Born in Toulouse on October 1st 1952. Classical Clarinet and saxophone studies at the Toulouse Conservatory (1969 -1975) and first initiations to jazz music within several regional bands. Settles in Paris in 1977 and joins the Big Orchestra of Claude Bolling which groups the best French musicians. Music-stand musician, he his used to playing with several large bands : Ornicar, Gerard Badini, Jean-Loup Longnon, Dany Doriz, Francois Biensan, Francois Laudet, etc…
Creates in 1983 a sextet inspired by the music of the legendary John Kirby. He records his first record "Tribute to John Kirby" which gets in 1987 the Sydney Bechet prize and in 1987 the prize of the best French jazz record.
Set up in 1987, the band Saxomania, composed of four saxophones and a rhythmical section which interprets the jazz swing and be-bop repertory, based on original arrangements. The recordings of this group will be opportunities to meet big jazz masters. Those records will be crowned by the Bill Coleman prize 89, the prize of the best French jazz record 88 and a Django d’Or 1996.
Creates in 1993 the Swingtime Quartet as an homage to Benny Goodman’s music.
Accomplished conductor and clever arranger, Claude Tissendier in his sax alto playing appears like a perfect mixture of the style of Benny Carter and Charlie Parker. Between suavity and ferocious virtuosity. Rather traditional but not less inventive. The pillar of the great Claude Bolling Orchestra for 20 years, taking part in numerous recordings, radio and TV broadcasts, he appears regularly at the head of his various formations on the most prestigious French and foreign stages
The erea of Swing which encompasses the thirties, the huge dancing halls, the peak of the big orchestras and the triumph of a very important musician Benny Goodman, quickly sacred "king of jazz".
Brilliant clarinettist and smart conductor, Benny Goodman became very quickly popular at the head of small and big formations thanks to a selective repertory (traditional jazz pieces, last hits, original creations) and an impeccable and very dynamic presentation. His most original and astonishing group was his quartet with Lionel Hampton(vibraphone), Teddy Wilson (piano) and Gene Krupa (Drums).
This small very spectacular group was very daring for its time (two white musicians – two black musicians) aroused the crowds and could rival for its swing with the biggest bands. This magical meeting of four biggest soloists was a priviledged moment as there have been few in the history of jazz and met with considerable success.
With:
Eclectic musician and pianist with a great culture, he expresses himself at the vibes in a style mixed with the swing of Lionel Hampton. Co-founder of the « Grand Orchestre du Splendid » and Jazz director of the parisian jazz club « le Petit Opportun », his warmth and dynamism radiate in his music.
Eclectic music lover (he loves Jelly Roll Morton as well as Bud Powell) and much sought after accompanist (G.leroux, O. franc, Irakli…), he is one of the few pianists who is able to express himself in the very particular style of Teddy Wilson.
Drummer with a remarkable and stylish swing, faithful to the sound of the forties, he particularly affectionates the very brilliant and visual drum solos as well as a sober and musical accompaniment following in the steps of his masters : Gene Krupa, Papa Jo Jones, Sydney Catlett.
Swing is not one essential component of jazz, it‘s also a style and a period whose apogee is at the end of the thirties, just before the advent of modern jazz.
If the big orchestras were most famous (Ellington, Basie, Goodman …), the small formations of five or six musicians made the beautiful nights of the clubs of the 52th street in Harlem.
Separately the blues, material basic of jazz, the repertoire drew from the songs in vogue directly borrowed from the large musicals shows of Brodway. The composers of these famous songs became emblematic : Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichel, Jerome Kern …
In addition to some personal compositions, it’s with this inexhaustible repertoire that new sextet of Claude Tissendier is reserved : City Swing.
Surrounded by a solid team broken with this very particular musical kind, the clarinet, symbol of Swing, exposes the melodies with emotion and carries out the sets with ardour and precision. The various climates of arrangements due to the feather of the chief, reflect the multiple possibilities and talents of each one of these as brilliant musicians in their solos as plein as Tuttis.
If brass sometimes escape in their flights, the rhythm section, guarantor of Swing, is always there to bring back the intrepid one to the right way and to provide this unique pulsation which characterizes this style.
« It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing » (Duke Ellington)
At the request of some fans and organizers, the band also plays again quite recently the wonderful music of John Kirby's sextet which stay one of the most beautiful jewels of the swing era and which Claude Tissendier had resuscitated successfully in the 80's.
With:
Based in Caen where he followed classical musical studies for 8 years, Gilles Berthenet has played with Claude Bolling, Paris Barcelona Swing Connection, Fabrice Eulry 7tet, Marc Laferriere and also some american musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Spanky Wilson, Franck Wess, Jan Harrington, etc…
Actually, he plays with the Michel Delage Big Band
Based in Poitiers he starts in various local groups (swing and Dixieland), plays with an equal talent the saxophone alto and the clarinet in the poitevin tentet of Michel Delage and has just joined the big bands of Christian Escoude and Gérard Badini.
