Claude Barthélemy

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Claude Barthélemy

Claude Barthélemy , also written Claude Barthélémy, (born July 22, 1956 in Saint-Denis ) is a French guitarist , composer , arranger and big band leader of jazz and modern classical music .

Live and act

Barthélemy, who grew up in the Paris suburb of Champigny, taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 14. In addition to studying mathematics, which he graduated with a diploma in 1978, he was interested in contemporary classical music, took part in theater projects (with the drummer Manuel Denizet and the pianist Mico Nissim ) and played in a jazz rock group called Oedipe .

In 1978 he got to know Michel Portal , joined his Michel Portal Unit and has been in his groups more often since then. At the same time he went into the studio with Aldo Romano (“Il piacere”) and in 1979 recorded his debut album with his own trio (“Jaune et encore”, with Stu Martin , Gèrard Marat). In 1981 he played in a trio with bassist Jean-Luc Ponthieux and drummer and singer Jacques Mahieux . In 1982 he worked with the composer and trombonist Vinko Globokar for theater music and began a collaboration with the composer Georges Aperghis . He became bassist and arranger in the quartet of saxophonist Jean-Marc Padovani , with whom he wrote a work for wind quintet in 1986. "PariBambelle" followed in 1987 and "La Gomme" in 1987, a work for string quartet, jazz quintet, song, with integrated theater and video. In the same year he founded "Zhivaro" with Gérard Marais , Didier Levallet , Henri Texier , Jacques Mahieux and Sylvain Kassap , who deal with both jazz and new music .

In 1988 he arranged the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo for the brass ensemble “Concert Arban”. From 1989 to 1991 he was director of the state Orchester National de Jazz (ONJ), with which he played in 1987. From 2002 to 2005 he led the orchestra a second time. He also continues to play with his long-standing trio (with Jean-Luc Ponthieux and Denizet) and his quartet (with bassist Claude Tchamitchian , drummer Christophe Marguet , Daunik Lazro saxophone).

Currently (2007) he also plays with five trumpeters in a group called “La Forge” and in a trio with bassist Marc-Michel Lebévillon and drummer François Laizeaux .

Barthélemy also worked with James Newton , John Surman , Daniel Humair , the drummer Jean-Pierre Drouet , the bassist Jean-François Jenny-Clark , the pianist and flutist Siegfried Kessler , the bassist Dominique Bertram , the composer and saxophonist François Jeanneau , the pianist Bernard Lubat , Muhammad Ali and George Lewis together. He also accompanied singers such as Nahawa Dumbia from Mali , Élise Caron , La Baronne , Lucilla Galeazzi and Charlène Martin .

In his compositions and improvisations he processes classical music by Couperin , Bartók , Boulez and Webern , folk and world music , rock, funk, pop and jazz by Django Reinhardt and John Coltrane . He composed for the " Ensemble Modern ", the Ensemble "Ars Nova", the "Orchester Lyrique de Avignon Provence" and the "Orchester National de Pays de Loire". He also writes music for theater projects, sculptural projects ( Kiki Picasso ) and ballets.

In addition to the guitar (here he is known for his virtuoso fast playing), he has also been playing the Arabic lute ( oud ) since 1999 . In 1997 he received the French Django d´Or .

Discography (selection)

  • Jaune et encore (1979 Cobalt; with Henri Texier , Didier Malherbe )
  • Forest One (1981), Cobalt; here he recorded himself with several guitars in the overdub process)
  • Modern (1983 OWL)
  • Real politik (1986, by Barthélemy under his own label, produced with Michel Godard )
  • Rock Airs de La Lune (1995 Auvidis; with Lucilla Galeazzi)
  • Monsieur Claude (1997 2Z; with saxophonist Daunik Lazro, the record received the Django d´Or)
  • Solid (1993 Evidence; (with Ponthieux, Delizet in a trio)
  • Sereine (2001, with Jacques Mahieux (drums), Nicolas Mahieux (bass), Frank Tortiller (vibraphone), Didier Ithursarry (accordion), Bojan Z. (keyboard), Philippe Lemoine (saxophone), Jean-Louis Pommier (trombone), the singer Elise Caron, Médéric Collignon (cornet and vocals), Label Bleu

with the ONJ

  • Claire (1990 Label Bleu )
  • Jack-Line (1991 Label Bleu)
  • Paradis (avec remorque) (1989)
  • Manuel (1991)
  • Admirabelamour (2002 Label Bleu)
  • La fête de l'eau (2004 Le Chant du Monde )

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Barthélemy, Claude
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Barthélémy, Claude
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French jazz guitarist and big band leader
DATE OF BIRTH July 22, 1956
PLACE OF BIRTH Saint-Denis