
DUAL, Smadj‘s new opus was born from successive waves and confinements. The object is partly composed in Lisbon on the banks of the Tagus river, where Smadj had set down his suitcases in the spring of 2019. It ends at the foot of the vineyards in Burgundy where the chameleon has since set foot. Again a transhumance, it’s compulsory with him : starting again.
DUAL may have started like a duel, with another, with a pandemic that would leave us stunned. DUAL, on the other hand, has inherited its quality; of this [A] which changes everything, thanks to the mirrored and staggered gazes of Sylvain Barou and Denis Guivarc’h.
DUAL or the state of the world after a brief syncope. A great vintage, definitely.
Smadj
Jean-Pierre Smadja (aka Smadj) was born in Tunisia. Landed at Paris in his childhood, he will quickly become one of the cornerstones of the effervescent Parisian scene.
Giving up the guitar for the oud, he made a name beyond the hexagon borders, thanks to his electro-oriental jazz compositions. Smadj released many albums ; he has been playing, recording and touring for many years, especially with Mehdi Haddab and the DuOuD project. He is also artistic director “producer”, requested from Turkey to Australia. Mixing acoustic and electric is his very-own signature.
He has collaborated across the world with Talvin Singh, Ibrahim Maalouf, Erik Truffaz, Magic Malik Mezzadri, Stephano di Baptista, Amit Chatterjee, Rokia Traoré, Mehdi Haddab, Laurent de Wilde, Natacha Atlas, Malouma, Mounir Troudi, Abdelatif Yakoub …
Sylvain Barou
One of the most captivating flute players nowadays, Sylvain Barou likes to destroy all barriers on his way. Coming from a strongly rooted tradition of breton and irish music, he was also opening his mind and ears further East, thanks to rich musical encounters.
The beginning of his personal silk road began with learning indian bansuri/hindustani classical music, then his interest for modal music pushed him in Turkey, Kurdistan, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan, through the intensive learning of duduk and zurna.
All these influences have nourished and built a unique and open language that allows him to be at ease in various contexts, whether it is traditional, jazz, or even electronica & experimental.
He has participated to many concerts, recordings, projects, along with Keyvan Chemirani, Prabhu Edouard, Trilok Gurtu, Vincent Segal, Donal Lunny, Stelios Petrakis, Efrén Lopez, Eléonore Fourniau, Adnan Joubran, Denez Prigent, Rusan Filiztek, Erik Marchand, Jacques Pellen, Annie Ebrel, Karim Ziad, Altan, Titi Robin, Coşkun Karademir…
Denis Guivarch
Denis Guivarc’h begins music and the saxophone at the conservatory of Saint Brieuc (French Brittany) and follows the courses of Pierrick Pedron. Later, after a course in musicology, he will teach as an assistant at the Jazz and Urban Music Center in Paris (CIM).
After a first disc with the Multicolored Feeling by Eddie Louis, he meets Magic Malik with the Human Spirit and follows him within the Magik Malik Orchestra. A 20-year collaboration was born, 7 albums and numerous international tours on the most prestigious stages : Marciac, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Barbican Center London, Knitting factory…
Denis also works as a sideman notably with Paco Sery. He also collaborates regularly with musicians like Steve Coleman, Nelson Veras, Pierre de Bethmann, Bojan Z, Julien Lourau, Baptiste Trotignon, Louis Moutin, Jean Pierre Smadj, Minino Garay, Anga Diaz.
DUAL • 2021 (pSChiit/ Inouïe Distribution)
Solotronic • 2017 (Whirling Wolf)
Spleen • 2015 (Jazzvillage/Harmoniamundi)
Fuck the DJ • 2012 (Smadjrecords/Codaex)
Selin • 2009 (MVS/Bassofone)
SOS • 2005 (Doublemoon/EMI)
Take it and Drive • 2003 (Most Records)
New deal • 2000 (Electric M.E.L.T/ELM)
Equilibriste • 1999 (M.E.L.T 2000/BW)
Smadj • ouds acoustic and electric , electronic programming, composition, arrangements
Sylvain Barou • wooden & bansuri flutes, kabazurna, pkou, composition
Denis Guivarch • alto sax, keyboards & effects, composition
DATES | PLACES | VENUES |
2021 March 19 | ALBUM RELEASE | |