Émile Parisien / Vincent PeiraniAbrazo
Émile Parisien / Vincent Peirani: Abrazo
Émile Parisien (soprano saxophone), Vincent Peirani (accordion)
The duo formed by saxophonist Émile Parisien and accordionist Vincent Peirani is one of the most outstanding collaborations in contemporary European Jazz. Since they first met in 2010, their musical connection has evolved into one of the most fruitful and admired partnerships on the Jazz scene today. They have done over 1,000 concerts together, 600 of which have been in duo format, offering a robust musical chemistry that is truly unique on stage.
Their first joint album, Belle Époque (2014) was a tribute to saxophonist Sidney Bechet that led them to later perform on the most prestigious stages all over the world. This work later received many awards, including the Echo Jazz and Les Victoires du Jazz.
Six years of preparation went into their second record together, Abrazo (2020), inspired by the elegance, melancholy and power of tango. In Abrazo, the duo refashions compositions of maestros such as Astor Piazzolla, includes dazzling arrangements by artists such as Kate Bush, and also incorporates compositions of their own. The opening track, Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Cave”, establishes a subtle bridge with Belle Époque (2014), turning both albums into a suite that can be listened to consecutively and savoured as a complete musical experience.
Émile Parisien. Born in Cahors in 1982. One of the most innovative figures in French Jazz. Trained at the Toulouse Conservatory and the Jazz College in Marciac. Has collaborated with artists such as Daniel Humair, Joachim Kühn and Michel Portal. Has led projects such as the DaDaDa quartet and the Louise sextet, alongside Roberto Negro and Manu Codija. His style is informed by a blend of tradition and avant-garde, exploring new sounds and forms of expression.
Vincent Peirani. Born in Nice in 1980. Internationally recognised for his virtuosity and creativity on the accordion. Did his studies at the Paris Conservatory, and has subsequently worked with musicians such as Daniel Humair and Michel Portal and Youn Sun Nah, and also led projects such as Tandem and Living Being. His innovative approach has brought a new dimension to the language of the accordion in Jazz, fusing styles and genres with singular sensibility.
Together, Peirani and Parisien propose something that transcends cultural and stylistic borders, offering a sound experience that combines the tradition of tango with the modernity of European Jazz. The magic of Abrazo lies in the subtle interaction between the instruments and the insatiable curiosity of both musicians, who are capable of fusing Jazz, avant-garde, classical music, folklore and contemporary rhythms, with the utmost elegance and emotion. Every performance of theirs is an intimate, sophisticated and moving dialogue, in which technique and creativity are put at the service of the purest artistic expression.
