Daily Discovery: Soolmaan – Ikaros

At Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the Soolmaan Sextet performs Tristan Driessens’ Ikaros, a work inspired by the Icarus myth. The piece unfolds with Annemie Osborne’s cello laying a lyrical foundation, while the intertwining ney flutes of Christos Barbas and Nathan Daems evoke the hero’s soaring ascent and tragic fall through their expressive improvisations. Andrea Piccioni and Simon Leleux’s intricate polyrhythms drive the piece forward, building momentum, while Daems’ fiery tenor saxophone crescendos heighten the drama, capturing the tension of the narrative. Drawing on Indian musical traditions, the composition weaves modal and rhythmic complexity into the climactic saxophone solo.

Recorded in 2023 during Driessens’ artist residency at the Concertgebouw, this performance is part of the ensemble’s recently released album, Kashgul (Zephyrus Records). The album reimagines works by Ravi Shankar and Art Pepper alongside original pieces, showcasing the group’s unique synthesis of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, Anatolian and South Asian influences with contemporary modal music. It marks a significant step in Driessens’ evolution from his roots in Ottoman classical traditions to a more individual and innovative compositional style.

You can listen to and purchase your copy of Kashgul HERE