Sometimes we have high hopes, only to be caught unawares by life's unexpected twists and turns. These moments remind us of the crucial role played by resilience and self-confidence 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 for a performance at Bozar, Brussels, where he would have completed the trio alongside Dré Pallemaerts and NicolasThys. Sadly, Miles died unexpectedly. Despite this immense loss, Tassin continued to write music for the project. He then invited American trumpeter JasonPalmer (Roy Hanes, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane,Mark Turner) to join the trio. This led to the recording of a new album. GreatExpectations".

As in classical music, most compositions are made up of several movements, each reflecting a distinct mood and state of mind. The twists and turns in the music are aligned with the overall theme, where each track tells a story that moves effortlessly from one groove to the next, while retaining a cinematic tone. But this music leaves plenty of room for improvisation and interaction, which has always been the group's strength in the studio and live. Tassin's fascination with the blues is evident throughout 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, DréPallemaerts on drums and Eritrean-American Hermon Mehari on trumpet. Expect a fresh, lively sound that showcases the quartet's infinite creativity.

Line-Up : 

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