Greg Lamy feat. Stéphane Belmondo

Greg Lamy was born in New-Orleans (U.S.A.). Lives and works between Luxembourg & Paris. Graduate at the Berklee College of Music (Boston).

He's is one of the most talented artists among the "rising stars" of the European jazz scene. Making his mark through numerous collaborations, such as with Lionel Loueke, Bojan Z or Marco Massa, as well as with his trio, a very complete, inspiring and ambitious ensemble, Lamy moves between swing, groove and contemporary jazz, thus creating a unique jazz atmosphere.

“A guitar player whose refreshing and pure guitar sound gives birth to multiple melodical climates, underlined by a most fluid style, a musician with a promising future” says the world famous Beninese Jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke about the Luxembourgish guitarist and composer Greg Lamy, one of the most talented artists among the European Jazz scene.

After studying jazz guitar in Boston at the Berklee College of Music and in London at Trinity College, Lamy quickly gained a reputation for playing with various groups in many clubs and festivals in Europe and the United States. He has played with Lionel Loueke, Gretchen Parlato, Flavio Boltro, Bojan Z, Marco Massa, ...

His tours succeed one another. Europe, USA, Brazil, China - his music is touring the world. He has released numerous albums with different projects, including, with his quartet, "Meeting" in 2013 and "Press Enter" in 2017. Both of these albums were very successful and were top sellers on Igloo Records.

In 2016, Greg Lamy won the Export Artist of the Year award (music:LX) in the Jazz category. In 2020, the famous guitar brand "Westville" gave him a sponsorship

Gautier Laurent started learning the electric bass on his own at the age of 15, influenced by Pop and Rock music. In 1991, he enters the CNR (Conservatoire National de Région) of Nancy, and studies the double bass in the class of Bernard Vautrin. In 1995 he obtained his diploma with honours in double bass, music theory and chamber music. In 1996 he obtained the state diploma in jazz.

Afterwards he improved his skills with renowned double bassists such as Riccardo DEL Fra, Mark Dresser, or the tuba player Michel Godard.

In jazz he says he is influenced by musicians such as Chet Baker, Wayne Shorter, Keit Jarret, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Paul Motian, Django Reinhardt, Kenny Baron, Jim Hall, Lee Konitz... Rock and variety: he particularly likes Marvin Gaye, James Taylor, Sting, U2, Léo Ferré, Barbara, Alain Bashung, Serge Gainsbourg.

Other musical categories also appeal to him, in "electronic music": Tricky, Björk, Massive Attack...
In classical music his tastes range from Bach to Gorecki, Benjamin Britten, Lalo, Debussy, Brahms, Bartock...

Jean- Marc Robin, born in 1973, he studies with the basics of classical percussion, that will make him particularly sensible to the quality of sound. In 1992, he obtains the first prize of percussion at the Conservatoire National de Région of Nancy (France) and is since 1996, the percussionist-drummer of the horns band Arcadia.

From there, he goes into Jazz and Funk, completing his learning in that area, at the Ecole Nationale de Cergy-Pontoise with the class of Georges Paczinsky where he obtains the first prize in 1996.At the same time , he plays with the trio of the pianist J.M. Albertucci, with the vocalist Elisabeth Caumont, with the band Sable Chaud of J.M. Viguier and with the quartet of the saxophonist Franck Turpin.Since 1991, he also teaches drums and percussion in various music schools in Lorraine.His playing, characterized by both melodic and dynamic phrasing, expresses the importance that he gives to the swing.
He joins Briegel Bros Band in 1998, records with them in 1999 the 2nd CD "Détours" and tours with the band in Japan and all over Europe (Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Moldova, etc.)

In 2001 he creates the Trio Aura with Michael CUVILLON (saxophon) and Gerald MULLER (double bass). In 2002 he takes part to the Trio David Laborier with Jean-Yves Jung (Hammond organ) and the Trio of the guitarist Roland Gebhardt always with Jean-Yves Yung. In 2003 he rejoins the regional Orchestra of Jazz of Lorraine - SO2 Shake Orchestra. Among the musicians whom he accompanied we can quote: Daniel Kuffer, Sylvain Beuf, Bob Mintzer, Remy Chaudagne, Mikidach, Jimmy Oihid, Steckar Tuba Pack, Pierre-Alain Goualch, Laurent Gianez, Donald Régnier, Daniel Visani, Ernie Hammes, Diego Imbert, Jean-Marie Viguier, Valerie Graschaire...

Stéphane Belmondo is a French jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, and drummer. Including recordings made with his brother Lionel Belmondo and Yusef Lateef, he won the best French album category (L'Album français de l'année) in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the best artist award (L'Artiste ou la Formation instrumentale française de l'année) in 2003 and 2004 in the French Victoires du Jazz awards. Along with his brother, he is noted for tribute albums that involve the musicians being honored.

