Although reedman Joachim Badenhorst is barely 30 years old, it already seems nearly impossible to get a complete summary of his prolific international career. Talk about a world citizen… After having been based in New York for a number of years, Badenhorst is once again focusing on the European scene: Belgium, France, Iceland, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark… his sense of adventure is truly insatiable. Han Benninck chose to work with Joachim for his first eponymous trio project, Tony Malaby enlisted him for his new band Novela, along with drummer John Hollenbeck, trumpeter Ralph Alessi and pianist Kris Davis. Since 2013, Badenhorst has been blending all this experience in his impermanent magnum opus, the seven-strong Carate Urio Orchestra. Parallel to all these activities the young reedman is launching his solo career. His debut CD "The Jungle he told me" blew away the impro-scene.
The music Joachim makes with all these different set-ups sounds as diverse as the members' various backgrounds. Doggedly experimental chamber music with Danish singer Sissel Vera Pettersen and guitarist Mikkel Ploug, the intuitive intimacy of Rawfishboys, his duo with French bassist Brice Soniano, delicate Icelandic folk with Mogil, which includes, among others, the guitarist Hilmar Jensson… Badenhorst tends to opt for small outfits, emphasizing the personality of every musician. In August 2013, Joachim was nominated as ‘Rising Star: Clarinet' in the Critics' Poll of the American magazine Downbeat.
(Belgian Jazz Meeting 2013 - JLS)