Roy Jay Nathanson (vocals and saxophones)

Born in 1951, American saxophonist, composer, band leader, actor and teacher. He became the leader and principal composer of the Jazz Passengers, a six piece group that he founded with Curtis Fowlkes in 1987. They have toured Europe many times and played at major festivals in Finland, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland, as well as the J.V.C. Festival in New York, the Du Maurier Festival in Canada and toured throughout the United States and Canada. The band has recorded eight albums since their debut release. His sideman credits include four years recording and touring with The Lounge Lizards, work with Marc Ribot’s Rootless Cosmopolitans, Charles Earland and The Shirelles. He has also performed in special projects including a recent saxophone quartet concert in Brussels with Steve Lacy and Ned Rothenberg in which each of the four musicians contributed an original composition.

Napoleon Maddox (vocals)

MC and beat boxer, a native of Cincinatti (Ohio), Napoleon Maddox is claiming influences from Charles Mingus to John Coltrane, as well as KRS One and Public Enemy. Leader of the band Is What?, mixing harcore hip-hop and jazz improvisations, Napoleon built a serious palmares, collaborating with The Roots, Saul Williams or Kool Keith. He is also at the initiative of the band Phat Jam, with Archie Shepp and Hamid Drake, American percussionist flirting with the free scene.

Thibault Cellier (bass)

Thibault studied double bass, classical piano and tuba at the CNR of Rouen – France (National Conservatoire of Region) from 1991 to 2006. He trained with musicians such as C.Tchamitchian, G.Orti, M.Ducret, L.Outside, D.Chevallier, H.Texier, D.Levallet, Magic Malik… He is an active member of the musical collective “Les Vibrants Défricheurs” (Collective of artists in Rouen, France) and his talent explores different musical forms. He also takes part in other projects, from improvised music to rock, or songs : with ‘’Papanosh’’, album « Your beautiful mother » ; with ‘’La Grande Compagnie des Musiques à Ouïr’’, with Denis Charolles ; with ‘’Novembre » (Antonin Tri / Romain Clerc Renaud / Elie Duris) ; with « Satierik Trio » (album « 2005-2025 ») ; for « The Serge Gainsbourg Experience » (Brad Scott / eponymous album) ; with guLdeboA (album « Tut »), with Inga Liljeström, and many collaborations with G. Orti, A.Berland, E. Risser, J. Loutelier, G.Gesser, Y. Joussein, B. Dousteyssier, L.Laurain…

Sébastien Palis (keyboard, organ)

Sebastien Palis plays piano, organ, accordion, and works as a composer with French Art Collective Les Vibrants Défricheurs. Member of Papanosh 5tet or Voï Voï duet, his music combines jazz forms, traditional folk music and many shapes of improvisation.

Raphaël Qhenehen (vocals and saxophones)

After two DEM, (National Music Degrees, prepared in one the National Conservatoires), in Saxophone and Jazz, at the Conservatoire of Rouen, Raphael Quenehen is selected to study at the CNSM of Paris (National Conservatoire of Paris) where he obtains the Jazz price (cum laude), the Generative Improvisation degree (Best grade) and the Indian music degree (Best grade) in 2009. At the Conservatoire of Paris he develops fruitful relationships with musicians of today’s French jazz scene : DDJ, collective COAX, Loreleï, Surnatural Orchestra … Within the collective “The Vibrants Défricheurs”, he takes part in many multidisciplinary projects : dance, visual arts and video. He is a member of groups at the crossroads of different musical fields : ‘’Papanosh’’, the “Big Ball”, ‘’Petite Vengeance’’… He also nourishes collaborations with improvising musicians such as Guillaume Orti, Alexandros Markeas (creation with Quatuor Habanera in 2009), Bernard Combi (duet), Jacques Di Donato (trio Brahma), Kenny Wollesen (duet), Yoann in (duet), he also plays in ‘’Kumquat and Company Lubat’’ with Bernard Lubat. He is also a teacher of Music of oral tradition at the CRR (Conservatoire of region) of R ouen and is the artistic director of the ‘’Mens Alors!’’ Festival in Isère, France.

Jérémie Piazza (drums)

Jérémie is incredible ! The drums, the guitar… simultaneously or not ! He also composes, sometimes. He learnt how to play drums through his contacts with Beijing cheese-rodent-trouts and by listening to music. Later, he discovered jazz and metaphysical questions…! His playing is clear and relevant, it aims at energy and emotion. Jérémie also loves food ! He can adapt to different contexts : improvised music or not, rock & roll, accompaniment of dances, solo…) He plays with recognized artists such as Little Bob, Brad Scott & The Serge Gainsbourg Experience, OK, Inga Liljeström, Laurent Dehors, Guillaume Orti, Olivier Benoit… He is also a drums teacher at the CRR (Conservatoire of Region) of Rouen, France.

Quentin Ghomari (trumpets)

After studying the trumpet, jazz music at the CNR of Rouen (National Conservatoire), and music history, music theory and jazz music at the University of Rouen, College of Musicology, Quentin was selected to study at the CNSM of Paris (National Conservatoire of Paris), in the Jazz and Improvised music section. He trained as a trumpeter and as a composer with Riccardo Del Fra, Hervé Sellin, Glenn Ferris, Francois Theberge and Dré Paellmerts… He wrote for symphony orchestras, string quartet, wind quintet or jazz big bands…) He obtained the Master in Jazz and improvised music from the Conservatoire of Paris in 2010 and was awarded the 2nd prize at the National Jazz Competition of Paris La Défense with ‘’Papanosh’’, the same year. Quentin is involved in various projects : with the ‘’Ping Machine’’ 13tet, with ‘’Ultraia Byte’’, with ‘’the Surnatural Orchestra’’, with the ‘’Grand Orchestre of Ivan Jullien’’, with ‘’Jean-Lou Longon Big Band’’. He also plays for films soundtracks. Riccardo Del Fra, Denis Colin or the European Jazz Orchestra (EJO) use his services. He is an active member of ‘’Papanosh » and of the collective of artists « Les Vibrants Défricheurs » which presents multidisciplinary events (the ‘’Big Ball’’ and others).