06/12/2011, 21:30

CARAÏB TO JAZZ

The group already position itself as a direct heir to the great musicians of the previous generations, known to attract attention by their qualities and their potentials on our isles. However, as Jonathan Jurion likes to put it We remain modest towards our elders. We do have the same instrumental line up and nothing but tremendous respect for their accomplishments, this said, we also want to contribute to their hard work in making our music known all over the world and this, in a very modest way. But above all, we really want to be known in our own country, as well as in the other Caribbean Islands.
C II J is thus normally composed of Laurent Lalsingué (Steel pan) - who will be replaced for the evening by steel pan superstar Andy Narell, Jonathan Jurion (Keyboards), Regis Thérèse (Bass guitar) and Grégory Louis (Drums).

REGIS THERESE (Bass)  was born on November 26th, 1979 in Paris. He discovered the bass at age 15 on the benches of the Protestant Church where he became involved in different Gospel groups. After being awarded a Scholarship from Martinique, where he is from, he began studying Music at the American School of Modern Music and became certified by the FNEJJ ( National Federation of Jazz Influence Education) while making a point of honour to continue to learn his instrument without any teacher! 
Despite being somewhat of a late bloomer he integrated groups with broad stylistic differences (Latin Jazz, RnB, Soul, Zouk, traditional Music, Raï, World Music); according to him: its a privilege to be the living testimony that God is a God of talent
 
JONATHAN JURION (Keys)  was born on March 9th, 1985, in Ivry-Sur-Seine. At age 11, he began studying the piano with Fabienne Deveault for 1 year, before continuing with her husband, Normand Deveault. A student at the CMDL (Didier Lockwood Music Center), Jonathan had the opportunity to create some small ensembles, notably a trio with Arnaud Dolmen (Drums) and Françis Fontrais (Bass). He otherwise took every opportunity he had to participate in Jam sessions, and ended up crossing path with the likes of Jean-Philippe Fanfant, Alex Bernard, Sonny Troupé, Dousty Dos Santos, Mario Canonge, André Condouant, Jocelyn Ménard, Andy Narell, Linley Marthe, Alain Debiossat, Didier Lockwood, Mokhtar Samba, Richard Bona
 
GREGORY LOUIS (Drums) was kickin’ since the days in the womb. Born in Paris and raised in Guadeloupe F.W.I, drumming is a very natural « calling ». After practicing on tables and sauce pans, his father braught him a drumset at the age of 11. He was influenced very early by Caribbean rhythms because since moving to Guadeloupe at the age of 9, zouk, reggae, funk, kompa, salsa, afro beat, jazz have been a part of his choice of listening. Self-taught drummer,he’s studying on cd’s and video’s, first gig at 12 and first recording session at 14. His early influences included Dave Weckl, Omar Hakim and Dennis Chambers. In september of 1998 he relocated to Paris France and began doing a variety of gigs, playing world music and jazz bands. Gospel music is part of his education and inspired him to take his drumming to the next level. Greg’s multi-cultural background allows him to adapt to any percussive situation and makes him a much sought after drummer in France. Greg has performed both on the stage and in the studio with such internationally acclaimed artists as : GOSPEL POUR 100 VOIX , ANDY NARELL, LES NUBIANS, FAF LARAGE, TABOU COMBO, TANYA ST-VAL, DABY TOURE, SALLY NYOLO, SALIF KEITA, MARIO CANONGE, JEAN MICHEL ROTIN, AYO and many more.
 

ANDY NARELL (steel pan) With his first solo album in 1979 Andy Narell took the steelpan out of the steelband and brought it into the jazz band, and with every recording and concert since, he has explored the possibilities and expanded the role of the pan in contemporary music.

2011 marks the release of Narell’s DVD package ‘ALIVE,’ which includes two full length documentaries about his work.  ‘Andy and the Jumbies’ takes us from the panyards of Trinidad to the streets of New York, and follows his projects with Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra and the great calypsonian Relator, also featuring interviews with David Rudder, Ray Holman, Peter Minshall, and Kim Johnson.  ‘Calypso Fever’ documents Andy’s collaboration with the WDR Big Band, merging the Andy Narell Steelband with the WDR to create a new 40 piece orchestra.  

Narell has made more than a dozen albums as leader, one as co-leader with Relator (University of Calypso), two as co-leader of the Caribbean Jazz Project (with Paquito D’Rivera and Dave Samuels), and two as co-leader of Sakésho (with Mario Canonge, Michel Alibo, and Jean Philippe Fanfant). Along the way he has worked with artists as diverse as Chucho Valdes, Bela Fleck, Marcus Miller, Maraca y Otro Vision, Willie Colon, Bebo Valdes, Flora Purim and Airto, Vince Mendoza, The WDR Big Band(Koln), The Metropole Orchestra (Holland), Andre Ceccarelli, Spyro Gyra,  Dr. Billy Taylor, Nancy Wilson, Irakere, Tito Puente, Orquestra Aragon, David Rudder, Black Stalin, Andre Tanker,Angelique Kidjo, Etienne Mbappé, Mokhtar Samba, Karim Ziad, Ray Lema, Kora Jazz Trio, Kassav, Vusi Mahlasela, Philippe Lavil, Toto, Aretha Franklin, and the Kronos String Quartet.  He has performed on movie scores by James Horner, Maurice Jarre, Elmer Bernstein, Hans Zimmer, Michel Colombier, and Thomas Newman, and his compositions have been featured in the film The Firm, and on tv shows like Designing Women and Going to Extremes, as well as commercials for Apple Computers, Sony, Porsche, and Southwest Bell. 

As a bandleader and soloist he has played hundreds of concerts and jazz festivals throught the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. 

In 1999 Andy became the first foreigner to compose for Trinidad's Panorama steel band competition, guiding the 100 player Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra to the finals of both the 1999 and 2000 Panoramas.  In 2007 he collaborated with Trinidad All Stars for a concert of his steelband music at the Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan and Jazz Festival.  2010 saw the realization of a project bringing together the Andy Narell Steelband with Michael Abene and the WDR Big Band, with special guest Relator, with a sold out concert at the Köln Philharmonic in Germany.

http://www.myspace.com/97c2j

http://andynarell.net/