Musina Ebobissé

Musina Ebobissé Photo
Musina Ebobissé, Photo: Olga Amelchenko

Biography

Musina Ebobissé is a French jazz musician.

Born in France in 1990, Musina Ebobissé grew up in a musical family. He started playing the saxophone at the age of eight, joining a special program at the Strasbourg Conservatory.In 2008, he entered the Jazz Department of the Strasbourg Conservatory, Alongside his jazz studies he completed a bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of Strasbourg in 2012. Musina was involved in the Strasbourg musical scene and featured in different projects, developing his skills and versatility through different styles such as jazz, improvised music, reggae, hip-hop, and rock.

In 2013, Musina entered the Jazz Institut Berlin, where he studied, amongst others, with Peter Weniger, John Hollenbeck, Jim Black, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Greg Cohen. He completed a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance in 2017 and a master’s degree in jazz composition in 2019.Benefitting from the vivid Berlin jazz scene, he performs in a variety of musical contexts such as contemporary jazz, improvised music, world music and swing.

He has played at renowned international festivals such as Jazz d’Or, Wolfijazz, Jazz in Marciac, MaerzMusik, and Jazz Burghausen.

His current projects as a leader are the Musina Ebobissé Quintet, WEAVERS, Blendreed, ERB Trio. As a side man, he plays and has recorded with GANNA, Thjis de Kljin Quintet, the Hans Anselm Big Band, Olga Amelchenko’s large ensemble.

In 2018, Musina Ebobissé won the second prize of the International Jazz Composition Contest of Katowice.
Since 2019, Musina Ebobissé lives alternately in Paris and Berlin.

Current Album

Musina Ebobissé Quintet: Timeprints

Musina Ebobissé Quintet: Timeprints

Musina Ebobissé - tenor saxophone
Povel Widestrand - piano
Olga Amelchenko - alto saxophone
Igor Spalatti - double bass
Moritz Baumgärtner - drums

Buy Album

No drums, no bass, no piano. Just the sonorous, mat-shimmering tenor saxophone floating through the room like a handkerchief. Musina Ebobissé takes his time. A commodity that has become rare in this overheated performance society. Time for reflection, leisure to develop the topic, to feed it with new ideas and perspectives. Eventually it flows. “The Eagle Song” by Russian classical composer Isaak Schwarz is the only song on “Timeprints” that was not composed by the French-Cameroonian tenor saxophonist. “I had been thinking about leaving that out until the last minute,” the 29-year-old related in fluent German. And he made exactly the right decision!

Especially here in the last-call-audience-rouser of a more than impressive debut album, Musina Ebobissé shows what distinguishes him from most saxophonists of his generation. It's not too bad to model simple melodies gently, give them texture and shine without relying on sensationalism. The exact counter-model to the reed player of conventional mold, who could hardly control his ego and always wanted to be the star in terms of instrument, so to speak. Nevertheless, an old soul slumbers in Musina with fresh, young features. His playing is a bit reminiscent of Mark Turner, sometimes Lee Konitz too. “It's funny,” the tall, likable musician says smiling. “Actually, I rarely listen to these people. In that respect, I cannot be said to be copying them. But one thing is certain: being compared to them is definitely a compliment.”

Musina calls “Time Prints” a typical Berlin album, “characterized by my experiences in the city, this mix of American and European jazz, but also by memories, fantasies and expectations. We must learn to master time.” He compares his nine own compositions, which bear titles such as “Silhouette”, “Hairsplitting”, “Dusk Seekers” and “Rêveries” (Dreams), with a journey through his own self. The start of an exciting adventure trip. Continuation absolutely desired!

Discography

  • Musina Ebobissé Quartet, 2022
  • Moonstreet, Bandcamp digital, 2021
  • Sideman bei GANNA, Dyki Lys, Double Moon Records, 2020
  • Sideman bei Hans Anselm Big Band, Liquid Circle, Double Moon Records, 2020
  • Timeprints, Double Moon Records, 2019

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