Didier Malherbe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Didier Malherbe
Background information
Also known as	Bloomdido Bad de Grass
Born	(1943-01-22) 22 January 1943 (age 82) Paris, France
Genres	Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock, Jazz, Jazz fusion, world music
Occupation(s)	saxophonist, flautist
Instruments	flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, duduk, hulusi, keyboards
Years active	1960–present
Associated acts	Gong, Hadouk

Didier Malherbe (born January 22, 1943, in Paris) is a French musician. He is famous for playing jazz, rock, and world music. He was a key member of the bands Gong and Hadouk. Didier is also a talented poet.

His first instrument was the saxophone. But he also plays many other wind instruments. These include flutes, alto clarinet, ocarina, Laotian Khen, Bawu flute, and Hulusi. Since 1995, the duduk has become his favorite instrument.

Early Music Journey (1960–1969)

Didier Malherbe started playing the saxophone when he was 13. He was inspired by Charlie Parker's song "Bloomdido". This song title later became his nickname. After two years of lessons, he played in jazz clubs in Paris. He jammed with musicians like Alby Cullaz and Eddy Louiss.

But Didier soon wanted to try new things. He found jazz music had too many rules. He preferred to explore other sounds.

In 1962, he heard music by Ravi Shankar. This made him travel to India. There, he discovered the bamboo flute and learned to play the bansuri. When he returned to Paris, he took classical flute lessons. He also studied old languages at Sorbonne university.

From 1964 to 1965, Didier traveled in Morocco. He stayed with other musicians in Tangier. He played with guitarist Davey Graham and learned about Arabic music.

In 1966, Didier played on the soundtrack for the movie Chappaqua. Ravi Shankar was also part of this project. Didier also started playing rock music. He even used electricity to change his saxophone sound. He was in a band called Les Rollsticks. They performed in a popular comedy-rock show called Les Idoles. This show was so successful that it became a movie in 1968.

In the summer of 1968, Didier went to Majorca. He stayed at the home of writer Robert Graves. There, he practiced his flute playing. He also spent time with Kevin Ayers and Daevid Allen. They were former members of the band Soft Machine. Didier said their performance in 1967 was a big moment for him.

In 1969, back in Paris, he joined a trio called Morning Calm. They played raga-blues-folk music. He also played free jazz with American pianist Burton Greene. Didier appeared on Greene's album for the BYG label. This same label released Magick Brother (1969). This was the first album by Gong. Didier played on it with musicians from different backgrounds.

Joining Gong (1969–1977)

Gong became a full band for a festival in October 1969. Daevid Allen gave Didier his stage name: Bloomdido Bad De Grasse. It was a mix of Charlie Parker's song title and a funny English version of Didier's last name.

The albums Camembert Electrique (1971) and Continental Circus (1972) made Gong very important. They were a key band in the French underground music scene of the early 1970s. They helped start the MJC (youth clubs) music circuit.

Didier, known as Bloomdido, stayed with Gong through many band member changes. He even stayed after Daevid Allen left in 1975. This was after they released the "Radio Gnome Invisible" trilogy. These albums were Flying Teapot and Angel's Egg (1973), and You (1974).

Didier created a special sound by electrifying his instrument. He also brought many melodies to the band. He shared his ideas freely, believing in a group effort. He is a spontaneous musician who loves to improvise.

After Allen and Steve Hillage left in 1975, Gong's music changed. It became more like jazz-fusion, similar to the band Weather Report. Didier added a world-music feel to their sound. You can hear this in the song "Bambooji" on the Shamal (1976) album. This song hinted at his future solo work. The band's last album with Didier was Gazeuse! (1977). It featured a new percussion section and Allan Holdsworth on guitar.

Daevid Allen once said about Didier: "He has always been, and remains, the best musician Gong ever had. He is a true virtuoso - but to the point that he never shows it."

Bloom and Faton Bloom (1977–1987)

In 1977, Didier Malherbe started his own band called Bloom. They played jazz-rock with unique rhythms and fun lyrics. They released an album in 1978 and toured France often. By 1981, Didier started playing in smaller groups. These included Duo du Bas and Duo Ad lib.

