Xavier Desandre Navarre

Born in Aix en Provence ( France) in 1961 and now living in Paris. He was 13 when he started playing percussions at the conservatory. The following year he met the famous Brazilian conductor and musicologist Nicia Ribas D’Avila (Sao Paulo University), and Sylvio de Santana Jr (Master percussionist & candomble drummer). They introduced him into the secrets of the Brazilian multi-ethnic and percussion universe. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- In1987, he was engaged for a European tour with Gil Evans, including studio recordings and filmed shows. In 1991 he joined the “Orchestre National De Jazz” (ONJ). His open mind and curiosity sent him on the track of a worldwide cooperation, concerts and recordings (Over 100 CDs) with top artists from France and various countries. His playing includes strong grooves with lots of musical colours and impressions. Xavier as developed a unique “percussions, drums & electronics” set in which he can explore all the subtleties of a wide range of sounds and rhythms from every country he has been and cultures he has embraced. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------ He have been performing in many countries including Germany, Japan, USA, Brasil, Korea, Vietnam, China, Spain, Morocco, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Portugal, Cameroon, Angola, South Africa, Finland, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Greece, England, …-------------------------------------------------Some of the artists he have been played with: Gil Evans, David Sanborn, Randy Brecker, Terri Lyne Carrington, Gino Vanelli, Jacky Terrasson, Julia Migenes, Leszek Mozdzer, Nah Youn Sun, Niels Lan Doky, Manu Katche, Ulf Wakenius, Michel Portal, Charlie Haden & Liberation Orchestra, Lars Danielsson, Nils Landgren, John Scofield, Bobo Stenson, Tania Maria (Brazil), Manu Dibango (Cameroon), Iwao Furusawa, Coba, (Japan), The Tokyo Symphonic Orchestra, Paolo Fresu, Victoria Tolstoi, Caecillie Norby, Bugge Weseltoft, Nils Peter Molvaer, Jan Bang, Richard Galliano, Rebekka Baken, Belmondo Brothers, Rick Margitza, Edouard Ferlet, Vincent Courtois, NDR Symphonic Orchestra, Copenhagen Symphonic Orchestra,-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- He has developed a strong collaboration over more than ten years with Niels Lan Doky on many musical projects (CD’s, films and dance shows). ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------Some places he have been performed: Hong Kong Jazz Festival, Blue Note (New York City) Leverkusen Jazztage Festival Germany( Concert filmed for TV broadcast), Copenhagen & Bornholm festival (Denmark) ( Concert filmed for the Cinema) with D Sanborn, R Brecker, T L Carrington, G Vanelli,… Newied Jazz festival (Germany), Cormons Jazz Festival (Italy), London’s Barbican Center, London's Ronnie Scott's club, Palatia Jazz Festival (Germany), Warsaw Jazz Festival (Poland), Paris “Festival de Saint Germain”, Montreux Jazz Festival, Nyons paleo Folk Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival ( Finland), Imatra Jazz festival (Finland), Europa Jazz Festival ( Le Mans France), Jazz sous les Pommiers (France), Paris Jazz festival, Tokyo Orchard hall, .....