He first started with drums and percussion instruments at the age of 6, accordion at 8, and took up the trumpet at age 10. He studied accordion and cornet at the Aix-en-Provence Conservatory of Music, before being admitted to the trumpet class of the Marseille Conservatory at 16. Belmondo was 14 when he finally took the stage with his accordion joining the big band led by his father and brother Lionel who played saxophone. When he and his brother started a quintet, Belmondo was 15 years old.

When Belmondo arrived in Paris to pursue his career, he met pianist René Urtreger, who gave him many opportunities to share the stage, notably with famed double-bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. He also worked with Pierre Michelot and Al Levitt, among many others.

In 1987, shortly after his arrival in Paris, he joined Laurent Cugny's big band, Lumière. Cugny had convinced arranger Gil Evans to come to France and work on the orchestra's repertoire. The collaboration resulted in two albums Rhythm-A-Ning and a European tour where Belmondo also recorded and performed with.

From 1987 to 1990, he played with pianist Kirk Lightsey's quartet and bassist Pierre Boussaguet's quintet, which also featured his brother and Jacky Terrasson. Working with Boussaguet led to the release of an album called Jazz aux Remparts featuring one of Belmondo's idols, the American trumpeter Tom Harrell.

Belmondo joined Michel Legrand’s big orchestra and took part in 1992 concert at the Olympia, where Legrand and Stéphane Grappelli appeared together for the first time. In 1992, he participated in the album Legrand/Grappelli with Legrand and Grapelli. He toured with them around the world. In 1994, Belmondo played in Dee Dee Bridgewater's trio and recorded the album Love and Peace with them in 1995, which featured Jimmy Smith.

In the same year, Belmondo moved to New York City. He continued touring with Dee Dee Bridgewater in the US, including shows at the Newport Festival and the Carnegie Hall. During his stay in New York, he played with many musicians, including Al Foster, Mark Turner, Lew Tabackin, Donald Brown, and Franck Amsallem. He recorded with pianist Donald Brown and his quartet performed at the Blue Note.
In 2002, in celebration of the fifteenth anniversary of Chet Baker's death, Belmondo performed with Jean-Louis Rassinfosse and Philip Catherine, two of Baker’s former partners.
Returning to Paris, he recorded his first solo album Wonderland in 2004, interpreting a collection of Stevie Wonder songs. This album won Belmondo two Victoires du Jazz awards in France, in 2005. Belmondo met the saxophone and flute player Yusef Lateef and they together made an album called Influence (2005). Shortly after this, his group, including Lateef, toured Europe and around the world until 2008.
In 2008, Belmondo recorded with the great Brazilian singer, Milton Nascimento and they toured together.
Belmondo was also part of the development of new bugle and trumpet models which are marketed under the name "Concept TT" by the instrument maker Selmer. He recorded 17 cd's as leader or co-leader and appears on more than 70 cd's as sideman.

Un groove qui parfois fait référence au côté cool et laconique du funk de la Nouvelle Orléans, sans dériver dans une direction traditionnelle. Greg Lamy nous montre plutôt un côté rock. Le quartet reste fidèle à son style et joue des morceaux compacts et organiques. Parfois, la guitare et le saxophone développent des thèmes à l’unisson, tandis que la basse et la batterie, malgré le jeu de muscles, restent transparents et maintiennent la tension même lors des trois accords du morceau blues hard bop en bonus. Jazz thing

Greg Lamy s’inscrit dans la grande tradition des guitaristes des années 1960 de Jim Hall à Kenny Burrell, en passant par Tal Farlow et Wes Montgomery : un retour à un classicisme indémodable. Jazzaround

Lamy est un véritable guitariste électrique dans le jazz. Son approche ludique est ouverte, souvent brute et encore plus souvent imprévisible. Personne ici ne se soucie de clichés ou de genres – Greg Lamy partage cette ouverture d’esprit et cet humour avec John Scofield. Un super album ! Gitarre & Bass Magazin

Un jazz moderne tantôt brut et rock, tantôt lyrique et doux. Jazz thing

Porté par l’attaque vigoureuse de la rythmique, Greg Lamy développe un jeu groovy à souhait, avec des sonorités saturées teintées de colorations soul, une approche de la guitare qui n’est pas sans évoquer la palette sonore de John Scofield. Jazzaround

Du jazz et swing traditionnels, combinés avec un puissant impact rythmique et des éléments raffinés de fusion. Les thèmes sont mélodiquement élégants et préservent la mémoire des racines afro-américaines avec quelques tournures vers le rock. Lamy est, dans son jeu, inspiré par le Larry Coryell de la période d’Eleventh House et particulièrement par John Scofield, son goût blues et sa quête de couleur, sans toutefois porter atteinte à son originalité et à l’harmonie du groupe qui est guidé d’une main sûre. Musica Jazz

https://www.greglamy.com/