Hans Lüdemann - Aly Keita - Christian Thomé / TRIO IVOIRE - Resurrection

TRIO IVOIRE – “Resurrection” – 25 Years of AfroEuroJazz

Music Without Words – A Unique Story and a New Beginning

An Ensemble Without a Model – Since its founding in 1999, TRIO IVOIRE has been truly one-of-a-kind. The fusion of European jazz, West African tonal colours, and the freedom of improvisation has made the ensemble a fixture on international stages. Pianist Hans Lüdemann, balafon master Aly Keita, and drummer Christian Thomé have created a musical language that transcends traditions and continents, enabling instant and boundless communication.

It’s not only the trio’s lineup that is unique, but also the music itself — drawing its tension from the contrasts and distances between the musicians’ personal roots. Both factors likely explain why TRIO IVOIRE has endured for so long and why their collaboration remains fresh and exciting to this day. To mark their anniversary, the trio presents an entirely new program on their latest album, Resurrection, released in October on INTUITION.

The Beginning: Music as a Common Language – TRIO IVOIRE has now existed for 25 years — something few would have predicted when Lüdemann, during a solo Goethe-Institut tour through West Africa in 1999, first met balafon virtuoso Aly Keita in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The connection was immediate. Soon afterwards, they formed a percussive trio, initially with Steve Argüelles on drums, from 2007 to 2012 with Chander Sardjoe, and since 2013 with Christian Thomé.

In TRIO IVOIRE, roots in jazz, European classical traditions, and African music meet — sometimes clashing in tension, sometimes blending seamlessly. The combination of African balafon with piano, drums, and electronics produces a contemporary sound unlike any other. This is less about preserving tradition and more about discovering artistic expression in a globalized world. The result is music beyond clichés — a joyful interplay between three extraordinary musicians navigating traditions, visions, and experiments.

Worldwide Projects and Artistic Diversity – Over the years, TRIO IVOIRE has developed an impressive range of collaborations, producing six albums. The most recent, Enchanted Forest (2020), combined the instrumental trio with a vocal trio — Tamara Lukasheva, Simin Tander, and Amanda Becker — supplemented by Alexandra Grimal (saxophone) and Lisa Wulff (double bass).

They have also collaborated with numerous prominent artists: initially with Gambian kora player Tata Dindin, later with Zimbabwean singer and mbira player Chiwoniso, and Ivorian singer Dobet Gnahoré. In 2008, the Institut Français commissioned Tagra in Djibouti, featuring musicians from East Africa and Cameroonian drummer Brice Wassy. Other notable encounters included Moroccan percussionist Rhani Krija, Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko, and German trumpeter Reiner Winterschladen.

Returning to the Roots – With Resurrection, TRIO IVOIRE consciously returns to the original trio format. After 25 years of shared journeys, this step represents a new artistic beginning — one that draws freely from the inexhaustible well of their musical experiences. The new compositions combine lyrical depth, rhythmic sophistication, and the intensity that only comes from long-term musical companionship. Resurrection is not a nostalgic look back but a bold step forward — a rebirth that distills TRIO IVOIRE’s essence into its purest form.

The Secret of TRIO IVOIRE – Even after a quarter of a century, the trio’s central secret remains unchanged: a sound that is instantly recognisable, an endless reservoir of musical influences, and a way of playing that is deeply communicative. Music without words — yet full of stories understood everywhere.