Sylvia Versini
The female conductor Sylvia Versini proofs unique in the repertory of her octet. Her influences are: Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Gil Evans, Carla Bley…Among her sources of inspiration are her motherhood, creative madness, doubt and love.
Put into life by eight experienced musicians in a highly professional way, the “Sylvia Versini Octet” creates a form of jazz which merges effortlessly with the most diverse types of music, somewhere between swing, Latin rhythms, free-jazz and improvisation. Sylvia Versini’s at the same time sophisticated and spontaneous personal style is obvious in her intimate arrangements; her skills, however, to make her octet appear like a big band, are not less impressive.
Jean-Paul Ricard, artistic manager of the AJMI (Institution for jazz and improvisational music), remarks: “Sylvia has an exceptional sense of space and dynamics which gives her small ensemble the dimension of a grand orchestra.”
Her enthusiasm and optimism inspired her to produce “Broken Hearts”, the first album by her “Sylvia Versini Octet” (with the label Ajmi Séries). Proud of her Corsican, Antilles as well as Italian roots, Sylvia Versini follows the example of her grandmother Finotte who was a Creole pianist in Alexandre Stellio’s famous orchestra. Sylvia discovered the piano for herself at the age of 12. She started her jazz career together with Michel Sardaby at the age of 14.
Later she went on to study music at Academy of Monaco and the Nizza Conservatory. After 4 years of arrangement classes at the Bercovitz Music School and perfection courses in harmony with Bernard Maury, she founded her initial Paris ensembles, influenced by jazz and funk.Back to the south and with her degree as an arranger (with Ivan Julien) in the bag, she decided to establish her own formation. She has dedicated to the “Sylvia Versini Octet” since the late 1990’s.
About the music
Who has not dreamed of conducting his own compositions and making eight experienced musicians dance to his tunes? Sylvia Versini has made it! Kindred spirits with Carla Bley, she first appeared at the small intimate “Théâtre de la Porte d’Italie” in Toulon , France (a venue very suitable to jazz!) on April 9th. Dressed in black, with a single white strand in her fringe only, slim and cheerful, she took up her position in front of her group, the “Sylvia Versini Octet” and left the audience in the pretty crowded auditorium with her profile.
In a soft, yet determined way, she strikes up the slowly emerging initial piece “Dessert”, in which the wind players seem to recall the Shabada from the mid-twentieth century.While conducting, Sylvia appears like a bird in full flight. And she has reached the next title already, “Goëland ou Experience” – a highly autobiographical piece – in which the music is like caresses and still throbbing, just to pass from New Orleans to the tuneful and slip away towards free-jazz with a slight dissonance now and again. She takes a swing, works with major movements; it almost looks as if she were dancing on the stage, blended into the music and her interpreters...
The artistic concept:
Sylvia Versini proofs unique in the repertory of her octet which consists exclusively of her own compositions and is brightened up even more by the influences of Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Gil Evans and Carla Bley. The S.V.O. develops a music style full of sparkling energy, creativity and optimism.Sylvia brings life to her music by symphonic poetry; her role as a mother (in “BABYTOUT or childhood”), her very own experience (in “GOELAND”), pollution (“TRISTE PLANETE CHERIE”), creative craziness (“DESAXE”) and love (“BROKEN HEART”) are reflected in her music.
As a composer and arranger she shows a major interest in melody and sweeping rhythm (swing, Latin…), as well as in improvisational music and free-jazz.Her sophisticated and at the same time spontaneous style is most obvious in her intimate arrangements.
Her real mastery, however, is making her octet appear like a Big Band. As the conductor of the orchestra, she is tender and determined to the same amount; the many hurdles she has cleared during her project proof how difficult it still is for a woman artist to hold her ground in the male dominated jazz music. It is for sure that this competition will continue.
The orchestra:
The new ensemble consists of 8 experienced musicians who have been working with jazz big shots like Michel Petrucciani, Richard Galliano, Michel Graillier, Johnny Griffin, Stefano di Batista, Flavio Boltro, Maria Schneider, Bireli Lagrene, Antoine Hervé, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Roy Hargrove already.The S.V.O. sees itself rather like an ensemble of unique personalities playing together than as a common Big Band.
The Bandmembers:
Christophe Leloil, trumpet, bugle
Jean-Marc Baccarini, soprano saxophone
Pierre-Marie Bonafas, tenor saxophone
Bastien Ballaz, tenor trombone
Thierry Gautier, double-trombone
Claudio Celada, piano
Simon Tailleu, double-bass
Phillippe Jardin, percussion
Sylvia Versini-Campinchi, composition, arrangements, conducting
The History of the S.V.O.
August 2000 completion of a demo-CD
September 2002 foundation of the ensemble
April 2004 concert at “Théâtre de la Porte d’Italie”, Toulon, Franceconcert at the IMFP in the framework of the Salon de Provence
July 2004 concert at the festival of Fort Napoléon in Seyne sur Mer, France
November 2004 concert at the jazz meeting “Picaud” in Cannes
March 4th, 2005 concert at the AJMI; Avignon July 20th, 2005 concert at the “Lorgues au Domaine”, Estrello
Autumn 2005 publication of the CD which was recorded in the “La Buissone” studios (for the label AMJI SERIES), conducted by Jean-Paul Ricard in April 2005
November 19th, 2005 the S.V.O. is invited by PHILLIPS to a concert at the “Blue Bœuf” in Puget-Ville (Var), France
November 24th, 2005 concert at the “Maroqinérie” (XL-jazz festival) in Paris
Further Link:
Webseite Sylvia Versini Oktett
