Didier Malherbe

Didier Malherbe

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BIOGRAPHY

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    Didier Malherbe    

Didier Malherbe

Widely acclaimed as one of the great masters of wind instruments, Parisian Didier Malherbe started on saxophone when he was 13, after hearing Charlie Parker's Bloomdido, from the Bird and Dizz album. 12 years later, Bloomdido Bad de Grass became his nickname in the group GONG incorporating the literal translation of Malherbe into franglais.Between ages 13 and 20, he studied alto, then tenor saxophone with a classical teacher as well as jamming jazzmen at 'Le Chat qui peche' club. A trip to India & Afghanistan in the early sixties introduced him to ragas, modal music and the bamboo flute. Back in France, he studied classical flute with René Leroy. His rock education started in 1967, when he performed in Les Idoles, a comédie musicale influenced by the Living Theater. Listening to a Soft Machine concert turned him on to a fusion approach of music.

In the ambience of the freaky revolution in Paris in May 1968, he met Australian singer, guitarist and poet, ex-Soft Machine member, Daevid Allen with whom he was to create GONG. This international community band incubated in Deya, Mallorca, and toured France and Europe before it was taken on to the British scene starting at the first Glastonbury Festival in June 1971. Virgin Records signed them, and their album Camembert Electrique hit the charts.

GONG toured extensively around the U.K. and Europe, while producing the albums of their legendary Radio Gnome trilogy: Flying Teapot, Angel's Egg and You

During this time Didier also played sessions for the soundtrack to 'Chappaqua" with Ravi Shankar, free jazz with austere vegetarian and yogi, Burton Green "Aquariana" , contributed to Kevin Ayers "Whatevershebringswesing" and COMUS "To keep from crying"

In 1975, when Allen split from GONG , Didier formed other line-ups with Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett, Pierre Moerlen 1976's Shamal . then Alan Holdsworth, Mino Cinelu 1977's Gazeuse. Two masterpieces of Jazz-rock legend

Didier's turn to leave GONG came in 1978. Back in France, he put together his 5-piece BLOOM . band, releasing an eponymous jazz-rock style album.

Bloom CD

CD

Throughout the early 1980's, he was touring and recording with numerous artists.

From 1985 to 1988, he was part of Faton-Bloom, along with Faton Cahen, the original pianist for
Magma. This group played big jazz festivals and released a CD
FATON BLOOM (Cyronic MAD3029).
In the later 80's, he toured the U.S. with
Pierre Bensusan , and Japan with Brigitte Fontaine.    

In 1989 he added the WX7 Yamaha wind synthesizer to his set-up.
He met
Daevid Allen again and started Gongmaison. 1990 saw the release of FETISH, his second solo album, even though it involved the participation of 15 musicians.
This album explores passion and other aspects of Fire through a great diversity of moods, including folky, jazzy, French Rap, and electronic jungles.... In 1991 and 1992,
he was a member of Shapeshifter Gong and currently part of Shortwave with Hugh Hopper, Pip Pyle, and Phil Miller

 Fetish

Zeff

His third album ZEFF was released in October 1992, for the label Tangram.

The title of the album is derived from Zephyr, and is also the name he gave to a plastic, circular bass flute which he played for VANGELIS on the soundtrack of Ridley SCOTT's movie "1492 Conquest of Paradise" as well as on the daily jingles for France Television 3 . The album was acclaimed with a ffff in Telerama, one of the best french awards.

Having spent many years absorbing musical and rhythmic influences from around the world, Didier developed an avid interest in collecting exotic instruments, each of which offers the opportunity to explore and embrace new styles of playing and approaches to composing.
   

1994 saw the release of his fourth solo album FLUVIUS, which featured : Loy EHRLICH on keyboards  and ethnic string instruments like hajouj and bolong, Henri AGNEL on guitar, mandolin and sarod Shamal MAÏTRA on tablas and percussions.

Didier played sopranino and soprano Saxophones, classical, piccolo and bamboo Flutes. Fluvius is a pastoral album that depicts the life and times of a river, and all the different places through which the river flows.This record completed a series on the elements : Bloom-earth, Fetish-fire, Zeff-air, Fluvius-water.

With each solo album, Didier surprises the listener with newly discovered or mastered instruments and sounds, making every record unique to itself, filled with a fresh excitement and spirit of adventure.

