Song:Lucilla's Dream
Album:Gregoire Maret
The harmonica is not an instrument that most music fans would associate with jazz. Probably the best known jazz harmonica player is Toots Thielemans who is still going strong at age 93. Gregoire Maret is following in Thielemans' footsteps. Maret is mainly a sideman but he has released a couple of CDs. He was born May 13, 1975 in Geneva, Switzerland. After graduating from the Geneva conservatory, Maret moved to New York and studied at New School University. In 1999 he started working as a sideman for Jacky Terrasson, Jimmy Scott, Kurt Elling, Marcus Miller and many others. He toured with Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock. He released the 2007 CD Scenarios with pianist Andy Milne. The 2012 CD Gregoire Maret was released on eOne Music. Among the guest artists are Toots Thielemans, Cassandra Wilson, Raul Midon, bassist Marcus Miller and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. His basic band on the album is Federico Gonzalez Pena on piano, James Genus on bass and Clarence Penn on drums. For his touring band, Genus was replaced by Reggie Washington. While Maret continues to work as a sideman for Dianne Reeves and Luciana Souza, he signed a new deal with Sunnyside Records. The CD Wanted was released last week. Guest artists include Mark Kibble of Take 6, Chris Potter, Ivan Lins and Jimmy Scott. Maret was the subject of the 2003 documentary Sideman. I didn't see any tour dates on his website. But I expect him to tour this summer's jazz festival circuit. Check him out if he's coming your way. Here's Gregoire Maret with Federico Gonzalez Pena on piano, Reggie Washington on bass and Clarence Penn on drums performing Lucilla's Dream Jan. 23, 2011 in Switzerland.
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