KAU bring Belgian Jazz to Manchester, UK
Manchester, UK - April 17, 2026
I have happened upon the Belgian jazz trio KAU completely on accident now twice. The most recent time was at Band on the Wall, Manchester UK.
A performance filled with funky bass lines, sickeningly talented drumming and the crunchiest synth you have ever heard. It was also an honour to see KAU joined by the incredible strings of Blu Quartet on stage.
The crowd’s attention was firmly grasped from the very beginning of KAU’s set, with numerous shouts of “How are they doing this!” dispersed throughout. The way that KAU built the tension was magnificent. The drums never once let up and yet it seemed impossible for them to ever be too much. They never pushed but they created a gateway that everybody had to step through.
KAU, when I met them after their gig, are three of the most respectable musicians I have had the pleasure of meeting. They are so aware of one another whilst playing and creating, so determined to do something emotionally right. This led to KAU and Blu Quartet playing so tightly and unanimously on stage, it felt impossible. There was simply no way that one could not be shocked at what was in front and surrounding them.
The fill of the sonic field was otherworldly. The chord progressions on the keys and the synthesiser demanded every bit of your attention. The way that the sound on the synth was moved to and fro, and melded and harmonised with all on stage (including the strings) could not be dismissed. It stayed so entirely coherent for the whole set. The bassist moved between his bass and another synthesiser. This, in itself, lent so much more room for the bass which felt like an entire platform rather than one standing line. You could have dived into his bass section.
This tightness on stage is something that KAU have worked incredibly hard for they told me. There is “a lot of looking and interacting”, especially from the bassist to ensure that he is perfectly aligning with the drums. There are “micro differences you have to pay attention to”, simply feeling the rhythm is never enough. They need their music to be “perfectly together… never happy about the performances”. “We want to be human machines.” was the trademark oxymoron of our beer garden interview.
KAU are a trio of perfectionists that are incredibly good at what they do and love. They were so intrigued by the culture around them in Manchester but had no desire to narrate it. They have outside influences but don’t keep themselves to being a reflection of the worlds that they live in.