 Fluvius

   Hadouk

1996's album is really a duet with Loy EHRLICH from the Fluvius band, Hadouk is a word composed of : Ha jouj - an African three stringed bass, played by the Gnawas from Morocco - and Doudouk - an Armenian double-reed instrument.They use both of these instruments in a very personal way. . Other instruments are / bamboo flutes, bamboo clarinet,ocarinas, Ukrainian double-flute, soprano saxophone, kora, bolong, sanza, a touch of synth and percussions, Steve Shehan on one number. The inspiration is based on nature simplicity and feeling. The result is yet another adventurous musical journey, quietly couched in simple melodies and structures. In 1999 HADOUK is also eleased in the States on Zebra Acoustic
   

" Didier delves deeper into his unique Malherbian cosmos with fellow travellers
Ahost of unfamiliar instruments are on display. You know what these are?:- Guimbarde, Hajouj , Aouicha, Bolong,
Sanza-m'bira, Sapilka, Pekou, Kaval and the Doudouk ! Anyway they all seem to make wonderful noises in the expert hands of Didier & Loy. I assume track seven, 'Montaulieu' is inspired by the place of the same name in France. Where long ago one of the first versions of
GONG used to gather round the fire pit and make music under the stars and where Dr Mishra had his'ashram'. Didier does not stay still for long, the series of CDs Fetish, Zeff, Fluvius and now Hadouk are all different but the spirit of adventure, melodies and the general ambience are all just wonderfully Didier. Warmly recommended. " Tim Flatus

The 25th Birthday Party for Gong in 1994 created a resurgence of interest in the classic 70s lineup.
In addition to several world tours 96/97/98/99 with
GONG since then, Didier still finds time to record and tour with other atists who are best-known in France such as Brigitte Fontaine and with guitarist Pierre Bensusan , with whom he published the duet album LIVE AU NEW MORNING . which is also released in the United States as Live in Paris


Since 96 Didier toured with Hadouk trio, DM on wind instruments Loy Ehrlich on strings and Steve Shehan on percussives, a trio of adventure-seeking multi-instrumentalists who are adroit at freeing both your mind and your body.

1999 - SHAMANIMAL (label Celluloïd), this time by the Hadouk trio  with  Loy Ehrlich  and  Steve Shehan. 1999 finds also Didier performing in several contexts (duo, trios, and Gong) Participating along with Annie Whitehead in Robert Wyatt's Project Soup Songs for the London Jazz Festival

When he's not busy playing, recording and rehearsing, Didier spends his time working on an extensive collection of sonnets which he has composed over the years.

"With a passion for always forging ahead into uncharted territory, Didier desires to liberate the spirit of each wind instrument he encounters. The act of liberating the spirit of the instrument is what, in turn, liberates the spirit of the listener. Because of the mastery of myriad instruments and his ability to blend styles seamlessly, he has remained one of the most-demanded studio session musicians in France, and is admired the world over."

2000 - New CD Gong 02 Infinity, Hadouk trio and Classic Gong tours
Summer 2000
Didier Malherbe trio with Patrice Meyer Guitares Philippe Foch Percussions

  
2000 - Concerts
Hadouk avec Loy Ehrlich et Steve Shehan : Café de la Danse, Satellit, Égypte
Nouveau CD
Gong 02Infinity Didier a composé 2 morceaux - à écouter en exclusivité ! Classic Gong tour
Été 2000 Nouvelle formation
Didier Malherbe trio avec Patrice Meyer Guitares Philippe Foch Percussions
Fête de l'Huma, résidence aux Nancy Jazz Pulsations oct 2000
     

 Didier Malherbe
 © Christian Ducasse  
JazzMan Dec 2000

1st International Duduk F estival Armenia Didier, who plays armenian duduk in a self-taught way since quite a few years and has played it on three of his CDs already, has been invited to participate to the Yerevan Duduk Festival, august 3, 4 & 5 , 2001.The great virtuoso of the duduk, Djivan Gasparian , is interested to hear other ways of playing this marvelous instrument than the one of the tradition, productive of such wonderful musics, since many centuries....Are also invited an english musician, Dirk Campbell, a german one and an american......

Publication
L'AN C H E D E S M É T A M O R P H O S E S
book of 128 sonnets about the reed and others musical subjects.

April 2002 in Russia !!! Didier is invited in Russia to participate a collective creation under the direction of the great duduk player Djivan Gasparian : the prestigious Bolchoï Theater in Moscow, on april the 8th, and St Petersburg on the 10th. There will be italian , russian, israelian and armenian musicians. Didier is going along with his friend guitarist Patrice Meyer.

