Musicians

IRAKLI

IRAKLI DE DAVRICHEWY

IRAKLI is certainly the only trumpet-player, conductor perpetuating and re-creating, Armstrong’s music as soon as he plays his trumpet. In fact, he expresses himself, improvising, at the head of his different groups in a style which is very close to that of his teacher . He managed to assimilate his spirit as well as the distribution of the musical sentences and the art of putting the right notes in the right places.
As Gérard Conte, president of " l’Association Française des Amateurs de Jazz Nouvelle Orléans " (AFAJNO) wrote : "his sentences are not copies, more or less servile, but it is not exaggerated to say that Louis might have composed them." As for Irakli, his motto is: " I interpret Armstrong like others do Chopin."

Prizes:

  • Jazz Hot 1959 (Band ant Trumpet)
  • 1st Antibes-Juan-les-Pins Festival 1960 (Trumpet)
  • 1st Coulomb’s Festival 1960 (Louisiane Prize)
  • Jazz Hot 1964 (Cup of the best solist)
  • Academie du Jazz 1972 (Prize "Futura" in quartet)

Tours in France: Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, etc
Concerts through out France and several Jazz Clubs of Paris (Caveau de la Montagne, Riverboat, Le Petit Journal St Michel, Caveau de la Huchette)
French festivals such as Nice, Nancy, Riom, Bayonne
and Foreign Festivals like Breda, Frankfort, Hambourg, Plön, Ascona, Budapest , Rome, etc…

Television: with Jean-Christophe Averty (au risque de vous plaire, Passing show, Victoria Spivey with Claude Bolling, Claude Luter). Radio Concerts: with Andre Francis (“Riverboat Parade”, “Jazz sur scene”, “Jazz Irakli”), and several broadcasts with Jean-Christophe Averty.

Irakli has befriended on stage or in studio with:
  • Barney Bigard
  • Vic Dickenson
  • Arvell Shaw
  • Sam Woodyard
  • Dizzy Gillespie
  • Gus Johnson
  • Lionel Hampton
  • Mezz Mezzrow
  • Cozy Cole
  • Buddy Tate
  • Joe Turner
  • Ralph Sutton
  • Buck Clayton
  • Doc Cheatam
  • Trummy Young
  • Milt Buckner
  • Claude Bolling
  • Moustache
  • Claude Luter
  • Joe Newman and many others...

MUSICIaNS

ALAIN MARQUET (clarinet)

Outstanding technician of the clarinet, exceptional musician, born swingman, he develops his ideas clearly in the manner of the great clarinet-players of Armstrong during the all stars period. His interventions are always serving the orchestra and his very brilliant solos dynamise the musicians.

JEAN-CLAUDE ONESTA (trombone)

Eclectic musician (he loves swing as well as salsa and variety music), he is one of the rare trombonist in France to be able to play Jack Teagarden’s style with a mixture of Trummy Young. He is the second complementary voice of Irakli.

JACQUES SCHNECK (piano)

Eclectic music lover (he loves Jelly Roll Morton as well as Bud Powell) and much sought-after accompanist (Paris swing Orchestra, Daniel Huck, Patrick Artero), he is first influenced by Teddy Wilson and now plays at the head of his jazz trio a more modern jazz.

PHILIPPE PLETAN (bass)

First of all tuba player then bass player with Marc Laferriere, conductor (les Globe Trotters), he devotes himself essentially to the double bass swing in the style of Arvell Shaw which corresponds perfectly to music of the Louis Ambassadors.

SYLVAIN GLEVAREC (drums)

Drummer with a remarkable and stylish swing, faithful to the sound of the forties, he particularly affectionates the very brilliant and visual drum solos as well as a sober and musical accompaniment following in the steps of his masters : Gene Krupa, Papa Jo Jones, Sydney Catlett.

Back to top