Wajdi Riahi

Wajdi was born in Tunis in 1995. His father, Youssef Riahi, is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and teacher of traditional Arab music. At home, a small room serves as his studio and houses a keyboard that Wajdi never leaves his fingertips. Wajdi's father had said to his son, whose passion and ambition had shone through since childhood: "If you give it everything, Music will take you all over the world. You're going to have wonderful experiences elsewhere, you have to trust Music." Wajdi Riahi's musical journey tells of a special bond between Belgium and Tunisia. He shows us the importance of regular collaborations between cultural institutions and passionate teachers on both sides of the Mediterranean. This link, which has existed for several decades and which has seen music teachers and students travel between the two countries, enabled Wajdi to discover jazz and later inspired him to come and study it in Brussels. Today, the young pianist offers music that reflects his Arab roots, combined with his later love affair with jazz and the buzzing atmosphere of Brussels. He takes us on a journey through a subtle, mixed repertoire that bears witness to his musical and human maturity. Wajdi's trio was formed in Brussels in 2020. The three musicians - Wajdi Riahi (piano), Basile Rahola (double bass) and Pierre Hurty (drums) - are inseparable, united by a strong friendship and several musical projects. On stage, their dynamic is solid and complicit, full of smiles and connivance.