Stéphane Cavene, percussionist, claims his Beaucairois origin and often collaborates with Beaucairois, even if he exercises at the conservatory of Avignon the profession of dance accompanist. At 46, he has been practicing music for 27 years. He remembers : “I started playing at parties, I naturally took the djembe, I grabbed it, then I came to dance.” His training and his taste for world music and jazz led him to work with Anne-Marie Porras at Epsedanse, the School of Dance Teaching in Montpellier. Then he learned the profession of musician in groups, different in many aspects from that of a dance accompanist, passed an audition in Avignon in 2007. The same year, the group he had then formed won the prize of the Public Tremplin Jazz of Porquerolles. Still a dance accompanist in Avignon, he continues to collaborate with Epsedanse.

Big names in jazz

“The circle is complete”, he finished. And no link is missing since very soon an album will be released by the group in which he plays, Take Shape, on which appear big names in jazz such as Stéphane Belmondo, Louis Winsberg and Stéphane Chausse. Charlélie Couture, himself, will intervene in the album, one more guarantee as to its quality.

The recording started 3 months ago, and Stéphane Cavene comments, amused: “Thierry Aymès, the composer, managed to bring back all this swarm of exceptional musicians.” With Thierry Aymes, also pianist, Dawoud Bounabi, bassist, Frédéric Schneider and himself on percussion, they are the core of the group, accompanied by 9 music and voice performers. He observes that they form a close-knit group, which has played and given concerts together and with many artists for a long time, and which finds itself for a new adventure as soon as they have the opportunity. He adds : “Dawoud is my musical friend, he is a really confirmed musician who for me is one of the best.” With Thierry Aymès, the composer-pianist who is also a philosopher and writer, this is not their first project and they collaborate regularly.

He describes the album as “Nordic jazz spirit, which evokes images of cinema, with many climates”. An album featuring many talents often unknown to the Beaucairois public who will be keen to discover their own stars. The name of Take Shape’s album will be unveiled soon, when its release will be announced in Free lunch.

Midi Libre correspondent: [email protected]