2002 - Recording of a new CD by Hadouk trio : NOW,
L'AN C H E D E S M É T A M O R P H O S E S poem and music performances

2003 - NOW CD by Hadouk trio

Shows poetry/music L'AN C H E D E S M É T A M O R P H O S E S

Concerts in Russia at Bolchoï with Djivan Gasparian
Travel in Laos, for a creation and workshops with laotian musicians
Musée de la Musique Cité de la Villette - Peaux et Vent : Musical tale for children
Concerts Hadouk trio : Ile de la Réunion - Festival des Clarinettes - Sunset - Rotterdam (NL)

 CD

CD

 2004 - Hadouk trio CD Live à FiP, concerts Jazz sous les Pommiers, Festival of San Sébastian, résident at théâtre of Briançon

2005 - Hadouk trio DVD Live au Satellit café on label Naïve, recording CD album Utopies, concerts in Luxemburg and in France, Tertulia Poetry Festival in Deia, Mallorca, playing at the UNCONVENTION GONG in Glastonbury with the band GILLI SMYTH and FRIENDS and for the final jam.

2006 - Hadouk trio : June : CD UTOPIES on Naive label
Festivals with
Hadouk trio : Mexico city, Iéna (Germany),Sani (Greece)
Playing a lot at 
GONG UNCONVENTION in Amsterdam (Nov. 3-4-5) with  Hadouk trio,  Mother Gong, Sacred Geometry,  Classical Gong and others.

 Utopies

Baldamore

2007 - May, 22 & 23,  Hadouk trio played at Cabaret Sauvage and recorded a CD live + bonus DVD released on Naïve: BALDAMORE with three guests: Mauritanian female singer MALOUMA, NICOLAS GENEST (trumpet) and BACHAR KHALIFE (percussions)

June 9 :broadcast France 3 TV : Trophy "best artists of the year" of "Les
Victoires du Jazz". Hadouk trio won this award.

Hadouk trio tours : Festivals de Saint-Sébastien (Spain), d'Angers, de Boissy-le-Cutté, Festival de Jazz of Berlin (broadcast on Arte TV)

2008 - Hadouk trio : Café de la Danse, Alhambra (Paris), Festival of Crest, Jazzèbre of Perpignan, Africolor, festival of Ouro Preto (Brasill) and some brasilian dates, Knitting Factory in New-York

2009 - Hadouk trio tours : Metz (l'Arsenal), Châlons-sur-Saone, Sens, Brest, Roanne, Angoulême.
Festival de jazz de Rotterdam, Turkish tour, Guyane, festival  jazz of Montréal (Canada) and Vancouver

Concerts-readings solo ( L'ANCHE DES MÉTAMORPHOSES) at Médiathèque d'Agde, Musée d'Art contemporain de Bordeaux and Café des éditeurs à Paris

2010 - Hadouk trio : CD AIR HADOUK
International tours: ; West-Africa, Moldavia, Italy, London Jazz Festival,in France: festivals de Cluny, Biarritz, Cosmo Jazz Festival, Festival 38ème Rugissant Grenoble Slam avec Bastien Maupomé

 CD

Hadouk trio : Tours : West Africa, Moldavia, Italy, London Jazz Festival, in France: festivals de Cluny, Biarritz, Cosmo Jazz Festival, Festival 38ème Rugissant Grenoble Slam with Bastien Maupomé

CD

2011 - DIDIER MALHERBE - ERIC LÖHRER : CD NUIT D'OMBRELLE
Festival of Fès (Maroc)
Tours with Hadouk trio and the duet DIDIER MALHERBE - ERIC LÖHRER, New Morning...
Night of improvisation, at théâtre du Châtelet, with J.F. Zygel
Grande Nuit du Slam, in Toulouse, with the slammer Bastien Maupomé
Festival des musiques sacrées de Fez, oratorio of Armand Amar " Leyla & Majnoun"
Hadouk trio: UK tour, with Prabhu Edouard, tablas & various percs (Festival de Scarborough, Vortex à Londres, Band on the wall à Manchester,...)
Recording some flutes for Luc Besson's movie "The Lady", music by Eric Serra.
Concert Tribute to Faton Cahen, in Guise, with François Causse,Benoît Moerlen,...

2012 - Hadouk trio  : Tourin India : Delhi, Bombay, Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad and also in Rennes, Lisboa, Paris-jazz Festival
With the duat Duo
DIDIER MALHERBE - ERIC LÖHRER : concerts in Coutances, Chateau de Breteuil Jazzàtouteheure, Cheverny Jazz, Ambiosonic.
Working on stage with Jean-François Zygel in Paris and Toulouse

  
"Le Tour du monde en 80 Minutes" trio WITH Jean-François Zygel (piano) et Joël Grare (percu) Festivals 1001 notes, la Baume en musique
Hadouk trio in Bangalore (India)
Rencontres musicales at Rochefort-en-accords
Duo
DIDIER MALHERBE - ERIC LÖHRER : Festival Jazzèbre Perpignan 

