SAMOIS-SUR-SUISSE *** MASTERCLASS *** NICULESCU, ESCOUDÉ, GINIAUX, LEVASSEURSAMOIS-SUR-SUISSE *** MASTERCLASS *** NICULESCU, ESCOUDÉ, GINIAUX, LEVASSEUR

Here is the programme of workshops and masterclasses that will take place during Samois sur Suisse. Registrations can only be made by email to advculture@gmail.com Please also specify the masterclass(es) or workshop(s) you wish to attend.

DAMIEN LEVASSEUR

21/10

Guitar workshop "Rhythmic improvement in accompaniment and solo".

Place: Auberge des Vergers

Time: from 6pm to 8pm

Price: 20.00

Public: Guitarists

Role of the accompanist and the soloist, concept of swing, work on nuances and enrichments in rhythm and solo, concept of substitution, harmony, application on a standard of the students' choice, organization of personal work, question sessions...

Damien Levasseur was born in Montreal in 1990. At the age of 14, Damien discovered his passion for the music of the great Django Reinhardt. Without wasting any time, he started to learn the subtleties of this mythical style called Gypsy Jazz. At 16, Damien met Lou Boustani and joined the Maânouche swing group with whom he recorded two albums. In 2007, he won the 1st prize at the Montreal Jazz Festival competition and in 2010 the Montreal Guitar Grand Prize. From the authentic sound of Django to the modern approach of Bireli Lagrene, inspired by the creative improvisations of John Coltrane, the influences are endless for this young guitarist. Damien formed the group Tchabadjo with Charles Fréchette with whom he recorded several albums and toured in Europe and the Americas. He is also a teacher for the Django in June festival.

FLORIN NICULESCU & CHRISTIAN ESCOUDÉ

22/10

Masterclass "Django and Stéphane

Place: Auberge des Vergers

Time: from 5.30 pm to 7 pm

Price: 15.00

Public: All instrumentalists

The mythical duo Django Reinhardt/Stéphane Grappelli left a lasting impression on the history of 20th century jazz, particularly within the famous Quintet of the Hot Club de France. Come and discover the secrets of this alchemy with two of the most worthy representatives of this French-style jazz known as gypsy jazz...

Florin Niculescu is today one of the major virtuoso violinists on the international scene. He has developed his own sound and a unique language, thanks to his solid classical training but also to the experience of his many musical collaborations with the greatest musicians. His irreproachable violin technique and phenomenal virtuosity, admired by all, musicians and listeners alike, are never an end in themselves for him but rather the means to express his musical personality

https://www.florin-niculescu.com/

Born in 1947, Christian Escoudé fell into the jazz cauldron as a child. A professional musician at the age of 15, he joined a number of bands from 1972 onwards and played successively with Michel Portal, Michel Graillier, Martial Solal, John Lewis, Didier Lockwood, Philip Catherine and Jean-Michel Pilc. Founder of the Trio Gitan, Gipsy Trio and Nouveau Trio Gitan, the gypsy guitarist has recorded some twenty albums including A Suite for Gypsies in 1998, Ma Ya Ya in 2005 and Au Bois de Mon Coeur - Christian Escoudé joue Brassens in 2011. In 2013, Saint-Germain-des-Prés pays tribute to the compositions of John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

https://www.cristalrecords.com/artiste/christian-escoude/

SÉBASTIEN GINIAUX

23/10

Masterclass

Venue: Auberge des Vergers

Time: from 10.00 to 11.30 am

Price: 15.00

Public: All instrumentalists

Theme and programme: 

Theme and programme: Relaxation, efficiency, work on tempo and body. Approach to improvisation through its rhythmic vision.

"When we talk about jazz and improvisation, we often think of phrases, notes and melody. Gypsy jazz often does not escape this narrow vision of improvisation. And yet, improvising is the beginning of music, it's music in its entirety. Improvisation is therefore made up of melodies, phrases, etc. but also of rhythm, space, silences, etc. The inner pulse, the awareness of space, and how to play with it, how all this acts on the body, the mind of the improviser, these are some of the questions I will answer during this workshop.

BIOGRAPHY - SEBASTIEN GINIAUX

Born in 1981, guitarist, cellist, composer, arranger and painter, Sébastien Giniaux is today one of the leading musicians of the French jazz guitar scene, internationally recognized as one of the great interpreters of the gypsy jazz style.
    Sébastien began playing the cello at the age of six at the Bourg-la-Reine Conservatory, then continued his classical music studies at the Boulogne and Aubervilliers-la Courneuve Conservatories.
At the age of eighteen, he took up the guitar and taught himself the instrument. His first influence was the music of Django Reinhardt, to which he soon added the more contemporary currents of jazz, Balkan music, West African music, improvised music, etc.
    In 2015 he founded the duo "African Variations" with the Malian kora player Cherif Soumano and is also the leader of groups such as the quartet "D'ici-Danses" (compositions, contemporary jazz from here and elsewhere, album planned for 2020), the duo "Mélodie des Choses" with the guitarist Joris Viquesnel, the Balkan Project (variable geometry group, Balkan music and jazz). He accompanies the singer Paloma Pradal in a duet, and participates in many shows as a musician (concerts, recordings, theatre, dance).
    Sébastien is also a member of Richard Galliano's trio with Diego Imbert on double bass, of violinist Mathias Lévy's trio with Jean-Philippe Viret, and is one of the soloists of the gypsy jazz collective "Selmer 607".
    Composer and arranger for the singer Norig, he was also a member of the famous gypsy group "Taraf de Haïdouks" for five years (Maskarada record on Crammed Discs).
    He is also a painter (exhibition "Vie Moderne" of thirty-five paintings at Frémeaux et associés in September 2014) and tries to understand the different artistic practices in the sense of meeting, dialogue and poetry.
    Sébastien can be found on some thirty records, on guitar or cello, as a performer or composer/arranger, and has been heard on stage alongside Biréli Lagrène, Didier Lockwood, Angelo Debarre, Anne Sila, Maxime Zampieri, Taraf de Haidouks, Naissam Jalal, Toumani Diabaté, Cyrille Aimée, Stochelo Rosenberg, Guillaume Galienne, Michel Fau, etc.

DAMIEN LEVASSEUR

23/10

Workshop "Play with a band

Venue: Auberge des Vergers

Time: from 2 to 4 pm

Price: 20.00

Public: All instrumentalists

Topics: Interplay, Roles, Spontaneous arrangements, Circulation of energy within the band, Harmonizations, Rhythmic placement and enrichment, 4/4, breaks, tutti...

Damien Levasseur was born in Montreal in 1990. At the age of 14, Damien discovered his passion for the music of the great Django Reinhardt. Without wasting any time, he began to learn the subtleties of this mythical style called Gypsy Jazz. At 16, Damien met Lou Boustani and joined the Maânouche swing group with whom he recorded two albums. In 2007, he won the 1st prize at the Montreal Jazz Festival competition and in 2010 the Montreal Guitar Grand Prize. From the authentic sound of Django to the modern approach of Bireli Lagrene, inspired by the creative improvisations of John Coltrane, the influences are endless for this young guitarist. Damien formed the group Tchabadjo with Charles Fréchette with whom he recorded several albums and toured in Europe and the Americas. He is also a teacher for the Django in June festival.

https://www.tchabadjo.com/