Two of a Kind

In the organizer's words:

the paris - kassel jazz connection
Even when they are famous, jazz musicians in Paris still like to play as street musicians.
For example, trumpeter and singer Urban Beyer from Kassel heard a wonderful jazz duo when he came out of the Musée D'Orsay: soprano saxophonist Olivier Franc and his son Jean-Baptiste filled the summer evening with swinging sounds familiar from Sidney Bechet. The father had just played in New York (with Wynton Marsalis, among others), while Jean-Baptiste was crowned Stride Piano World Champion in Oxford (USA).
He combines melodic improvisation and stride piano in his playing to create his very own style, has been a guest at New York's Lincoln Center and at the "Nuits du Boogie" in Paris and has performed with Al Casey and Arvell Shaw, Louis Armstrong's bassist of many years.
His love of swinging jazz has long since transcended national borders and Urban Beyer is now finally fulfilling his long-standing wish to create a fine chamber music jazz program as a duo with Jean-Baptiste Franc.

Jean-Baptiste Franc - piano
Urban Beyer - trumpet/vocals