Laurent Mignard biography

Band leader, trumpeter, composer

Born in 1965, Laurent Mignard had a varied musical training and got involved in most of the styles of the jazz. In 1998, he put the bases of a written and free music, beyond the styles, and makes a success of the fusion between a jazz trio and a cello quartet (album Face a Face 1998).

From 2002, he extended his researches with a Pocket Quartet and proposed an original esthetics fed by the influences of Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry and Duke Ellington (albums Suites, Alter Tropicus and Good News).

  • Revelation 2005 festival Jazz à Juan, 1st price jazz instrumental
  • Laureate of the jazz Competition La Defense 2002

Since 2003, he has been leading the Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra, a dream team of 15 musicians, at the heart of exceptional repertoire of Duke Ellington. The more it’s played the hotter it gets! That’s why Laurent Mignard and Paul Bessone (label Juste une Trace) waited until 2009 to record and release Duke Ellington is Alive. This first little jewel went on to be acclaimed by the the « Duke Ellington Music Society » and awarded the “The Hot Club de France’s” Grand Prize the following year. In 2011 came Battle Royal, in partnership with the famous “Festival Jazz à Vienne” and Ellington French Touch, dedicated to relations between Duke Ellington and France. The press acclaims these projects. It followed that three concerts have been broadcast on the French TV TF1 and Mezzo. As for Paul Bessone, he granted license rights to Sony Music to enable the fame of the orchestra to spread throughout the world with «Ellington French Touch».

To celebrate the 40’th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s heritage, Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra and Mercedes Ellington presented the Duke Ellington Sacred Concert on October 1st, 2014 in the church of Madeleine – Paris. More than 1.200 people were united in the same fervor by the dream-team of the Duke Orchestra, Mercedes Ellington, the vocalists Emmanuel Pi Djob, Nicolle Rochelle and Sylvia Howard, the tap dancer Fabien Ruiz and more than 120 chorists. Then show toured in french cathedrals in 2015.

In 2018, Laurent Mignard presented Jazzy Poppins, a musical live show in French based on « Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins » by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The original album featured arrangements of songs from the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins. Since this program was never staged, an tremendous live show has been produced by Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra, considered as the best ellingtonian ambassador. This “Jazzy Poppins” may reach a wide audience, from neophytes to jazz fans, as an opportunity to (re)discover an exceptional and timeless work. « Fabulous! » (Mercedes Ellington).

In 2021 and 2022, Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra pays tribute to women with Duke Ladies vol.1 & vol.2. The orchestra’s jazzwomen (Aurélie Tropez and Julie Saury) welcome eight invited artists including Natalie Dessay, Rhoda Scott and Roberta Gambarini. Once again, the press acclaims this new project.

As a composer, Laurent Mignard is inspired by Ellington, Ornette Coleman, Debussy, Dutilleux, Takemitsu in search of the balance between serenity and surprise, beyond the traditional tonal laws.

He is the current chairman of La Maison du Duke (Duke’s Place in Paris) in order to federate all the Duke’s fans and experts. He provides training at the Institut des Métiers de la Musique, gives lectures on the theme of leadership (Duke Ellington Attitude – Orchestrating Talent) and defends the jazz in Grand Ensemble with the federation Grands Formats.

Stage references : Radio France, festival Jazz à Vienne, Shanghai Spring festival, Opera Bejing, festival Liban Jazz Beirut, Guiness Jazz festival (Cork-Irland), Tournai Jazz (Belgium), Jazz sous les Pommiers … théâtre du Châtelet, Olympia Paris, french cathedrals (Saint Sulpice, La Madeleine …), Opéra Limoges, Fondation Maeght … TF1, France 2, France 3, Mezzo, France Inter, France Musique, France Info, TSF jazz …

 

Discography

2022 – DUKE LADIES VOL.2 – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra (CD)
Sélection LE MONDE 
LAURENT MIGNARD DUKE ORCHESTRA : Aurélie Tropez (alto sax, clarinet), Julie Saury (drums), Didier Desbois (altos ax), Frédéric Couderc (tenor sax, flute), Olivier Defays (tenor sax), Philippe Chagne (baritone sax, bass clarinett, Claude Égéa, Malo Mazurié, Jérôme Etcheberry, Richard Blanchet (trumpets), Nicolas Grymonprez , Michaël Ballue, Jerry Edwards (trombones), Philippe Milanta (piano), Bruno Rousselet (bass), Laurent Mignard (conducting).
GUESTS : Natalie Dessay (vocal), Rhoda Scott (orgue hammond), Roberta Gambarini (vocal), Nicolle Rochelle (vocal), Myra Maud (vocal), Sylvia Howard (vocal), Aurore Voilqué (violin), Sylvain Gontard (flugelhorn), Carl Schlosser (tenor sax)
Juste Une Trace – AMOC 206470292758

