Samuel Maingaud

His studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, which culminated in the Saxophone Prize with honours, gave Samuel Maingaud the benefit of a solid classical and contemporary training. The richness of the content of this training, the First prizes won in five International competitions, mixed with his taste for eclecticism, led him to discover and practice very varied musical styles such as jazz, funk, electro, traditional music, song...

With this atypical profile, in 2007 Samuel Maingaud joined one of the leading French musical comedy groups, Les DéSAXéS, with whom he created seven shows. More than 700 performances have since been given around the world: Canada, China, Russia, Slovakia, Taiwan, Brazil, Poland, Tunisia, Norway...

Samuel Maingaud has had the opportunity to collaborate with the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra (conducted by M. Shostakovich), the Orchestre de Bretagne (conducted by G. Brain), the Big Band Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the Orchestra of the CNSMDP laureates, the Zicband des frères Fanfant, Siam (co-leader and winner of the jazz competition at La Défense), the Big Hustle, Stéphane Huchard, Didier Mouret, Claude Egea, Big One Orchestra, Deldongo sextet Salsa, Guillaume Farley, Baptiste Herbin, Philippe Lavil, Manu Rocheman, Hadrien Feraud, Damien Schmitt, Sylvain Beuf, Vincent Peirani...

He has just launched his first personal project, an opus entitled Odayin, which showcases the duduk (a traditional Armenian instrument with such a singular sound) and brilliantly combines the power of folklore, the simplicity of the song and the incredible rhythm of jazz.

It can also be found in various TV shows, movies and shows: Du côté de chez Dave, Danse avec les Stars, Arturo Brachetti, La Clique, Ô Rendez-vous, Arte musique, Julie Lescaut, Orchestre des Césars, Les Yeux Ouverts (by L. Levy with C. Célarié, A. Dulery, Y. Soulier), ...

In 2013 the Aéronote studio, of which he is the director, is born. This Parisian place of musical creation, with professional and top-of-the-range equipment, regularly hosts rehearsal sessions or recordings of artists who are very prominent in the French musical landscape.

Samuel Maingaud is also one of the French specialists in EWI (electronic wind controller) and sound effects for the saxophone.

Influences: Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Tigran Hamasyan, Me'Shell Ndegéocello, Pat Metheny, Richard Bona, Lettuce, Chris Potter, Herbie Hancock, Stefano Di Battista...

Photo credit: Christophe Violland