In 1978, Didier played on three songs for Gilli Smyth's album "Mother." He also appeared on her "Fairy Tales" album with the band "Mother Gong."

In 1980, Didier released his first solo album, also called "Bloom." It had a jazz-fusion sound, but with French singing and artistic quirks.

In 1982, Didier teamed up with Faton Cahen. Faton was a pianist from the bands Magma and Zao. They called their new group Faton-Bloom. They released an album in 1986 and toured a lot.

During this time, Didier also worked with singer Jacques Higelin. He played on his live album Casino de Paris (1984) and studio album Ai (1985). He also played on the first album by Equip'Out. This band was led by former Gong drummer Pip Pyle. Didier also joined a new version of Gong with Daevid Allen. This led to the album Shapeshifter (1992).

Solo and Duo Projects (1990–1998)

In 1990, Didier Malherbe released his first real solo album, Fetish. He later said the album was "very scattered." On this album, he tried out the Yamaha WX7 wind synthesizer.

He then signed with the Tangram label. He released Zeff in 1992. This album was very successful with critics and fans. The unique sound of the Zeff, a special PVC pipe, was also used in Vangelis' music. It was featured in Ridley Scott's movie 1492: Christopher Columbus. The Zeff was even shown on French TV.

Next came Fluvius (1994). He played with a quartet including Loy Ehrlich, Henri Agnel, and Shyamal Maïtra. In 1996, he formed "Hadouk" with Loy Ehrlich. The name Hadouk comes from their instruments. Hadouk is from the Hajouj (a bass from Morocco) and Duduk (an Armenian oboe).

Throughout the 1990s, Didier also toured with Classic Gong. He played in Europe and the USA. He officially left the band in 1999. But he still appeared as a guest musician sometimes. He played on the Subterranea DVD and the albums Zero To Infinity and 2032. He also toured and recorded with Brigitte Fontaine and acoustic guitarist Pierre Bensusan.

Hadouk Trio (1999–2012)

In 1999, the Malherbe/Ehrlich duo added American percussionist Steve Shehan. They became the Hadouk Trio and released the album Shamanimal. Critics loved the album. The trio played at big festivals like Nancy Jazz Pulsations. In 2001, Didier's skill with the duduk led to an invitation. He was asked to play at the international duduk festival in Armenia. He also played in Moscow and St Petersburg.

That same year, he published a book of poems about reeds. It was called L'Anche des Métamorphoses. He later turned this book into a solo show. He would read poetry and play music.

In 2003, the Hadouk Trio released their second CD, Now. The trio played at the San Sebastián festival and Jazz Sous Les Pommiers. They also released two live albums: Live à FIP (2004) and Live au Satellit Café (2005). This started a long partnership with Naïve Records.

The trio's third studio CD, Utopies (2006), came out. They also played at the Gong Unconvention in Amsterdam. This festival ended with the original Gong band reuniting. Two concerts in Paris in May 2007 were recorded for the live CD/DVD Baldamore. A few days later, Hadouk Trio won "year's best band" at the Victoires du Jazz awards.

The trio's last album, Air Hadouk, was released in 2010. They then toured Great Britain and India. They also played at the Paris Jazz Festival. In 2013, Naive re-released the first four Hadouk Trio CDs as a box set. This happened around a concert at the famous Salle Gaveau on February 2.

In 2010, Didier formed a duo with guitarist Éric Löhrer. They released the double-CD Nuit d'Ombrelle the next year. It mixed jazz songs played on the duduk with improvisations.

Since 2012, he has been playing with classical pianist Jean-François Zygel. He appeared on Zygel's TV show La Boîte à Musique [fr] on France 2. He also performs live as a trio with percussionist Joël Grare. Their show is called A World Tour In 80 Minutes.

Hadouk Quartet (2013–2020)

In May 2013, Didier Malherbe and Loy Ehrlich started a new chapter for Hadouk. They became a quartet at the club Le Triton. Éric Löhrer joined on guitar, and Jean-Luc Di Fraya on percussion and vocals. The quartet released their first CD, Hadoukly Yours, on Naïve Records. Didier also added two Chinese wind instruments: Bawu and Hulusi.

