Didier Malherbe, born in Paris in 1943, was captivated by jazz as a teenager, inspired by Charlie Parker. He learned to play the saxophone and frequented Paris jam sessions in the 60s. In 1962, he traveled to India, learning Indian music and the bansuri flute. He also explored Tangiers in 1966, before joining the rock opera Les Idoles in 1967. His meeting with Daevid Allen in 1968 brought him into the group Gong, where he became a mainstay between 1969 and 1977, experimenting with a fusion sound between rock, jazz and psychedelia. In 1978, he formed the group Bloom, marking his return to France.
In the 80s, Malherbe explored new sounds, collaborating with Faton Cahen in Faton Bloom. He discovered the WX7 synthesizer in 1989 and founded the duo Ichthyornis. In 1996, he co-founded the Hadouk project, which later became the Hadouk Trio, fusing world and jazz influences. The group won acclaim, notably with Shamanimal in 1999 and several world tours. A versatile artist, Malherbe performs solo and takes part in renowned festivals until 2023, continuing to innovate with varied collaborations.
