Black Flower

Biography

Black Flower is a Belgian nu jazz and Ethiopian jazz band founded in 2011 by multi-instrumentalist Nathan Vandenbempt in Brussels, Belgium. Drawing heavily from the golden age of Ethiopian music, particularly the Ethio-jazz pioneered by Mulatu Astatke, the band blends traditional Ethiopian scales and rhythms with modern jazz, funk, dub, and psychedelic elements. Vandenbempt, inspired by reissues like the Éthiopiques series, began experimenting with these sounds after discovering them in the mid-2000s, leading to the band's formation as a vehicle for his compositions performed on instruments like the krar (Ethiopian lyre), saxophone, and percussion.

Fun Facts

• Black Flower's name references the nickname 'Black Flower' given to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie by Rastafarians.
• The band's 2018 album Collision was recorded live in one take at a Brussels studio, capturing their improvisational energy.
• They have performed at major festivals like Jazz Middelheim and shared stages with artists like Nubya Garcia.
• Leader Nathan Vandenbempt self-taught the krar after being mesmerized by vintage Ethiopian vinyls.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Mulatu Astatke - Primary stylistic influence and 'godfather' of Ethio-jazz (Éthiopiques series, Afro-Latin Soul) [1960s-1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Nathan Vandenbempt - Band leader and multi-instrumentalist (sax, krar, electronics) (All Black Flower albums including Momentum (2016), Collision (2018)) [2011-present]
• Simon Lenski - Saxophonist and co-founder (Black Flower (2013), Abyssinia Afterlife (2021)) [2011-present]
• Marcos Collard - Bassist (Recent albums) [2010s-present]

External Links

• Spotify