2021 – DUKE LADIES VOL.1 – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra (CD)
CHOC Jazz Magazine – prix ACADÉMIE DU JAZZ – prix HOT CLUB DE FRANCE – sélection FIP
LAURENT MIGNARD DUKE ORCHESTRA : Aurélie Tropez (alto sax, clarinet), Julie Saury (drums), Didier Desbois (alto sax), Frédéric Couderc (tenor sax, flute), Olivier Defays (tenor sax), Philippe Chagne (baritone sax, bass clarinett, Claude Égéa, Malo Mazurié, Jérôme Etcheberry, Richard Blanchet (trumpets),Nicolas Grymonprez , Michaël Ballue, Jerry Edwards (trombones), Philippe Milanta (piano), Bruno Rousselet (bass), Laurent Mignard (conducting).
GUESTS : Natalie Dessay (vocal), Rhoda Scott (orgue hammond), Roberta Gambarini (vocal), Nicolle Rochelle (vocal), Myra Maud (vocal), Sylvia Howard (vocal), Aurore Voilqué (violin), Rachelle Plas (harmonica), Carl Schlosser (tenor sax)
Juste Une Trace – AMOC640814636191

2018 – JAZZY POPPINS – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra (CD)
Sophie Kaufmann (vocal), Didier Desbois (alto sax), Aurélie Tropez (alto sax, clarinet solo), Fred Couderc (tenor sax, flute, clarinet), Carl Schlosser (tenor sax), Philippe Chagne (baritone sax, bass clarinetà, Claude Egéa, Gilles Relisieux, Jérôme Etcheberry, Richard Blanchet (trumpets), Nicolas Grymonprez, Michaël Ballue, Jerry Edwards (trombones), Philippe Milanta (piano), Bruno Rousselet (basse), Julie Saury (drums), Laurent Mignard (conducting)
Recorded at Pan Piper (Paris), January 7, 2018 – Juste une Trace

2015 – DUKE ELLINGTON SACRED CONCERT – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra (CD + DVD)
Prix du Jury Hot Club de France, Sélection FIP
Mercedes Ellington (recit), Emmanuel Pi Djob (voc), Nicolle Rochelle (voc), Sylvia Howard (voc), Fabien Ruiz (tap dance), Didier Desbois (as,cl), Aurelie Tropez (as, cl), Olivier Defays (ts), Carl Schlosser (ts), Philippe Chagne (bar, bcl), Claude Egéa (tp), Sylvain Gontard (tp), Jérôme Etcheberry (tp), Richard Blanchet (tp), Fidel Fourneyron (tb), Mikael Ballue (tb), Jerry Edwards (tb), Philippe Milanta (p), Bruno Rousselet (cb), Julie Saury (dm), Laurent Mignard (cond), Les Voix en Mouvement, dir. M. Podolak, Choeur Gospel Attitude, Choeur White Spirit, Choeur La Celle St Cloud, Choeur de Sage
Live en l’église de La Madeleine le 1er octobre 2014 – Juste une Trace – AM 2015002

 

2012 – ELLINGTON FRENCH TOUCH – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra (CD)
Choc de l’année 2012 Jazz Magazine / Jazzman
Didier Desbois (as), Aurelie Tropez (as, cl), Fred Couderc (ts,fl), Nicolas Montier (ts), Philippe Chagne (bs), François Biensan (tp), Franck Delpeut (tp), Richard Blanchet (tp), Franck Guicherd (tp), Jean-Louis Damant (tb), Fidel Fourneyron (tb), Guy Arbion (tb), Philippe Milanta (p), Bruno Rousselet (cb), Julie Saury (dms), Laurent Mignard (cond)
Live à Clamart le 27 décembre 2011 – Juste une trace, Columbia / Sony Music – LC 88691952912

 

