MU

MU's music traces the contours of a sensitive and singular sound universe, where Yann lecollaire's compositions are as many gateways to the pleasure of improvisation.  

Using unusual instrumentation, the bass flute (Quentin Manfroy), bass clarinet (Yann lecollaire) and keyboards (Eric Bribosia) give life to a sound imbued with mystery, suggestion and dreamlike sensations.

MU is inspired by jazz, modal improvisation, Ars nova writing processes and interval network systems, temporal folding and other canons, intentional and unintentional occurrences, spirals and magic squares.

MU is exhaled in a series of musical pieces revealing their shapes and colours.

Careful attention to balance, a deep understanding of the musical moment and a simple joy in creating give the ensemble a natural, bewitching beauty. 

Quentin Manfroy: bass flute and compositions

Yann lecollaire: bass clarinet and compositions

Eric Bribosia: piano, synthesiser

MU was originally a quartet formed in 2013 by Yann lecollaire (clarinets), Quentin Manfroy (flute) , Eric Bribosia (keyboards) and Benjamin Chaval (drums, machines).

Their debut album, From Form, was released in 2015 on Thodöl records label.

The music developed on this album is based on improvised electric jazz, with a strong element of modern writing, notably the modal language of composer Olivier Messiaen.

In 2023, MU became a trio in a much more acoustic, chamber format, with the sound identity of an original formation combining bass clarinet, bass flute and piano. 

The second album, La musique est son trouble, was released in November 2024 on the Thodöl records label.

It is a double album, the first of which is played by the acoustic trio, and the second covers the first, reworked and transformed electrically by Benjamin Chaval (Avalanche Kaïto).