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 photo Jos Knaepen |
Maxime BLÉSINGuitar |
He started playing the guitar at the age of 14, and soon plays with rock bands.
At the age of 18, he goes to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he studies Brazilian popular music during a year at the "Escola Ian Guest de aperfeicoamento musical" (Yeas later he even participated in the Carnaval in Rio in 2001, 02 and 03 with the Samba school "Império Serrano").
In Brasilian music, guitar plays an important role, so Maxime got fascinated by the great songwriters and musicians such as Caetano VELOSO, Chico BUARQUE and Joao GILBERTO.
Around that period, his friend, saxophonist Stéphane MERCIER plays him some jazz records, a.o. some Jackie McLEAN, which turns outs to be his first exposure to jazz.
After he returned to Belgium, he studied during two years at the Antwerp Jazz Studio, with a.o. guitarists Hans VAN OOST and Pierre VAN DORMAEL. He also plays with saxophonist Pierre VAIANA and starts performing on the jazz scene both as a sideman and as a leader.
Around 95, Stéphane MERCIER invites him to New-York, where Maxime meets many interesting musicians. A pianist by the name of Pete RENDE recommends him to take guitar lessons with John DAMIAN, who has been in Boston the teacher of a.o. Kurt ROSENWINKEL and Bill FRISELL.
Following this advice, Maxime goes to Boston and takes composition lessons during 3 months with John DAMIAN, who insists that he investigates the great jazz tradition.
Maxime BLÉSIN then develops as a player strongly rooted in the post-bop tradition. He discovers the guitar masters, such as Grant GREEN, Kenny BURRELL, Wes MONTGOMERY, etc..., but his interest goes far beyond the guitar, as he says himself that he listens a lot to saxophone players, for instance.
Back in Belgium, Maxime starts playing on the scene, gigging in the clubs and composing, too.
During a trip to the Calvi Jazz Festival, where many young musicians meet for torrid jam sessions, he meets some French musicians with whom he obviously has some affinities.
It is the start of his quintet, composed of talented jazz players : Eric PROST (tenor sax), Manu DUPREY (piano), Mourad BENHAMOU (drs), Sal LA ROCCA (bass).
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| The quintet has recorded a first album in '99, simply titled Maxime BLÉSIN Quintet (Organic Records), and appeared in many festivals and clubs in Belgium and France.
A second album was released in June 2002 under the title "Bowling Bowl" (Igloo Igl 161) |
Maxime BLÉSIN had the opportunity to play with some of the best players in Belgium : Bruno CASTELLUCCI (drs), Manu HERMIA (as), Erik VERMEULEN (p), Sal LA ROCCA (bass), etc...He also plays in trio.
He plays with pianist Anne WOLF & her "Hommage à Jobim", singer Marta MUS (new Soul)
Maxime BLÉSIN co-leads with Gregory HOUBEN (tp) BRAZZ, a band which mixes popular Brazilian music and jazz (with also Steve HOUBEN, Phil ABRAHAM, Stephan POUGIN, Cédric WATERSCHOOT, Osman MARTINS and GERSINHO).
Maxime BMÉSIN also performs as a singer.
In 2001, he apperas as the opening act for Tania MARIA at the Calvi Festival (Corse). He takes classical singing lessons with opera singer Nicolas CHRISTOU. He also sings
with Anne WOLF and his own band BRAZZ. In January 2004, he sings at the New Morning in Paris during the "singers night" organized by Jazz Valley.
Finally, let's mention that Maxime BMÉSIN is also active as a sound engineer. He recorded many Belgian and international artists, commercials, jingles for tv etc...
DISCOGRAPHY
As a musician :
As a sound engineer :
More about his band : Maxime BLÉSIN QUINTET, BRAZZ.
Read an interview of Maxime BLÉSIN in the Journal of the Lundis d'Hortense (in French).
Maxime BLÉSIN commence la guitare électrique à l'âge de 14 ans, très vite, il joue
dans de nombreux groupes de rock à un niveau local.
A l'âge de 18 ans, il part à Rio de Janeiro où il étudie pendant un an la
musique populaire brésilienne à la "Escola Ian Guest de aperfeicoamento
musical". Il s'intéresse plus particulièrement à la bossa nova et à la samba
(il défile au carnaval de Rio en 2001, 02, 03 avec l'école de samba Império
Serrano).
A son retour, il suit des cours durant deux années au Jazz studio à Anvers,
joue dans le groupe de Pierre VAIANA et s'affirme comme sideman et leader
sur la scène belge.
Il part ensuite suivre des cours de composition pendant un trimestre à
Boston avec le professeur Jon DAMIAN.
Il joue actellement en tant que sideman avec les groupes suivants :
Dès son retour des USA, il forme un quintet avec des musiciens français et 1 belge (Sal LA ROCCA, Emmanuel DUPREY, Eric PROST, Mourad BENHAMOU) avec lesquels il enregistre deux disques de compositions uniquement :
Ils jouent dans de nombreux clubs et festivals en France et en Belgique.
Maxime est actuellement co-leader (avec Grégory HOUBEN), compositeur et arrangeur du groupe BRAZZ, mêlant musique populaire brésilienne et jazz; ce groupe est formé de Steve HOUBEN, Phil ABRAHAM, Stephan POUGIN, Cédric WATERSCHOOT, Osman MARTINS and GERSINHO)...
En 2001, fait la première partie de Tania MARIA au festival de Calvi (Corse).
Prend des cours de chant lyrique avec le chanteur d'Opéra Nicolas CHRISTOU.
Chante dans le groupe de Anne WOLF et dans son propre groupe : BRAZZ avec
lequel il se produit régulièrement.
En janvier 2004, se produit au New Morning à Paris dans la soirée "chanteurs" organisée par Jazz Valley.
Parallèlement au métier de musicien, Maxime a suivi une formation Ç sur le tas È d'ingénieur du son ; il a enregistré de nombreux artistes belges et étrangers, jingle télé, publicités,É
DISCOGRAPHIE
Comme musicien :
Comme ingénieur du son :
A lire : une interview de Maxime BLÉSIN dans le Journal of the Lundis d'Hortense.
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