music
French saxophonist Sakina Abdou is a rising star on the European improvised music scene. With her multifaceted approach, she has collaborated with musicians such as Satoko Fujii, Seb Rochford, Farida Amadou and Alexander Hawkins. A member of the vibrant Muzzix collective in Lille, Abdou also collaborates with Will Guthrie’s Ensemble Nist-Nah, with the Dedalus Ensemble – a collective dedicated to reinterpreting minimalist works by composers such as Philip Glass, Tom Johnson and Brian Eno – and with Eve Risser’s Red Desert Orchestra, which is also appearing at gnration in May.
In 2024, following her solo debut with Goodby Ground (2022), the saxophonist joined forces with percussionist Toma Gouband and pianist Marta Warelis to release Hammer, Roll and Leaf, their first recording as a trio. Recorded over several days during an improvisation session at Abdou’s home, this album unfolds like an organic tapestry, woven from fragments, echoes and resonances. Surrounded by the ethereal touch of the Polish pianist and the precise beat of the French percussionist, Abdou released this album on the New York-based label Relative Pitch Records.
As one listens to this trio, their deep roots in jazz become apparent, as does the influence of minimalism, classical music and noise. Toma Gouband’s wide-ranging percussive palette, here expanded to include stones and branches, sets the trio’s fundamental rhythm. Against this backdrop, Abdou’s saxophone and Warelis’s piano blend beautifully in a rare harmony. Live, we follow the trio through a web of counterpoints that evoke the shared memories of three artists with rich influences, opening up to ever-wider spaces.
supported by portuguese republic – culture, youth and sports / general direction of the arts. portuguese contemporary art network (rpac). rtcp – network of portuguese theaters and cinemas.
