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By ucombo, August 30, 2009 8:20 pm

Began his career at the age of 14 in the clubs of the south of France,
French R&B/Jazz musician Pierre Sibille is releasing his first CD in North America, entitled “Since I Ain’t Got You.”  Ucombo Music Reviews editor Meg Dilts had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview him this week.

Meg: We’ve had the pleasure listening to the 3 tracks on your newest release “Since I Ain’t Got You”. I’m very much impressed by your natural singing tone which must be essential to a great jazz singer. We heard that you are not only a singer, but also a pianist, a composer, and a harmonica player. This is unusual, can you tell us how you got your start in every aspect?

Pierre: I have played the Harmonica ever since my mother found out that it was a nice way to stop me from crying when I was a baby.  I have had a harmonica with me  ever since.  Then I started to play the piano at the age of 6.  I wanted to play the Blues, I was fascinated by Ray Charles, Memphis Slim, Nina Simone. . .  I started to learned Classical music but I always wanted to reach the feeling that I had when I was listening to the Blues.  Even if I couldn’t  understand a word, I was still catching the essence.  Composing just became a natural way to reach that same feeling.

Meg: You got your start at 14 in the clubs of the south of France, what was it like to start a career at such a young age?

Pierre: Yes, at 14 it was in a couple of little concerts with friends . . . but I started to like the idea to practice a song, build an ambiance and perform. At the age of 15 I met a great American pianist-singer, Randy Bettis.  I started to play the harmonica with him, he taught me all the left hands – the  basslines.  He also made me listen to different kinds of Blues.  We were playing one or two times a week.  At the age of 16 I was able to play piano solos with the harmonica, like Bob Dylan.  I started to play every time that I could. My parents or my girlfriend, had to drop me at the clubs because I didn’t have my driver license yet.

Meg: Who do you consider to be the most influential musicians in your musical style?

Pierre: Ray Charles is my first influence.  His music is rich, the feeling is great and he’s a great performer. I ‘m also impressed by the way that Bob Dylan and Tom Waitts compose.  They know how to reach perfection and how to tell great stories.  Donny Hathaway and Curtis Mayfield showed me another aspect of soul music.

Meg: This is your first North American CD release, could you tell us about the inspiration and story behind making this wonderful new project?

Pierre: I was playing and booking in the legendary jazz club LE BILBOQUET in St-Germain-des-Prés.  I met a lot of American musicians.  They all told me that I should go to the United States.  One day I met Bill Ecker from MUSIC AND OPERA AUTOGRAPHS, he told me that If I go to New York City he would introduce me to some people that he knows in the music industry.  I was already working on this album (it took me 3 years to finish it) and I thought that it was time for me to go to the United States.

Each song in this album is based on personal stories.

Meg: On “Since I Ain’t Got You”, the contribution of the American brass
section, both catchy and caressing, is a definite plus. How did you decide to incorporate that into your new release?

Pierre: I have used the brass section on “Your smile.”  I felt that this song needed some Latin riffs.  I  have been working since 1996 with a great saxophone player, composer and arranger: Jon Handelsman, a New Yorker who lives in Paris.  I knew that he was the perfect guy for that song.  He did the arrangements of the brass section. He called, Pierre Chabrèle to record the trombone.

Meg: Unlike many other jazz singers and pianists, you do not confine yourself in jazz, your musical identity keeps on growing in different musical genres. Other than R&B, blues, what other genres are you or will you be interested in?

Pierre: I love music in general.  Mostly R&B, blues and soul but also funk, reggae, jazz and folk.

I think that no matter what style of music you play, It’s your personality that going to reflect most than just “a style”.

Today I’m working on a new project  with a great Drummer-singer from Brooklyn:  Moses Patrou http://www.myspace.com/cozymose
It’s a mix between New Orleans blues and funk.  We will be on tour in France in September.

Meg: It’s been our pleasure listening to your songs and thank you for agreeing to let us interview you. Look forward to hearing more music from you and the best of luck to your new release.

Pierre Sibille is represented by the Redwood Entertainment, Inc. in North
America.