Claude Samard (San Mao)

How to define myself? I am an explorer of musical landscapes. Over the years, I have voyaged across many diverse territories:
- I produced Mongolian throat (“overtone”) singer Okna Tsahan Zam (World music)
- I wrote a reggae song for Rita Marley (Bob's wife)
- I composed music for videogames including Rayman (UbiSoft hit video game)
- I scored “Bo Ba Bu”, a film by Uzbek director Ali Khamraev (the film won “Best Music” award at the 2001 Shanghai Film Festival
- I have also developed and performed a live Show in which I introduce all my stringed 'toys' : guitars, banjo, pedal steel, oud, dobro, mandolin and many others. I performed this show live for two years as opening act for J.J. Goldman while he was on tour.
- l also own and operate a fully-equipped professional recording studio in the heart of Paris, "Studio 124" which I use for my own creations and to compose, arrange, record and mix projects
And much more…
Presently, I am Musical Director for electronic music pioneer Jean Michel Jarre. Jean Michel has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, and holds several records for spectacular outdoor live shows including largest single live audience (3,5 million in Moscow, 1997). In particular, I performed and arranged with Jean Michel in 2004 in Beijing’s ‘Forbidden City’, Gdansk shipyards (Poland 2005) and in Merzouga, (Moroccan desert) in 2006. These performances were spectacular and memorable for me ! We're now working on an "Oxygene tour", based on a live performance of the Oxygene album, entirely performed on vintage analog gear. The first dates are confirmed in Paris at Theatre Marigny from December 12th 2007.
In addition to composing, arranging and directing music for other artists, I have played on creative endeavors with a many musicians I respect and admire. My instruments include guitars, banjo, pedal steel , oud, dobro, mandolin and other stringed instruments. Some of the hundreds of recordings on which I have appeared include:
- Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
- Jean Michel Jarre
- Alan Simon (“Gaia” and Excalibur projects)
- Lulendo
- Flook
- Manu Dibango
- Midnight Oil
- Zucchero
- Billy Preston
- Anggun
- John Wetton (Asia, King Krimson)
- Jon Anderson (Yes)
- Justin Hayward (of the Moody Blues)
- Jean-Jacques Goldman
- Alain Souchon
- Johnny Hallyday
- And others (these are just a very few)
I arranged a few gold and platinum albums, like “Il tape sur des bambous” by Philippe Lavil (Also sung by Julio Iglesias), "Kole Sere" , and the album “Scene de vie” by Patricia Kaas.
Right now, after my first Koka Media-BMG album "Unplugged Journey", I’m working on my second solo CD.
I have had the good fortune of traveling the world to meet and play with great musicians (both famous and unknown).
So altogether, I consider myself to be a musician with a deep curiosity and an endless sense of adventure. I consider myself to be good in a lot of styles but accomplished in none... :-)
But in the end, I'm a very lucky man who knows there is still a lot of territory to explore, and that, "with a little help from my friends" and a little more luck, I just may get there!
All songs feature Claude Samard as a musician, producer or composer.