Wajdi Riahi Trio – Zabonprés Sessions

Wajdi Riahi, a Unique Journey

Born in Tunis and trained in piano from a young age, Wajdi Riahi quickly discovered music as a universal language. After extensive studies, he moved to Brussels, where he developed a unique style: a blend of jazz, Mediterranean music, and the folk traditions that inspire him. His playing, both sensitive and rhythmically intense, combines melodic depth with improvisational freedom. He quickly established himself as one of the most promising young pianists on the European jazz scene, recognized for his ability to blend virtuosity with raw emotion, and as a sideman in numerous projects.

The Wajdi Riahi Trio… a long story

The Wajdi Riahi Trio was formed around him, with Basile Rahola on double bass and Pierre Hurty on drums. With Wajdi on piano, they built a strong identity—one that blends finesse and energy—which they now bring to international stages. Together, they’ve found a rare balance: constantly listening to one another, deep friendship, and musical complicity give their trio a unique intensity. With two critically acclaimed albums to their credit—*Mhamdeya* and *Essia*—the group has made its mark on European stages, where they perform refined and dynamic music, fueled by their diverse roots and shared energy.

Last year marked a turning point: more than 50 concerts took Essia all over the world (Montreal International Jazz Festival, Jazz des 5 Continents in Marseille, Nancy Jazz Pulsation, Natt Jazz in Norway, Ultramar Club and Canarias Jazz y Mas in Spain, Flagey in Brussels, Jazz à Liège, Jazz Cave in Romania, etc.).

Everywhere they went, they received rave reviews, both from audiences and the press.

Belgian and French critics praised the freshness and depth of the music, which captivates listeners through both its lyrical intensity and its generosity on stage. Live, there’s always a rare alchemy between the musicians, making you want to come back again and again.

We want a new LIVE album!!

It was in this vibrant context that their new project took shape: a live album. For the first time, the trio’s music will also be released on vinyl, a precious and sustainable medium that reflects their desire to preserve a memory of these shared moments. The album features a selection of tracks from *Mhamdeya* and *Essia*, reworked after dozens of concerts, enriched by experience, and refined by time. For music lives, changes, and every interpretation carries with it the memory of the paths traveled. Two new tracks have been added to this repertoire, illustrating the trio’s ongoing evolution and their desire to reinvent themselves.

This project came to fruition thanks to the Flak label and its Zabonprés Sessions series, dedicated to recording intimate concerts in a unique setting. The trio had the opportunity to play for an audience of about thirty people, in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, in a small venue with a warm atmosphere, surrounded by forests and light. A three-day residency, marked by rehearsals, exchanges, and shared living, yielded much more than just a concert: a shared rhythm, an exceptional intensity, and music rooted both in the moment and in the deep friendship that binds the three musicians.

With this new album, the Wajdi Riahi Trio invites us to witness an important step in their journey: music in motion, shaped by time, travel, and above all, friendship. An album that makes you want to see the trio live on stage, where it truly comes to life.