"Les Rossignol" is a burlesque group. They have proved to be an outstandingly successful and atypical attraction in such varied fields and places as concert hall, theatre, variety and cabaret.
It's their real musicianship and fine artistry allied to their creative energy which make audiences from everywhere acclaim this talented group.
We particulary know Pierre Gaudin, compère of this quatuor.
Pierre plays piano, accordion, trombone, tuba and incidentally... harmonica.
He has been an enthusiastic accompanist since the nineties everytime someone needs a pianist in harmonica concerts, festivals and championships... and first of all, of course he is the favourite accompanist of his mother, Monique, the oldest lady harmonica player in France.
Already three years... Three years since the day he died in St. Joseph Hospital in Paris. He now lies in Bagneux cimetery(1) six feet under a discreet tombstone. Henceforth the only way to chat with him is to use a flowery language... what could be more natural for some one called "Magic Garden", he who made us all dream for more than a half century.
Three years... during which media have kept an indifferent silence. In front of this unbearable situation the Harmonica de France Federation has decided to publish, in December, a special issue entirely devoted to Claude Garden and I warmly recommend it to you.
This interesting publication contains : a biography*, about thirty illustrations, unpublished documents, numerous interviews from everywhere around the world and a complete discography.
Harmonicas de France had received many contributions from french and foreign correspondants. A real good job which deserves many thanks to the staff of this magazine, especially to its editor, Bernard Germain.
J.L.
If you are interested in this publication (published in french), please send your command with an international money order of 10 euros, to :
"Harmonicas de France", 4 rue Denfert Rochereau, 89000 AUXERRE FRANCE.
For more information in English concerning Claude Garden click on "Articles" in this website. Published December 10th 2007
Trossingen-BAU V, Universal Expo
A world top event is going to happen : the mythic BAU V, thank to Martin Haffner, is going to open its gates to celebrate the 150 years of life of a very dear to us musical instrument : the harmonica.
150 years tightly linked with Hohner Company,and you will see there an exhibition of historical treasures on loan to the BAU V for this occasion.
There'll be showrooms, conferences telling the flourishing past life of the BAU V and, for example, a surprising radio sequence : Walter Schira, astronaut in the space capsule Gemini, playing " Jingle Bells " on the Little Lady, the smallest harmonica of the world.
Don't miss this celebration, it's so exceptional to have 150 years !!
*you can read our article on the « BAU V » published on April
the 7th 2006.
*the " Little Lady " is now in the National Space Museum in
Washington D.C.(USA)
9th September until the 4th November.
Infos expo : http://www.harmonika-museum.de
phone : 07425.21623
Deutsches Harmonikamuseum, Löwenstr. 11, Trossingen Germany Published September 3rd 2007
2007 SPAH Convention, Milwaukee USA
As it was said in our calendar, this Convention is going to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the 16th to the 19th of August in the Sheraton Brookfield Hotel.
The SPAH (Society for the Preservation and Advancement the Harmonica) was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. It federates more than 40 associations in USA which makes it quite unique.
Every year, people from everywhere are meeting there... at this Uncle Sam's rendez-vous. Concerts, open stages, workshops, conferences, excursions, closing dinner and more are offered to you, to your liking (a visitor package for all the convention events will cost you 210 $).
We wish a great success to this Convention
Photo Spah/Harmonica Happening Published June 14th 2007
"La Comedia" Rendez-Vous
"Armos" group concert. This quintet includes : Pierre Rochas (chromatic harmonica, violin), Gérard Margnoux (chromatic), Dominique Lannes (chromatic), Charles Le Croller (chromatic, guitar), Jean Pierre Auger (guitar).
Guests : Johnny Swingers (chromatic), Bernard Dubos (chromatic, diatonic), Michel Sanchez (chromatic), the french/japanese trio "Les Parisiens" with Nami Miyata (chromatic and tremolo), Jean Labre (chord/polyphonia), Maurice Bailly (bass), the "Stil" trio with Jean François Laurion, Bernard Poulverel (chromatic), Régine Laurion (piano).
The concept of this Spring rendez-vous gives the opportunity to "le grand public" to discover the magic range of the most popular instrument of the world, from Johann Sebastian Bach to Fats Waller and from the "Marine Band" to the "chord". Thank's to the organizers Dominique Lannes, Gérard Margnoux and Pierre Rochat.
Photo affiche (Dominique Lannes) Published May 20th 2007
A French Fortnight in Japan This event took place in Shizuoka, town twined with the French city of Cannes. This festival was organized by the French-Japan association and his president Kei Shionoya (Grand Prix de l'Académie Française for foreign writers*).
A fortnight dedicated to musical and cultural rendez-vous around cinema, painting, with meetings and conferences, and a special honor guest : the mouth organ, officially presented, on April the 19th, in an opening concert in the Shizuoka AOI hall with Nami Miyata, Maki Yamaguchi and Jean Labre.
This event has also been celebrated, on April the 16th, in Tokyo, by the "Japon Radieux" concert. With, at the program, the girls harmonica trio " Comment allez-vous ? ", Nami Miyata, Reina Obe, and Aya Kuroda with the French pianist Yves Pelras.
