Session chaired by : Amos Gitaï, architect and film-maker
Louis Sclavis is a clarinettist, saxophonist and jazz composer. He was born in Lyon in 1953. He began learning the clarinet at the age of ten in his local brass band, and after a few years went on to study at the Lyon Conservatoire.
In the early 1970s, he performed with theater and dance troupes in the Living Theatre and Bread and Puppet movements, and was musically inspired by groups such as Soft Machine, Sun Râ and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.
He began his professional career in 1975, working with Colette Magny in the Lyon Workshop. In 1977, he took part in the creation of ARFI, and played and recorded with the Marvelous Band, La Marmite Infernaleand others
In the early 1980s, Louis Sclavis played in Henri Texier's quartet, the Lubat company, Chris Mac Gregor's Brotherhood of Breath, with Michel Portal and European musicians such as Tony Oxley, Evan Parker, Peter Brotzman, Enrico Rava and Thomas Stanko.
In 1984, he began forming his own groups, trios, quartets and sextets, with whom he recorded for labels such as Label Bleu, ENJA, FMP and above all ECM. In 1985, he formed a trio with François Raulin and Christian Ville, which became a quartet with the arrival of Bruno Chevillon, then later a quintet with Dominique Pifarely. In 1986, he left the Lyon Workshop and ARFI. In 1988, he was awarded the Django Reinhardt prize for "best French jazz musician".
In 1989, he and his quartet were awarded first prize at the Barcelona Biennial for best European creator, and at Midem he received the 1990-1991 British Jazz Award for best foreign artist.
In 1993, he was awarded a Django d'or in the "best French jazz record of the year" category.
