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Sylvain Luc

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Sylvain Luc was a French jazz guitarist, born in 1965 in Bayonne, the youngest of three brothers. His brothers played at dances, and he went along with them from a very young age. He also played cello, violin and mandolin. The conservatoire in Bayonne had no guitar lessons, so he chose the cello. That gave him strength in his fingers, he said later. At nine he played on a record by his brothers for the first time. At fifteen he founded the Bulle Quintet, which was a prizewinner at the San Sebastián festival in 1982.

Music and breakthrough

In 1988 he settled in Paris, where he became an arranger, composer and accompanist for, among others, Catherine Lara and Michel Jonasz, and bass player in the trio of Richard Galliano. In 1999 he founded Trio Sud with André Ceccarelli and Jean-Marc Jafet, which in 2003 won a French jazz prize as best group. Later he played in quartets with Didier Lockwood, Victor Bailey and Billy Cobham, and in 2009 he toured with Steve Gadd and Richard Bona. He also collaborated with Al Jarreau, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Michel Legrand. His best-known records are the two duo albums with Biréli Lagrène. He died in 2024.

Influence

Luc loved the duet and seldom performed at large festivals. He played virtuosically and melodically, with a great feeling for playing together with another guitarist.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a duo recording by Sylvain Luc with Biréli Lagrène and notice how the two guitars take over each other's lines, so that at times you can no longer hear who is playing the melody.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists