Julien Tassin Quartet

We sometimes have high hopes, before being caught off guard by the unexpected twists of life. These moments remind us of the crucial role that resilience and self-confidence play in our lives. This is precisely what Julien Tassin’s latest album, «Great Expectations», aims to explore: his own experiences with hope, joy and disillusionment.

Last year, trumpeter Ron Miles was scheduled to be Julien’s special guest in a performance at the Bozar in Brussels, where he would have completed the trio alongside Dré Pallemaerts and Nicolas Thys. Unfortunately, Miles died unexpectedly. Despite this immense loss, Tassin continued to write music for this project. He invited American trumpeter Jason Palmer (Roy Hanes, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Turner) to join the trio. This led to the recording of the new album. «Great Expectations». 

As in classical music, most compositions consist of several movements, each reflecting a distinct atmosphere and mindset. The twists and turns in the music align with the overall theme, where each piece tells a story that effortlessly moves from one groove to another, while maintaining a cinematic tone. But this music leaves a lot of room for improvisation and interaction, which has always been the strength of the band in studio and concert. Tassin’s fascination with blues is evident in the album, resulting in a unique and exhilarating combination of blues, jazz and rock. 

The album was released on November 10 on W.E.R.F. Records & IGLOO Records. In concert, "GreatExpectations" will be performed by Julien Tassin on guitar, Nicolas Thys on double bass, Dré Pallemaerts on drums and the American-Eritrean Hermon Mehari on trumpet. Expect a fresh and lively sound that will showcase the quartet’s infinite creativity. 

Line-Up: 

Julien Tassin (BE) - guitar Federico Pecoraro (IT) - bass Dré Pallemaerts (BE) - drums Hermon Mehari (US/ER) - trumpet