Sylvain Kassap
[English] [français]
A musician who combines emotion and an effervescent, unpredictable imagination, Sylvain Kassap explores music that is rich in colour and finesse, from free improvisation to contemporary, taking in ethnic influences and composition, animated by an unquenchable spirit of freedom.
"With his spirit of adventure, audacious and artistically independent, Sylvain Kassap (...) is establishing himself as a new reference point in music today."
Michel Contat - Télérama
biographie
Clarinettist, composer and arranger.
Born in 1956, he becomes professional musician in 1976 and works with Michel PORTAL (Atelier de création radiophonique de France Musique, Nuit du Jazz de Ris Orangis...).
He becomes bachelor of arts in Musicology in 1977. He plays with the Trio (John SURMAN / Barre PHILLIPS / Stu MARTIN) during the danse workshop of Carolyn Carlson in « la Chartreuse » in Villeneuve lès Avignon.
He founded with Gérard SIRACUSA the quartet « MOLTO MOBILE » in 1980, with Bernard VITET and Emmanuel JANIN.
Since 1978, he has been playing with Sam RIVERS, Evan PARKER, Louis SCLAVIS, Han BENNINK, Dominique PIFARELY, Tony HYMAS, Günter SOMMER, Anthony ORTEGA, Gianluigi TROVESI, Jacques DI DONATO, Bernard LUBAT, Steve LACY, André JAUME, François TUSQUES, Conny BAUER, Lol COXHILL, Tony COE, Aldo ROMANO, Okay TEMIZ, Eddy LOUISS, in the « Collectif ZHIVARO » (Claude BARTHÉLÉMY, Didier LEVALLET, Jacques MAHIEUX, Gérard MARAIS, Henri TEXIER) ...
He leads his owns groups : quartet, octet SKA & THE HOT SPICY SPICERS, tente LARGE ENSEMBLE.
He also plays in duo with Evan PARKER, François ROSSÉ or Jacques MAHIEUX, in the Hélène BRESCHAND trio (with Didier PETIT), and in the group LOS INCONTROLADOS.
In 1990 he formed his new sextet : Jacques VEILLÉ, Philippe DESCHEPPER (g), Claude TCHAMITCHIAN (cb), Pablo CUECO and Jacques MAHIEUX.
Apart of jazz and of improvised musics, he plays, as a soloist or in different ensembles, some pieces of G. AMY, G. APERGHIS, L. BERIO, J. CAGE, L. DALLAPÏCCOLLA, F. DONATONI, V. GLOBOKAR, M. KAGEL, K. TOCKHAUSEN, I. STRAVINSKY, T. TAKEMITSU, E. VARESE, A. WEBERN… and creates pieces of Bernard CAVANNA, Marie-Hélène FOURNIER, Jacques REBOTIER, François ROSSÉ…
Sylvain Kassap
© Muriel Valmont
As a composer, he is often requested to write music for movie, TV, theatre and dance. Marcel AZZOLA, François THUILLIER, Jean-Pierre BARAGLIOLI, les ensembles ARS NOVA, ALTERNANCE, LABORINTUS, EUTÉPÉ (l’Ensemble de Trompettes de Paris) … have commissioned him some pieces.
TEACHING :
He taught jazz (from 1983 to 1992) and clarinet (from 1991 to 1995).
Many master-classes around the improvisation.
Has recorded with :
Sam RIVERS, Okay TEMIZ, Günter SOMMER, John GREAVES, Anthony ORTEGA, Jacques MAHIEUX, Didier PETIT, l’ensemble LABORINTUS, LOS INCONTROLADOS, Ricardo DEL FRA, Eddy LOUISS, Claude BARTHELEMY, François TUSQUES, Pierre BENSUSAN, SAPHO ...
concerts
< !—>
formations
Sylvain Kassap
Sylvain Kassap Trio
Emilie Lesbros, Lead
Sylvain Darrifourcq, Drums
Sylvain Kassap Quartet
Hélène LABARRIERE, bass
Edward PERRAUD, drums/percussions
Didier PETIT, cello
The world is too small for walls
Hélène LABARRIERE, double bass
Edward PERRAUD, drums/percussions
Didier PETIT, cello
