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 Boulou Ferré
Boulou Ferré was born in Paris on the 24th of April 1951 and has gypsy origin. He started his musical studies at the age of seven with his father, Pierre Matelot Ferré, one of the main musicians of Django Reinhardt's and Stéphane Grappelli's Quintette du Hot Club de France. Along with the study of jazz guitar he starts to study classical guitar with Francisco Gil and gives a first concert at the Guimet Museum at the age of eight.
With Barclay he records a first album at the age of twelve. In 1964 he plays during the first part of John Coltrane's concert at the Jazz festival of Juan les Pins. A third album Boulou & les Paris All Stars, is recorded for Barclay with several other musicians such as Pierre Michelot, Eddy Louiss and Kenny Clarke. This album was an homage to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and obtained 4 stars from Down Beat Magazine.
Boulou studies harmony and composition with the french organist and composer Olivier Messiaen, and participates in a wide range of musical experiences and plays with several musicians such as Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke, Warne Marsh, Philly Joe Jones, Chet Baker, Stéphane Grappelli… He also composes music for movies and for television programs.
In 1978 he creates the Boulou & Elios Ferré Duo.
Discography
Leader:
- Bluesette, Barclay, 1964
- C'est si bon, Barclay, 1964
- Jazz/Left Bank (avec les Paris All Stars), Barclay, 1965
- Boulou & les Paris All Stars, Barclay, 1966
- Boulou & The Corporation Gypsy Orchestra, Barclay, 1974
- Pour Django, Steeplechase, 1979
- Gypsy Dreams, Steeplechase, 1980
- Trinity (avec NHOP), Steeplechase, 1983
- Relax and Enjoy (avec Jesper Lundgaard & Ed Thigpen), Steeplechase, 1985
- Nuages (avec Jesper Lundgaard), Steeplechase, 1986
- Confirmation (avec Jesper Lundgaard & Ed Thigpen), Steeplechase, 1989
- Guitar Legacy, Steeplechase, 1991
- New York, N.Y. (avec George Cables, Jay Anderson & Billy Hart), Steeplechase, 1997
- Intersection (avec Alain Jean-Marie), Frémeaux/La Lichère, 2002
- The Rainbow of Life (avec Alain Jean-Marie & Gilles Naturel), Bee Jazz, 2003
Participations:
- Avec Gunter Hampel, Espace, Birth, 1970
- Avec Emergency (Glenn Spearman, Takashi Kako, Bob Reid, Sabu Toyozumi), Homage to Peace, America Records, 1973
- Bob Reid presents : The Best of Emergency, Kwela Records, 1976
- Avec Steve Lacy, Dreams, Saravah, 1976
- Avec Matelo Ferré, Tziganskaïa, Vogue, 1978 (rééd. Hot Club Records, 1988)
- Avec Christian Escoudé & Babik Reinhardt, Three of a Kind, JMS, 1985
 Elios Ferré
Elios Ferré was born in Paris on the 18th December 1956 and has gypsy origin. He started studying jazz guitar at the age of six with his father, Pierre Matelot Ferré, and the flamenco style and repertoire with Francisco Gil. He records a first album in 1970 for Barclay. He studies harmony and composition with Pierre Lantier (composer and Prix de Rome) and participates in several musical experiences. He also creates music for movies and for the television and plays with musicians such as Al Levitt, Larry Coryell, Raymond Le Sénéchal, Ed Thigpen…
Discography
- Boulou & The Corporation Gypsy Orchestra, Barclay, 1974
- Pour Django, Steeplechase, 1979
- Gypsy Dreams, Steeplechase, 1980
- Trinity (avec NHOP), Steeplechase, 1983
- Relax and Enjoy (avec Jesper Lundgaard & Ed Thigpen), Steeplechase, 1985
- Nuages (avec Jesper Lundgaard), Steeplechase, 1986
- Confirmation (avec Jesper Lundgaard & Ed Thigpen), Steeplechase, 1989
- Guitar Legacy, Steeplechase, 1991
- New York, N.Y. (avec George Cables, Jay Anderson & Billy Hart), Steeplechase, 1997
- Intersection (avec Alain Jean-Marie), Frémeaux/La Lichère, 2002
- The Rainbow of Life (avec Alain Jean-Marie & Gilles Naturel), Bee Jazz, 2003
Boulou & Elios Ferré played as a duo, trio, quartet, or quintet in France, Spain, England, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Canada, United States, South America, East Africa, Australia and in Asia. They participated in several Jazz Festivals, including Nice, Juan les Pins, the Printemps de Bourges, Montréal, Québec, Martinic's Carrefour Mondial de la Guitare, Edinburgh, Seville, Caracas Guitar Festival, Mexico Guitar Festival, Florence, Oslo…
Boulou and Elios Ferre - by Mark Strutt
The sons of the Manouche gypsy guitarist Pierre Matelot Ferret, who appeared on a few of Djangos recordings, Boulou and Elios Ferre bring gypsy swing into the modern era. They have upset the polite and pleasant mood of many a posh restaurant with the power and inventiveness of their playing. But those who expect to hear the familiar swing rhythms of the standard gypsy combos can leave bemused and disorientated. Boulou and Elios have largely abandoned the "boom chick" rhythms traditionally associated with gypsy jazz. They are no easy listening. They play gypsy jazz but from the other side of the fence. You have to bend you ear to hear where they are coming from.
It is however, worth the effort. The frightening power of Django's Rhythm Futur is awesome. And Douce Ambience swings with a gentle dissonance not normally associated with this tune.
Both Boulou and Elios have played guitar since early childhood (of course!). Boulou was transcribing Charlie Parker solos at the age of seven. He did his first "gig" at the Musee Guirnet in Paris a year later, and made his first record at the age of ten. In 1963, at the ripe old age of eleven, he enrolled in the Conservatoire National in Paris. This shows, not only through a strong classical influence in his music, but also through a considered restraint. He rarely plays fast. His technique is so far beyond flashy showmanship that speed never enters the equation. Instead we are treated to a unique and thoughtful blend of discord and harmony.
Elios, like his brother, studied guitar with his father, but initially chose a different direction, becoming an accomplished flamenco player. Later at the age of fifteen being urged into Jazz by his older brother. He can still be heard, on occasion, playing fine flamenco guitar, but normally supplies the chordwork and bass lines that compliment his brothers playing, only occasionally taking the lead.
Despite the variety of musical influences, the Ferre brothers music could never be called eclectic.
The rich musical traditions of the Manouche people have always been evident, at the heart of their playing. If you're extremely lucky and have a few bob to spare, you might catch them playing at one of the more exclusive restaurants in Paris, or to the petit bourgoisie in the upmarket resort towns in the South of France.
>>> more on the Ferré Brothers...
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