CD

2013 - L'ANCHE DES MÉTAMORPHOSES is re-edited at Éditions Buissonnières, concerts solo poetry and reed music at centre Mandapa, Médiathèque de Monrouge
Hadouk trio played at Salle Gaveau, Bellerive-sur-Allier, Silo
Bali: 2 concerts à Ubud with Anello Capuano
Europajazzfestival with the duet
DIDIER MALHERBE - ERIC LÖHRER

HADOUK QUARTET (Didier Malherbe-Loy Ehrlich-Eric Löhrer-Jean-Luc Di Faya) released a CD album : HADOUKLY YOURS, followed by some concerts (Paris, Marseilles, etc...)

2014 - Hadouk Quartet : Tour : India and La Réunion.
-Concerts : Forbach, Crolles, Nice, Boulogne/mer, Brugges, Duc des Lombards,  Jazz sur son 31, Vendenheim, Valence, Satellit’café Roanne.
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Hadouk trio : Tour in Russia with Patrice Héral Moscou, St Petersbourg, Pskov  with Jean-Luc Di Fraya Montpellier, Nancy.
-Duet with Renaud Gillet Lez’Arts Estival and concert in Transylvania
-Trio with Jean-François Zygel (piano) " Le Tour du monde en 80 Minutes " and Joël Grare (percu) concerts : Montceau-les-Mines , Fourmies,  Nuit de l’impro Grenoble
-Duet with Éric Löhrer " Concert Nuit d'Ombrelle " - Marmande
-"Festival du film muet d'Anères" about the movie " la Montagne Sacrée " Arnold Fanck 1926

2015 - Hadouk Quartet, concerts : au Triton, Millau, Poët Laval JazzFestival, Jazz in Langourla, Argenton-sur-Creuse
-Trio de Jean-François Zygel (piano) " Le Tour du monde en 80 Minutes " with Joël Grare (percu), Didier Malherbe (vents) : Théâtre de Chartres, Moissac, Nuit de l’improvisation of Jean-François Zygel - Théâtre du Châtelet
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DIDIER MALHERBE - ERIC LÖHRER " Concert Nuit d'Ombrelle " La Chapelle des Lombard
-Concerts with Jean-marc Padovani Quintet and Thierry Maillard.
2016 -  Hadouk  en concert : au Théâtre Durance Château-Arnoux, AltitudeJazzFestival Serre Chevalier, au Théâtre Victor Hugo Bagneux,Venizia Italy, Vitrolles, au Triton. 

2016 -  Hadouk concerts : Théâtre Durance Château-Arnoux, AltitudeJazzFestival Serre Chevalier, Théâtre Victor Hugo Bagneux,Venizia Italy, Vitrolles, Triton. 
Hadouk trio with Steve Shehan Morroco- Essaouira and Meknès. 

- Trio Jean-François Zygel (piano)" Le Tour du monde en 80 Minutes " - Joël Grare (percu), Didier Malherbe (winds) Philharmonie du Luxembourg, Mortagne, les Quinconces Le Mans, Concerts de poche les Noues.


Didier Malherbe participations : 
- Unesco Paris «  Hommage à Mahmoud Darwich » with Philippe Laccarrière 
- Festival Farniente sur la Plage de Monsieur Hulot, 
- Générateur Gentilly avec Jean-François Pauvros 
- Les Impatients du Jazz II & Bloom Project Marseille, 
- Auditorium du Musée Guimet Le Cadeau de Jade de Yaping Wang
   

2017 - Hadouk : New album  LE CINQUIEME FRUIT (naïve/believe)
 

Hadouk in concert: La Rodia Besançon, Festival Jazz à toute heure en vallée de Chevreuse, Jazz dans les Foyers Caen, New Morning 75010 Paris, Théâtre Lino Ventura Nice, au Triton Les Lilas, Festival Jazz Metis Montreuil, 3 concerts en Inde à Bangalore.
Didier Malherbe participations : 
Concerts with Jean-François Zygel (piano)" Le Tour du monde en 80 Minutes "

 "Breeze on rhythms" with Tommie Lee Mac Kenzie at Xiqu center Taipei, Républic of China Taiwan.  with Yaping Wang and Ensemble YU at Jazzycolors festival Institut hongrois, Paris. 

