Melanie De Biasio
- Main StageSaturday 20•July•2024
20:15•21:30
Few voices are quite as enchanting as that of Melanie De Biasio. The Belgian musician with Italian roots proved this once again in 2023 with 'Il Viaggio’, her latest exploit which sees De Biasio not only seeking her roots but also finding new musical pathways; the double-album features gentle electronica and ambient touches. Her last album 'Lilies’, dating from 2017, was a completely different world. Her return, however, felt immediately familiar and she was able to enjoy masses of support, which manifested in many sold-out concerts around 'Il Viaggio’.
De Biasio is a very welcome guest at Gent Jazz. This summer, she (finally) returns, taking the audience on a trip through her career. In 2007, she began with the 'brave’ jazz album 'A Stomach Is Burning’ but it was only when her love of jazz was combined with influences from pop and rock that her talent received the attention it so deserved. The phenomenal 'No Deal’ (2013) hit the world like a bomb. Rolling Stone gave it four stars, Jamie Cullum is a fan and Phil Selway, the drummer from Radiohead, called it his favourite album of the year: 'It sounds like Billie Holiday walked into the sessions for Mark Hollis's solo record. There is true soul in this record.’ De Biasio was only the second ever Belgian to be invited to go on 'Later… with Jools Holland’ and she headlined at Montreux Jazz in Tokyo. And these are just a few of the highlights... Things were moving so fast, in fact, that De Biasio decided to take some hard-earned time out after her extensive tour with 'Lilies’. But now she is back. And we should be delighted. Particularly as it means we can see her live and once again be immersed in her powerful, dusky, intriguing universe.
