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Michel Perez

French guitarist Michel Perez has the reputation of being a sincere and humble musician, a respected composer and a master of his instrument. What makes Michel's phrasing so interesting and unique is that he's not thinking like a guitar player, but more like a sax player and a pianist.

Never showing off, Michel speaks with his heart and doesn't use his virtuosity for the sake of it. He is a musician before an instrumentalist.

As you can identify the sound of Pat Metheny, Django, Wes Montgomery or John Scofield, you can tell when Michel plays; he has his own style and a great tone. His originality and sensibility puts him among the best jazz musicians.

Self-taught, he started playing at the Hot Club de Lyon (France) alongside prestigious musicians like Slide Hampton, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Clark and Hank Mobley.

After opening for Miles Davis at Vienne and Nice jazz festivals, Michel was featured in Bertrand Tavernier's film "Round About Midnight" playing with Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter.

With keyboardist Gerard Maimone and Cameroonian bassist Rido Bayonne, Michel created the fusion band "Spheroe". Two albums followed, "Spheroe" and "Primadonna".

Michel Perez has been performing under his name and has recorded six albums featuring Andre Ceccarelli, Ron Carter, Daniel Goyone, Dominique Dipiazza, Marc Bertaux, Mario Stantchev, Bill Drumond, Franck Amsallem, Francois Chassagnite, Vincent Artaud, Sylvain Beuf, Nico Morelli, Luc Plouton and Marcel Sabiani.

Michel has toured with Benny Golson, Alain Jean-Marie, Pierre Yves-Sorin, Bruno Ziarelli and the symphonic orchestra directed by Myung Yung Chung.

He belongs to the acoustic trio "Travelling Jazz" with Elisabeth Caumont on vocals and Pierre-Yves Sorin on bass.

His new album "Double entente", recorded with acoustic bass player Diego Imbert, is available on SUCH Production label (Ref Such 004), distributed by Harmonia Mundi.

Michel Perez a la réputation d'etre un musicien sincère, un compositeur inspiré et un guitariste orfèvre de son instrument. Doté d'une forte personnalité, il pratique un language musical inhabituel et hors des clichés car il ne pense pas comme un guitariste mais plutot comme un saxophoniste et un pianiste.

Ici pas d'esbrouffe... Michel parle avec le coeur et n'abuse jamais de sa virtuosité. Un musicien au service de la Musique.

Comme on reconnait immédiatement Metheny, Django, Wes ou Scofield, Michel Perez a son propre phrasé et un son qui l' identifie. Son originalité et sa sensibilité l'ont établi parmi les grands du Jazz.

Autodidacte, il débute au Hot Club de Lyon et accompagne des invités prestigieux tels que: Slide Hampton.Johnny Griffin, Kenny Clark, Hank Mobley...

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" Michel Perez, guitariste au jeu limpide, constamment inspiré... Des melodies raffinées, aux tempi et climats assez variés pour composer un univers diapré et personnel, sans que les "fondamentaux du jazz", swing, improvisation, sensibilité, soient a aucun moment abandonnés." Jacques Aboucaya - Jazz Magazine

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Double Entente

Such Production
2013

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Virgile

Blue Note
1985

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Videos

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