Biography
Born on 2 March 1970 in Paris, France, Julien Lourau took up the saxophone at eleven and rapidly applied his developing technique to rock ‘n’ roll before shifting his focus toward jazz. By fifteen he was immersed in jazz-rock fusion, drawing initial stimulus from Sidney Bechet, Steve Lacy, Stanley Turrentine and Julius Hemphill; in subsequent interviews he also named Joe Lovano and Wayne Shorter among his key influences. During those formative years he collaborated with bassist Marc Buronfosse, guitarist Noël Akchoté and drummer François Merville.
In 1990 Lourau, by then performing on tenor and soprano saxophones, formed an electric ensemble called Trash Corporation with Bosnian pianist Bojan Z.; the group, shaped by Ornette Coleman’s harmolodics, became Groove Gang in 1992 and featured trombonist Daniel Casimir and trumpeter Nicolas Genest. The band drew the attention of Henri Texier and Marc Ducret, recorded for both Label Bleu Records and Warner Brothers Records, and gained Lourau wider recognition through a two-year association with Abbey Lincoln that included an appearance on her album A Turtle’s Dream.
Although Groove Gang enjoyed seven years of success, Lourau disbanded it in 1998 to pursue other projects, notably the electro-oriented Gambit. The following year he embarked on an extended series of tours that carried him across Central and South America, Africa and Europe. Returning to Label Bleu in 2001, he reunited with Zulfikarpasic and Texier on a recording that reaffirmed his commitment to contemporary jazz; fellow musicians at the time included percussionists Mezzadri, Gustavo Ovalles and Garay, bassist Carlos Bushini, pianist Gerardo Dí Gíusto, vocalist Elvita Delgado and drummer Maxime Zampieri. Additional partnerships involved flautist Malik Mezzadri, percussionist Minino Garay, keyboardists Stéphanus Vivens and Jeff Sharel, and bassist Sylvain Daniel.
Lourau’s sources range from the blues and Latin music to folk traditions of both western and eastern Europe. In conversation he has expressed little regard for American peers Joshua Redman and James Carter, stating unequivocally that he has no desire to perform in the United States—where his recordings receive no distribution—and instead prefers audiences in Eastern Europe, Japan and South America.
In 1990 Lourau, by then performing on tenor and soprano saxophones, formed an electric ensemble called Trash Corporation with Bosnian pianist Bojan Z.; the group, shaped by Ornette Coleman’s harmolodics, became Groove Gang in 1992 and featured trombonist Daniel Casimir and trumpeter Nicolas Genest. The band drew the attention of Henri Texier and Marc Ducret, recorded for both Label Bleu Records and Warner Brothers Records, and gained Lourau wider recognition through a two-year association with Abbey Lincoln that included an appearance on her album A Turtle’s Dream.
Although Groove Gang enjoyed seven years of success, Lourau disbanded it in 1998 to pursue other projects, notably the electro-oriented Gambit. The following year he embarked on an extended series of tours that carried him across Central and South America, Africa and Europe. Returning to Label Bleu in 2001, he reunited with Zulfikarpasic and Texier on a recording that reaffirmed his commitment to contemporary jazz; fellow musicians at the time included percussionists Mezzadri, Gustavo Ovalles and Garay, bassist Carlos Bushini, pianist Gerardo Dí Gíusto, vocalist Elvita Delgado and drummer Maxime Zampieri. Additional partnerships involved flautist Malik Mezzadri, percussionist Minino Garay, keyboardists Stéphanus Vivens and Jeff Sharel, and bassist Sylvain Daniel.
Lourau’s sources range from the blues and Latin music to folk traditions of both western and eastern Europe. In conversation he has expressed little regard for American peers Joshua Redman and James Carter, stating unequivocally that he has no desire to perform in the United States—where his recordings receive no distribution—and instead prefers audiences in Eastern Europe, Japan and South America.
Albums