2012 – BATTLE ROYAL – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra et Michel Pastre Big Band (CD)
LAURENT MIGNARD DUKE ORCHESTRA : Didier Desbois (as), Aurelie Tropez (as, cl), Fred Couderc (ts,fl), Nicolas Montier (ts), Philippe Chagne (bs), François Biensan (tp), Franck Delpeut (tp), Richard Blanchet (tp), Franck Guicherd (tp), Jean-Louis Damant (tb), Fidel Fourneyron (tb), Guy Arbion (tb), Philippe Milanta (p), Bruno Rousselet (cb), Julie Saury (dms), Laurent Mignard (dir) MICHEL PASTRE BIG BAND : Luigi Grasso (as), Nicolas Dary (as, fl, cl), Michel Pastre (ts, dir), Philippe Pilon (ts), Jean-François Devèze (bs), Lorenz Rainer (tp), Guy Bodet (tp), Fabien Mary (tp), Jérôme Etcheberry (tp), Guy Figlionlos (tb), Patrick Bacqueville (tb), Jerry Edwards (tb), Pierre Christophe (p), Raphael Dever (cb), Enzo Mucci (g), François Laudet (dms) INVITÉ : Marc Thomas (voc)
Live au festival Jazz à Vienne, 5 juillet 2011 – Juste une Trace, Columbia / Sony Music – 88725430462
2011 – GOOD NEWS – Laurent Mignard Pocket Quartet (CD)
Laurent Mignard (pocket tp), Geoffrey Secco (ts, ss), Eric Jacot (cb), Luc Isenmann (dm)
Juste une trace – AMOC 85081462019
2010 – ORNETTE – DOLPHY, TRIBUTE CONSEQUENCES – Mico Nissim sextet (CD)
Géraldine Laurent (as), Stéphane Guillaume (fl, cl b), Laurent Mignard (tp), Mico Nissim (p, arr), Jean Luc Ponthieux (cb), Mourad Benhammou (dm)
Cristal Records 
2009 – DUKE ELLINGTON IS ALIVE – Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra (CD)
Grand Prix du Hot Club de France
Didier Desbois (as, cl), Aurelie Tropez (as, cl solo), Nicolas Montier (ts), Christophe Allemand (ts, cl), Philippe Chagne (bs, cl), Franck Delpeut (tp), Franck Guicherd (tp), François Biensan (tp), Richard Blanchet (tp), Jean-Louis Damant (tb), Guy Figlionlos (tb), Guy Arbion (btb), Philippe Milanta (p), Bruno Rousselet (cb), Julie Saury (dm), Laurent Mignard (dir), Patrick Bacqueville (voc)
Live à Versailles et Maisons-Laffitte les 7 et 16 janvier 2009 – Juste une trace – AMOC 305369175646
2004 – ALTER TROPICUS – Laurent Mignard Pocket Quartet (CD)
Sélection FIP, disque d’émoi Jazz Magazine
Laurent Mignard (pocket tp), Sylvain Rifflet (ts, b-cl, fl), Eric Jacot (cb), Sylvain Clavier (dm)
Juste une trace – AMOC 012004
2002 – SUITES – Laurent Mignard Pocket Quartet (CD)
Laurent Mignard (pocket tp), Sylvain Rifflet (ts, b-cl, fl), Eric Jacot (cb), Sylvain Clavier (dm)
Juste une trace – AMOC 032002
1988 – FACE A FACE – Jazz trio et quatuor de violoncelles (CD)
Laurent Mignard (tp), Olivier Sens (cb), Peter Perfido (dm), Paul Broutin, Chahan Dinanian, Carlos Beyris et Jean Taverne (vc)
Juste une Trace – AMOC 9805
1987 – LIVE AT STIL – Indigo
Stil

Sources

Philippe Carles, André Clergeat, Jean-Louis Comolli: Nouveau dictionnaire du jazz. Paris 2011; (ISBN 9782221-115923)

Références

  1. Presse album Face à Face,  
  2. Presse LMDO Saint Sulpice,
  3. Nouvel Obs LMDO Suites, 
  4. Presse LMDO Beyrouth
  5. Presse LMDO Cork,
  6. Presse LMDO Jazz a Vienne,
  7. Grand prix du Hot Club de France 2009 – hot-club.asso.fr, 2009
  8. Presse album « Duke Ellington is alive,
  9. chronique album « Duke Ellington is Alive, sur http://www.depanorama.net,
  10. Presse Caval’air Jazz Festival,
  11. Presse LMDO et Rhoda Scott aux 24 heures du Swing
  12. Presse portraits Laurent Mignard,
  13. Presse allée Duke Ellington à Limoges,
  14. Presse concert à l’Alhambra
  15. Jazz mag LMDO au Collège des Bernardins
  16. Presse Jazz à Vienne – Battle Royal,
  17. Jazz à Vienne France Inter Sacred Concert – franceinter.fr, 2011
  18. Presse album Battle Royal,
  19. Presse album Ellington French Touch,
  20. Presse Duke Orchestra à l’Européen,
  21. ournée en Chine, sur http://french.china.org.cn,
  22. Le Monde – Sacred Concert à Saint Sulpice, sur http://www.lemonde.fr,
  23. Presse Sacred Concert La Madeleine,
  24. Presse album Sacred Concert, sur http://laurent-mignard.com,
  25. Presse Le grand blond et la musique noire, sur http://laurent-mignard.com,
  26. JT France 2 – Le Duke Orchestra part en tournée, sur http://www.francetvinfo.fr, juin 2015
  27. Jazz Magazine – chronique du Sacred Concert à Toulouse, sur http://www.jazzmagazine.com,
  28. Presse – le tour des cathédrales, sur http://laurent-mignard.com,
  29. Presse – Battle Royal à Jazz au fil de l’Oise, sur http://www.gazettevaldoise.fr,
  30. Presse – 60 ans de l’académie du jazz – Théatre du Chatelet, sur http://www.journal-laterrasse.fr,
  31. Soirée Tchendukua au théâtre du Gymnase, sur https://www.evensi.fr,