In March 2017, they released a new CD called "Le Cinquieme Fruit" on the Naïve label.

In February 2018, Didier published his second book of poems, "Escapade en Facilie." In October 2018, he played concerts in Taiwan. This was for the ASIA-PACIFIC traditional Art festival.

Solo and Duo Shows (2013-2022)

Didier Malherbe has published two books of poems: L'Anche des Métamorphoses and Escapade en Facilie.

He created a special show that mixes poetry and music. He uses his favorite instruments like the saxophone, Bawu flute, Chinese Hulusi, alto clarinet, ocarina, Laotian khên, Ukrainian sopilka, Moldavian pipe, "drum tops17," and Armenian duduk. He performed this show at various festivals and venues.

In 2020, he played with poet Zeno Bianu at the Roman Museum in Vienna. He also participated in the recording of the Alula group's CD "Heliotropics."

In 2022, he performed in concerts and exhibitions. He played with Yochk'o Seffer in Paris, Nara Noïan in Liège, and in duos with Philippe Laccarrière and Yaping Wang.

The Hadouk adventure started as a duo with Loy Ehrlich. After becoming a trio and then a quartet, they are now playing as a duo again!

Discography

With Gong

• 1970: Magick Brother (BYG)
• 1971: Camembert Electrique (BYG)
• 1971: Continental Circus (Phillips)
• 1973: Flying Teapot (BYG/Virgin)
• 1973: Angel's Egg (Virgin)
• 1974: You (Virgin)
• 1976: Shamal (Virgin)
• 1977: Gazeuse! (Virgin)
• 1992: Shapeshifter (Mélodie/Celluloïd)
• 2000: Zero to Infinity (Snapper Music)
• 2009: 2032 (G-Wave)

Solo and Duo Albums

• 1980: Bloom (EMI-Sonopresse)
• 1986: Faton Bloom (with Faton Cahen) (Cryonic)
• 1990: Fetish (Mantra)
• 1992: Zeff (Tangram)
• 1994: Fluvius (Tangram)
• 1995: Hadouk (with Loy Ehrlich) (Tangram)
• 1997: Live at New Morning (with Pierre Bensusan) (Acoustic Music)
• 2011: Nuit d'Ombrelle with Éric Löhrer (Naïve Records)

With Hadouk Trio (Didier Malherbe / Loy Ehrlich / Steve Shehan)

• 1999: Shamanimal (Mélodie)
• 2002: Now (Mélodie)
• 2004: Hadouk Trio Live à FIP (Mélodie/Abeille Musique)
• 2006: Utopies (Naïve Records)
• 2007: Baldamore (CD+DVD Live au Cabaret Sauvage) (Naïve Records)
• 2010: Air Hadouk (Naïve Records)

With Hadouk Quartet (Didier Malherbe / Loy Ehrlich / Eric Löhrer / Jean-Luc Di Fraya)

• 2013: Hadoukly Yours (Naïve Records)
• 2017: "Le Cinquieme Fruit" (Naïve Records)

Other Appearances

• 1969: Aquariana (Burton Greene) (BYG)
• 1972: Whatevershebringswesing (Kevin Ayers) (Harvest)
• 1974: Hatfield and the North (Hatfield and the North) (Virgin)
• 1975: Fish Rising (Steve Hillage) (Virgin)
• 1983: Casino de Paris (Jacques Higelin) (Pathé-Marconi)
• 1997: Les Palaces (Brigitte Fontaine) (Virgin)

Filmography

• 1967: Chappaqua by Conrad Rooks (music by Ravi Shankar)
• 1968: Les Idoles by Marc'O (music by Stéphane Vilar and Patrick Greussay)
• 1972: Continental Circus by Jérôme Laperrousaz (with Gong)
• 1992: 1492 : Christophe Colomb by Ridley Scott (music by Vangelis)
• 2005: Kirikou et les Bêtes sauvages by Michel Ocelot (music: Manu Dibango)
• 2010: The Lady by Luc Besson (music by Éric Serra)

Images for kids

• Gong-1974.jpg

  Gong in 1974