Eclectic music lover (he loves Jelly Roll Morton as well as Bud Powell) and much sought after accompanist (G.leroux, O. franc, Irakli…), he is one of the few pianists who is able to express himself in the very particular style of Teddy Wilson.
A professional since 1985, he had the opportunity of accompanying such artists as Bob Wilber, Kenny Davern, Benny Bailey, Wild Bill Davis, Frank Wess. He currently plays with the band « les Gigolos ».He has been influenced at the double bass by: Eddie Jones, Aaron Bell…
Drummer with a remarkable and stylish swing, faithful to the sound of the forties, he particularly affectionates the very brilliant and visual drum solos as well as a sober and musical accompaniment following in the steps of his masters : Gene Krupa, Papa Jo Jones, Sydney Catlett.
The music of Count Basie + Jon Hendricks's words + eight musicians who sound as a big band + two scat singers = extraordinary combination!
Claude Tissendier presents a new formation around the music of Count Basie, with Jon Hendricks' words and interpreted by an octet of great musicians with two outstanding singers:
Playing most of the words written in 1957 by Jon Hendricks for his famous vocal trio ( Lambert, Hendricks and Ross) on the occasion of their record " Sing a song of Basie ".
Once the theme is introduced, Michele Hendricks and Marc Thomas engage a most exciting musical battle. Driven by a band who plays the arrangements of Neal Hefti, Ernie Wilkins, Frank Foster adapted for an octet by Claude Tissendier, the group swings in the pure tradition of Count Basie
With:
Michele Hendricks, American singer, composer-songwriter, went up on stage at 8 with her father Jon Hendricks, himself singer, lyric writer and founder of the famous vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. From the age of 15, Michele Hendricks regularly toured in Europe with her father, till the end of her studies of dance and theater in London.
She took musical studies in San Francisco, before returning to New York, where she was born, for two years to work with Buddy Rich and Stan Getz.
Then, Michele Hendricks returned in San Francisco to sing in Jon Hendricks's show " Evolution of the Blues ", during six years. She went up her own group, with which she worked in the area.
She joined her father when he set up his new group "Jon Hendricks et Co". They recorded the album "Love", nominated for Grammy Awards, and for which Michele Hendricks made the arrangements.
Finally she left the group to begin a career for herself, and sang in the USA, Europe and Japan. She sang in the festivals of
Michele worked with:
From the age of 4, the young Marc liked all kind of swings, from Henri Salvador to Ella Fitzgerald.
Nobody was surprised when he began the saxophone at 16 with a very easy, at the CIM's School. Michel Roques and Jean-Claude Fohrenbach were his first masters.
Three years later, in 1979, he won the competition of La Defense. By practising a more contemporary repertory with Michel Godard and the group Bakea, he was again a prize-winner of the same competition in 1981.
Especially talented student, he quickly took his flight as a singer and then toured all over the world with various formations of jazz such as:
As time goes by, we were able to see him playing and singing with
Gradually, with his specificity of crooner, Marc Thomas was made a speciality to sing with big orchestras.
Nowadays he is always the official singer of the Claude Bolling Big Band, and the main soloist of the vocal group 6 ½, nominated in Victoires de la Musique in 1998.
Based in Caen where he followed classical musical studies for 8 years, Gilles Berthenet has played with Claude Bolling, Paris Barcelona Swing Connection, Fabrice Eulry 7tet, Marc Laferriere and also some american musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Spanky Wilson, Franck Wess, Jan Harrington, etc…
Actually, he plays with the Michel Delage Big Band
Based in Poitiers he starts in various local groups (swing and Dixieland), plays with an equal talent the saxophone alto and the clarinet in the poitevin tentet of Michel Delage and has just joined the big bands of Christian Escoude and Gérard Badini.
Son of Pierre Richard (comedian), he studied the saxophone and the jazz at the CIM'school in Paris with J.C. Forhenbach and Claude Tissendier. At the beginning of his career in 1987, he has recorded a Cd with the very famous duet of variety " Blues Trottoir ".
Now, he plays and records in diverse musical styles:
Eclectic music lover (he loves Jelly Roll Morton as well as Bud Powell) and much sought after accompanist (G.leroux, O. franc, Irakli…), he is one of the few pianists who is able to express himself in the very particular style of Teddy Wilson.
Equally a banjo player, he has played with all the traditional jazzmen of the capital (Maxim Saury, Marc Laferriere, Marc Richard…).
His more modern tastes as a guitarist have taken him from Alain Bouchet’s quartet to François Laudet’s great orchestra.
A professional since 1985, he had the opportunity of accompanying such artists as Bob Wilber, Kenny Davern, Benny Bailey, Wild Bill Davis, Frank Wess. He currently plays with the band « les Gigolos ».He has been influenced at the double bass by: Eddie Jones, Aaron Bell…
Drummer with a remarkable and stylish swing, faithful to the sound of the forties, he particularly affectionates the very brilliant and visual drum solos as well as a sober and musical accompaniment following in the steps of his masters : Gene Krupa, Papa Jo Jones, Sydney Catlett.