Chantal Acda vs Bruno Bavota (IT) & Lucia Cadotsch (CH)

Italian composer Bruno Bavota is sometimes reminiscent of the work of fellow Italian Ludovico Einaudi with his disarming, honest and exceptionally emotional pieces. Yet his music evolved from pristine, crystal-clear piano tunes to more meditative and abstract sounds.

We know Chantal Acda as a singer in the band Isbells, but she has always made time to work on her career as a solo artist as well. Collaborating is embedded in her DNA: think of nice musical encounters with Nils Frahm, Bill Frisell or Peter Broderick. She began her latest solo album Saturday Moon as a small and intimate project, but eventually, she could boast fine contributions from Borgar Magnason (Sigur Rós, Damian Rice), Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker (Low), and Shazad Ismaily.

About seven years ago, she met Bruno Bavota and they were destined to make music together one day. The distance and isolation caused by the pandemic did not stop them from making an album, even if they were not working in the same room. They are happy to present A Closer Distance to you in Leuven. 

DISCOVER THE ALBUM 'A CLOSER DISTANCE'

LUCIA CADOTSCH - SPEAK LOW TRIO

Swiss vocalist Lucia Cadotsch and her celebrated Speak Low trio, featuring Swedish top musicians Otis Sandjö on sax and Petter Eldh on bass, will travel from Berlin to Leuven to present their latest album: Speak Low II (We Jazz Records, 2020), featuring songs by a.o. Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Kurt Weill, Duke Ellington and Brian Eno.

Speak Low II continues where their genre-crossing and progressive debut album left off (which they also came to present in Leuven). What makes the band so special? With every composition, they go to the core with seemingly minimal means, generating a sound that is both instantly recognisable and impactful.