in 2005 - Octave de la Musique in Jazz with Slang in 2005 - Octave de la Musique in Jazz with Slang in 2005
-Octave de la Musique in Jazz 2011 -
-Sabam Jazz Award for a confirmed artist 2017
-Beurs Bewezen Talent 2022
-Funding from the Fonds de Recherche en Arts ( FRArt ) from 2023 to 2025 for his Théorie des Rajazz
more information on manuelhermia.com