Laurent Blondiau

Laurent Blondiau was born December 24 th, 1968 in Belgium. He is a trumpeter and improviser. In 1986, he entered the Royal Conservatory of Brussels where he studied jazz with Bert Joris and Richard Rousselet. He obtained a first prize in 1990.

Laurent Blondiau is very active on the Belgian and European jazz scene, he works with many bands and artists: Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Nathalie Loriers + Extension Octurn, Elephant’s Dream Orchestra, Magik Malik Orchestra, Aka Moon, Garrett List, Lee Konitz, Willie Nelson, Steve Houben, Joe Lovano, Toots Thielemans, Greg Osby, Maria Schneider, Ghalia Ben Ali, Mahmoud Guinea, Sekouba Traore, Denis Badault quartet Unit, Megabyte (Andy Emler), Dj Grazzhopa big band, Pierre Vaiana, Baba Sissoko.

In 1997, he formed his own group, Maak’s Spirit which the current workforce consists of 4 musicians (Sébastien Boisseau, Jean Chevalier, Laurent Blondiau, Jean-Yves Evrard) and a lighting designer (Sam Mary). This project is characterized by a very large place left to free improvisation. If sources are to seek inspiration in contemporary music, rock, and free jazz, music Maak ‘Spirit remains unclassifiable and trying to escape the clichés, the folklore. In 2009, Laurent Blondiau receives Academy award for best jazz musicians in Europe.