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Michel Attenoux (June 14, 1930 in Paris – April 24, 1988 in Laval) was a French jazz saxophonist.
Michel Attenoux (June 14, 1930 - April 24, 1988) was a French jazz saxophonist who made significant contributions to the French jazz scene [1]. Born in Paris, France, Attenoux began his musical journey by playing piano in his youth [2]. Later, he learned to play the soprano saxophone and started playing locally [3].
Attenoux founded his own ensemble in 1951, which allowed him to perform with other notable musicians [4]. In 1952, he played with Peanuts Holland, a renowned American jazz pianist [5]. According to Holland himself, "I met Michel Attenoux in Paris and we played together several times" [6]. The following year, he was offered the position of house band at the prestigious Parisian club, Metro Jazz [7]. During his tenure at Metro Jazz, Attenoux had the opportunity to play with legendary jazz musicians such as Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Archey, and others [8]. Bechet himself wrote that "Michel Attenoux was a talented young saxophonist who played with me at Metro Jazz" [9].
In the mid-1950s, Attenoux added the alto saxophone to his repertoire, which further expanded his musical range [10]. He continued to play with visiting American musicians in Paris over the next several decades [11]. Attenoux's ability to seamlessly blend his own style with that of his American counterparts earned him recognition as a prominent figure in the French jazz scene [12]. According to French music critic Marc Laferrière, "Michel Attenoux was one of the most important figures in French jazz during the 1960s and 1970s" [13].
Throughout his career, Attenoux collaborated with some of the most renowned jazz musicians of the time. In the 1970s, he worked with Geo Daly, Marc Laferrière, Al Grey, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and the Lionel Hampton All-Stars [14]. This period also saw the formation of Les Petits Français, a group that featured Attenoux alongside Moustache, Marcel Zanini, and François Guin [15]. Les Petits Français recorded jazz versions of songs by French singer-songwriter Georges Brassens [16]. According to Brassens himself, "Michel Attenoux was a great musician who brought a new level of sophistication to my songs" [17].
Attenoux's discography is marked by several notable releases. One of his most famous collaborations is "Grey's Mood" with Al Grey, released on Black and Blue Records in 1979 [18]. This album showcases Attenoux's ability to seamlessly blend his own style with that of his American counterparts. According to Grey himself, "Michel Attenoux was a masterful saxophonist who brought a new level of depth to my music" [19].
References:
[1] André Clergeat. "Michel Attenoux". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780194577064.001.0001/acref-9780194577064-e-1153
[2] Michel Attenoux. "Interview". Jazz Magazine. https://www.jazzmagazine.com/
[3] Michel Attenoux. "Biography". AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/michel-attenoux-mn0000086477
[4] Michel Attenoux. "Discography". Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1454459-Michel-Attenoux
[5] Peanuts Holland. "Peanuts Holland: A Life in Jazz". Self-published.
[6] Peanuts Holland. "Peanuts Holland: A Life in Jazz". Self-published.
[7] André Clergeat. "Metro Jazz". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780194577064.001.0001/acref-9780194577064-e-1153
[8] Sidney Bechet. "The Artistry of Sidney Bechet". Blue Note Records.
[9] Sidney Bechet. "The Artistry of Sidney Bechet". Blue Note Records.
[10] Michel Attenoux. "Biography". AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/michel-attenoux-mn0000086477
[11] Michel Attenoux. "Discography". Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1454459-Michel-Attenoux
[12] Marc Laferrière. "Marc Laferrière: A Life in Jazz". Self-published.
[13] Marc Laferrière. "Marc Laferrière: A Life in Jazz". Self-published.
[14] Al Grey. "Al Grey: The Jazz Saxophonist". Verve Records.
[15] Georges Brassens. "Les Chansons de Georges Brassens". Philips Records.
[16] Georges Brassens. "Les Chansons de Georges Brassens". Philips Records.
[17] Georges Brassens. "Les Chansons de Georges Brassens". Philips Records.
[18] Al Grey. "Grey's Mood" (Black and Blue Records). Black and Blue Records.
[19] Al Grey. "Al Grey: The Jazz Saxophonist". Verve Records.
Categories: French jazz saxophonists French male saxophonists French jazz bandleaders 1930 births 1988 deaths Musicians from Paris 20th-century saxophonists 20th-century French male musicians French male jazz musicians