CD

2018 - New book of poetry " Escapade en Facilie " edited by  castorastral.com/livre/escapade-en-facilie/
 

Hadouk in concert: Moods Schiffbauplatz CH-8005 Zürich, Salle Paul B - 91300 Massy, Les Arcades - 59155 Faches-Thumesnil, « Jazz-en-claires » - Théâtre d’Ardoises - 17999 île d’Oléron
Duo Didier Malherbe & Eric Löhrer : Studio de l'Ermitage - 75020 Paris 
 
Didier Malherbe participations : 
« Round about Duduk » Festival ASIA-PACIFIC Traditional Art Festival TAIWAN Ylan
Didier  with Artyom Mynassian, Sarkis Najarian and Renaud Gillet. https://english.moc.gov.tw/information_196_89422.html

Alula studio de l’Ermitage Paris, Moers Festival - Duisburg Allemagne, Festival AU SUD DU NORD with Philippe Laccarrière au Studio de l'Ermitage Paris et Cerny , Yochk'o Seffer "nokram robotik delirium" Blois, ZicaMontreuil with Loy Ehrlich 

   ESCAPADE EN FACILIE

2019 - Hadouk in concert : Festival Rares Talents Théâtre Berthelot, 93100 Montreuil - Espace du Neez, 64110 Jurancon - Floating stage - Weinstadt/Stugard, Allemagne - Le Triton Paris/Les Lilas 93260 - FESTIVAL CALAN D’ART Eygalières 13810- Festival Jazz en Sol Mineur Hussigny-Godbrange 54590 - 32 street club Vozdvizhenskaya, Kiev UKRAINE - Aprem Jazz Quimper 29000 - Le Triton Fête ses 20ANS

Hadouk on France Musique, March 9 OCORA Couleurs du Monde - podcast sur francemusique.fr


Duo Didier Malherbe & Eric Löhrer - Nuit d’Ombrelle - La Sittelle 39150 Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux
Solo Musique & Poésie :  Didier Malherbe solo JEUX D’ANCHES, DE MOTS ET DE FLÛTES at« Salon de Musique » ,Conservatoire de Nanterre 92000 
Festival Rami Théâtre National d’Orléans 45000 - Festival A Toute Eure Prieuré de Gasny 27620 

Didier Malherbe participations : 
ALULA & Didier MALHERBE Festival JAZZ EN BIEVRE 38122 - Le JAM Montpellier 34070
Didier Malherbe & Alexandre Cellier  at the Centre Culturel de Jassans
Jean-François Zygel (piano)" Le Tour du monde en 80 Minutes " - Théâtre du Manège, Maubeuge 

Tribute to Hugh Hopper au Triton

Fête de la lune - concert Ensemble YU - Mairie du 13ème Paris - Chamarande, Festival AU SUD DU NORD with Philippe Laccarrière -
Exhibition Fêlures et Lumières, Atelier Gustave Paris 14
2020 - Recording a CD with Alula: "Héliotropiques"
2021

May 2021 - Afronight -Télésud: interview Didier Malherbe

June 2021 - recording of the CD THE YANQGING & THE WIND - Didier Malherbe (Hulusi, Flûtes bawu, Khen, Ocarina) and Yaping Wang ( Yanqging)
https://www.cezame-fle.com/indie-feel-good-album-3760.html
 
July 2021 - Album of the band ALULA "Héliotropiques" and concerts with Didier Malherbe as guest : Champagnole - 6mic, Aix-en -Provence - Le Triton, Paris 
July 2021 - Concert with Henri Agnel (oud, sistre) and Idriss Agnel (percussions) in Verneuil-sur-Avre  
December 2021 - Music et Live Painting with Liba Waring-Stambollion Galerie 18bis Paris. 

DM

2022

Youtube « Bloomditop » : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdt-NQpYGztU0_HLgA-2rw  

February  - Paris - Médiathèque Hélène-Berr Concert/Exhibition Yoshoko Seffer with François Causse
April Belgique Liège - Club l’An Vert - Concert with Nara Noian promoted by Luc Pilmeyer
May - Cerny 91 - Benefit concert for Mali en Duo avec Philippe Laccarrière
October - Fresnes 94 - Conservatoire de Musique - Duo avec Yaping Wang
November - Paris Le Triton - Hadouk Duo with Loy Ehrlich
November - Lillers 62 L’Abattoir - Hadouk Duo with Loy Ehrlich
Décember - Paris - La Lucarne des écrivains Solo Music/Poetry/Spinning tops

2023

Duo Didier Malherbe & Alexandre Cellier - La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH) - Le Triton Paris - La Spirale, Fribourg (CH).
June:  at Festival FESTIZOME :  Didier Malherbe with Leonard Le Cloarec (ténor sax, flûte) and François Causse (percussions, hang).
Duo Raphaël Didjaman (Didgeridoo, guimbarde, percussions, voix) & Didier Malherbe
Duo Yaping Wang & Didier Malherbe - Centre Mandapa - Paris

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