This concert has been followed on the 24th, by an evening with the "Amateurs de la Musique Friendship Club" where the jazz singer Satsuki Itho and Jean Labre will perform.
Due to a calendar coincidence, the AJHF convention (All Japan Harmonica Federation) took place the last week of April in the Juraku hotel. Beginning with a concert on the opening night, the 28th, with the virtuoso Yasuo Watani, Akemi Iwama and Yuko Yanagawa performing in the Ino concert hall. The annual general meeting followed on the Sunday, brought to a close by a dinner concert with Jean Labre, guest of this convention.
* Prix Roland de Jouvenel for his book « Cyrano et les samouraï ». Published April 9th 2007
Hohner is 150 years old
Following our recent article, Hohner is informing us of the launching of 3 new models commerating its "150th anniversary".
The references are : "Standard Edition", "Chrom Edition", "Gold Edition".
Fore more information, have a look at our article concerning Hohner, click on "Articles". You can also see the Hohner website http://www.hohner.fr.
Photo Hohner : the Standard Edition. Published March 19th 2007
Pete Pedersen, biography of a legend The great Jerry Murad had said : "The definition of Pete Pedersen in my musical dictionnary is : the finest of all around harmonica player, composer/arranger in the world. Jazz, classical, pop, country, you name it, he does everything. He is the best. I ought to know, I've heard them all."
Pete got his break into the business through Borrah Minevitch famous ensemble, collaborated to various influencial Harmonica trios and finally went solo.
The website, http://www.petepedersen.com presents the newly realised biography : Be of Good Cheer, Memories of Harmonica Legend Pete Pedersen, written by his partner in life Jaine Rodack. The book collect stories about his life, anecdotes, photos and more.
Pete was my friend. Congratulations Jaine, great Job.
Jean Labre Photo : Book front cover Published January 20th 2007
HARMO - BEAUJO 2006 As an introduction, this title needs an explanation. Harmo-beaujo is a contraction of two words : Harmonica and beaujolais and more specifically Beaujolais nouveau (new Beaujolais). The new Beaujolais is the first yearly production of wine in France, following the September grape harvest. It's a light wine officially on sale every year on the 16th of November. Harmo-Beaujo is a friendship rendez-vous around a bottle of Beaujolais nouveau. It's also an event in Japan, the first Harmo-beaujo" event was created in Tokyo, in November 1999, in a concert sponsorised by Air France and the Beaujolais. Jean Labre performed during this concert.
Since 2000, Harmo-beaujo has been a yearly traditional harmonica rendez–vous in Paris.It's a dinner concert including harmonica players and friends from everywhere. It took place this year in "Le Bercy" restaurant.
The program included the B.B. Blues Band with Joel Hanriot and Romain Petite (keyboard). Joël made once more time the demonstration of what is his best : the overblows, and a strong presence on stage.
The french japanese harmonica trio "Les Parisiens" with Nami Miyata as soloist playing chromatic and tremolo harmonicas, thus giving to the trio an atypical repertoire conbining Japan refinement with occidental musical culture. Maurice Bailly was playing bass harmonica and Jean Labre chord.
The "Harmo-Beaujo" dinner concert is traditionally animated by Jean Labre and guests invited to take part in jam sessions. Among other friends, this year : Giovanni Volini (mister Harmonica in Italy) just arrived from Milano.
A Friday night fever lived in the true "France Harmonica" tradition. photos : Giovanni Volini, Philippe Delbourg. Published December 8th 2006
Harmonica Method - Pierre Couteau
This new educational book has the credit to tackle the teaching of the three basic instruments composing traditional harmonica bands, which are : chromatic, bass and chord/polyphonia.
Everything is clear and well explained.
Who is Pierre Couteau ? To get acquainted to him, let's go back in time. Everything is beginning in the sixties when Pierre wins, as chromatic soloist, the Delft world Championships (Holland), 1965, with his Trio "Les Trois de l'Harmonica". Then the trio played at concerts in France and Europe until 1985. Nowadays Pierre is oboe soloist in the Bordeaux City Philharmonic Orchestra ; he also is the soul of "Harmonica 17 Orchestra", rewarded for its performances in the last two World Championships in Trossingen.
This book is a reminder of Al Smith teaching publications (USA, beginning of the nineties : "Easy Trio & quartet Harmonica Arrangements"and "Chugger's Manual for Chord Harmonica").
If you are interested in Pierre Couteau's method,(available in French only), please contact him directly and send your order to : Pierre Couteau, residence "Baie St. Paul", 43 chemin dde la Maison Rouge, 17500 Jonzac, France.
Info : Tel : (33) 5 46 48 24 49
Price : 37 euros (mailing included) payable by international money order.
Pierre doesn't speak English so, for more information, please contact our mail box on JeanLabre.com
Photo : Book cover Published October 4th 2006
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The great Jerry Murad had said : "The definition of Pete Pedersen in my musical dictionnary is : the finest of all around harmonica player, composer/arranger in the world. Jazz, classical, pop, country, you name it, he does everything. He is the best. I ought to know, I've heard them all."
