Mike Reed & Hunter Diamond and Hanne De Backer & Signe Emmeluth are two international duos taking the stage, each sharing an unparalleled dynamic, effortlessly showcasing every corner of the musical spectrum.

HANNE DE BACKER & SIGNE EMMELUTH (BE/DK)

Since 2019, the paths of Belgian baritone saxophonist and bass clarinetist Hanne De Backer (g a b b r o) and Danish, Norway-based, alto and tenor saxophonist Signe Emmeluth (Amoeba) have crossed at various times. From the Summer Bummer Festival at DE Studio and tours with Steve Swell and Paal Nilssen-Love’s Large Unit, to Mudskipper with Nilssen-Love and Terrie (Ex) Hessels, and even a stint in Ethiopia with that same Hessels, the strong musical and personal bond between these two exceptional players is undeniable. This new duo tour, bringing them back to DE Studio on December 8, promises to highlight their unique connection and virtuosity.

MIKE REED & HUNTER DIAMOND (US)

Drummer Mike Reed amazed the Belgian audience three times in 2023. Once with the stellar trio ‘Artifacts’ with Tomeka Reid and Nicole Mitchell at De Singer and twice with the overwhelming sextet The Separatist Party – at the Summer Bummer Festival and at Het Bos. Now Reed is back to continue his musical adventures, introducing his duo with the singular reed player Hunter Diamond, who is making his Belgian debut. A previous duo concert of Reed with the legendary Roscoe Mitchell at Antwerp’s Zuiderpershuis – released on Astral Spirits – already demonstrated that Reed’s musical versatility provides an ideal canvas for his carefully chosen partners. Now, with Diamond, he introduces a powerful new player from the Chicago scene to European audiences.

Inspired by legendary recordings of drum/sax duos like “Duo Exchange”(1972) by Rashied Ali and Frank Lowe, “Interstellar Space” (1974) by John Coltrane and Rashied Ali or “Force”(1976) by Max Roach and Archie Shepp, Diamond started “Metal and Wood” a live recording residency of improvising duos in 2020 with Dana Hall, Charles Rumback, Quin Kirchner, Lucas Gillan and of course Mike Reed and released through his label Curio Records.