Pierre Bertrand
Saxophonist, flutist, renowned teacher, but also composer, conductor, arranger, author of film music or founder of a Big Band, Pierre Bertrand unrolls an impressive résumé and envelops you in each of his appearances on stage in his colorful, bewitching and unexpected jazz.
After studying at CNR of Nice, and at National Superior Music Conservatory of Paris (CNSM), Pierre Bertrand creates the Paris Jazz Big Band with Nicolas Folmer in 1998. Since then, he co-leads the band and its music writing repertory. With this orchestra, he won the Jazz Award Victoire du Jazz : prix Franck Ténot and the Django d’Or (advanced artist category). Since 2006, he has been leading the NJO (Nice Jazz Orchestra), which brings together the best soloists of the azurian jazz.
Pierre Bertrand works as conductor for many events, TV and music shows, or studio recording sessions. He is invited as conductor in many countries (Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Denmark…). Nowadays, he mainly works as a music composer. He signed many orchestral arrangements for Claude Nougaro, Charles Aznavour, Michel Fugain, Pascal Obispo, Maurane and also André Ceccarelli, Jean-Pierre Como, Diego Imbert.
Since 2006, he signed movies’ musics, and has has collaborated with directors such as Jacques Fansten, Emmanuel Salinger, Marc Dugain, Philippe le Guay… He recorded his first soloist album Caja Negra in 2010, with the collaboration of 4 jazzmen and well-known musicians from the traditional flamenco scene. After a South American tour, a very special and magical alchemy happened within the group Caja Negra. From a simple musicians’ meeting, they turned into an amazing band. Joy, the second opus of Pierre Bertrand & Caja Negra, was released in September 2016 (Cristal Records/ Harmonia Mundi) and won the Jazz Award Victoire du Jazz : album inclassable de l’année (advanced artist category). His third album Far East Suite, from Duke Ellington’s work, has been released in November 2018, and has been touring in France, Mexico, Colombia, Canada in 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, Pierre Bertrand creates the project Paris-Riga, 1919-2019 for the Latvian Radio Big Band. The project is performed both in France and Latvia. A new project Colors, with the Swedish trumpeter Anders Bergcrantz and the painter Jean-Antoine Hierro will be released in 2020.
Photo credits: Isabelle Jarre - Patrick Martineau - Bruno Tocaben.
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