Fabien Degryse Trio

This is what Romain Decoret wrote in the Acoustic Guitarist Magazine in November 2007 about Fabien Degryse and his first CD with his new trio (The Heart of the Acoustic Guitar): "This CD was blending a jazz approach with a very personal steel string guitar sound." The new CD, the "Chapter 2" just goes one step further in this direction, with the same trio and two very special guests.

This CD is the second step in the realization of a dream the leader had a few years ago : exploring a new soundspace between jazz and fingerpicking guitar. Mastering jazz for two decades, and deeply in love with the sound of the acoustic steel string guitar, he decided that the technology of amplifying acoustic guitar was finally mature enough to give a try to a trio with this guitar sound together with upright bass and drums.

He realized also how much more harmony and interesting intervals he could use in his playing if he simply ... played without a plectrum ! That's the reason why the cover of the two CDs shows his hand with his fingers ready to play. That's also the reason why he doesn't need a piano or another harmony instrument in this trio. It would restrict his freedom of playing harmony if he wants to.

The first CD was very well appreciated, both in the jazz field and among the acoustic guitar fans. The second is here, and Fabien will not stop on his way ...

An important part of the success of those CD's is to be found in the quality of the recording: the sound engineer, Michel Andina, is a well known master of recording studios in Belgium and abroad. He deeply understood how to capture the unique sound of this old Martin Fabien uses.

After almost five years of concerts in Europe, Tunisia, Taîwan with this trio, the energy is there to keep touring and recording, to let the music grow. - fabiendegryse.com