Jean-Paul Elysée

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Originated from Martinique, French West Indies, J-P Elysée started singing at an early age as choir member. At the age of 12 he started a vocal group; “The Spring Singers” with which he toured the churches of the island, singing spirituals as his idols, the “Kings Heralds” or the “Breath of life quartet”. Understanding that despite his fad for music he does not wander from his studies, his father suggests that he attends the musical class of Honoré Coppet in Fort de France. The great clarinettist teaches him music theory and harmony.
When at 18 he leaves for Toulouse France to pursue a scientific degree, he spends more time performing in Jazz clubs than at the University. It’s his reggae time. With some student friends he creates a band: “Sound System”. He sings the group’s composition but also songs from Bob Marley, Steel Pulse or Third World. The band’s reputation quickly grows throughout the “ville rose”, and gives Jean-Paul the opportunity to sing in other groups performing in the area like “Compilation” or “Equinoxe”.
When he arrives in Paris as an experienced singer, excelling in vocal harmonies, he inevitably creates different vocal groups like: “DISCORD” and “SILAP” whom he sang with at the renowned MONTREUX Jazz Festival in 98. His experience naturally takes him to greater projects such as DELAVOIX and he travels through Europe collaborating with Ray LEMA on the album “The gazel’s dream”, or Hertor ZAZOU on “Lights in the dark”. He also produces all kind of albums, trains choirs, and teaches singing.
But his first love catches up with him, Jazz. He decides to pay a tribute to the one he considers as the greatest composer of American popular music of the XXème, the one who characterises the golden age of musicals: Cole PORTER. He adapts some of his numerous standards for voices only. Knowing how difficult it may be to bring good singers together, he goes on recording all the voices himself. The result is better than what he hoped for, although his voice cannot completely cover the low register. This is when he meets Pierre Boussaguet (Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Monty Alexander…) who listen to the first recordings. Pierre calls back the next day, enthusiastic, and the sound of his double bass will join the voices. The album “VOCAL PORTER”; 15 popular timeless songs performed with elegance. Simply magic!