Member Since: 4/7/2006
Band Website: MoncefGenoud.com
Band Members: Moncef Genoud: piano; Scott Colley: bass; Bill Stewart: drums;
On select tracks: Michael Brecker: sax; Dee Dee Bridgewater: vocals; Frederic Folmer: bass; Thierry Hochstatter: drums.
Influences: Born in 1961 in Tunis, Tunisia, Moncef was blind at birth. Flown to Switzerland to receive treatment on his eyes at the age of 2, he was adopted by a Swiss family shortly after. At 6 he began to take piano lessons, strongly encouraged by his adoptive father, a big Jazz fan who would often play records by Louis Armstrong or Fats Waller at the familys house. Blessed with a remarkable auditory memory that allowed him to learn and replicate any piece by ear, Moncef started to develop his own style. In 1987 he obtained a music teachers degree from the Conservatory in Geneva, where he still teaches Jazz improvisation today.A professional musician since 1983, Moncef quickly asserted himself as one of Switzerlands leading Jazz artists, thanks in part to the body of work he assembled with his Trio. In the course of his career he has played with the likes of Bob Berg, Alvin Queen, Reggie Johnson, Harold Danko, John Stubblefield, Joe LaBarbera, Michael Brecker, Larry Grenadier, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bill Stewart, Idris Muhammad, James Cammack, Jack DeJohnette, Tom Warrington, Scott Colley, Sangoma Everett and Billy Brooks, among many others.In 1993 his Trio was the opening act for Tete Monteliu and Michel Petrucciani. The rest of the 1990s saw him tour all of Europe as well as India, Australia, Africa, Japan, the United States and Canada as a headliner. In 1994 he delighted the audience at the Vancouver and Montreal Jazz Festivals with brilliant performances. The following year he performed in Africa, where he and Youssou NDour became close friends. The two have since then played together on numerous occasions, developing a new African-Jazz sound, and are currently shooting a movie / documentary entitled Return to Gorée, scheduled for release in 2006. The project follows several musicians as they travel the route of West-African slaves from Senegal to the United States, while revisiting the musical evolution from Negro spirituals to Gospel to Jazz along the way.In 1997 Moncef was selected to officially represent the Montreux Jazz Festival in New York, Detroit and Atlanta. Since then Moncef has continued to grow and build his own catalogue, recording with formations ranging from the duet to the sextet, to even the symphonic orchestra. He lists Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau as his influences, and is undoubtedly on his way to join some of these illustrious names as one of the major Jazz pianists of this generation.His latest record, Aqua, is Moncefs 10th studio album. It brings together an impressive line-up consisting of Moncef, Michael Brecker, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bill Stewart and Scott Colley. The project, recorded in New York City, was produced by C.Chill for Rollin Dice Productions, which signed Moncef in 2004. It demonstrates the level of Moncefs maturity as a Jazz composer, arranger and performer. Dubbed his most ambitious record so far, Aqua comprises seven original compositions and three covers. In November 2005, Moncef signed an exclusive, worldwide, multi-album deal with legendary label Savoy Jazz, which released Aqua on April 4, 2006. This major step will certainly help Moncefs already growing popularity. An avid traveler who loves to discover new places, cultures and flavors, he looks forward to reaching even more people with his music on the road of his tour schedules and exciting life journey.
Sounds Like: Michael Brecker, Bill Evans, Brad Meldhau, Chick Corea, Count Basie, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Ramsey Lewis, Ahmad Jamal, Thelonious Monk, Gil Evans, Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Harry Connick, Jr., George Duke, Duke Ellington, Keith Jarrett, Patricia Barber, Kenny garrett... Jazz from the past and from beyond.
Record Label: Savoy Jazz
Type of Label: Indie