News

Moncef Genoud Trio – new album “Small Stories”

Following Introspection, his third solo effort released earlier in 2023, Moncef Genoud returns in trio formation with Small Stories, a collection of tunes of his own composition that he and bandmates Tim Verdesca (bass) and Cyril Regamey (drums) crafted at his Geneva studio. Polished and released by Rollin’ Dice Productions, his trusted Los Angeles-label of 18+ years, the result is a purposely contemporary album, with a sound that oscillates between recent works by Avishai Cohen and Robert Glasper (without the latter’s obvious hip-hop flair), notably on “Zumbador” and “Waltz for Juju,” which repeats as a bonus track in the form of a one-man band edit where Moncef channels his own poly-instrumentalist. Between Verdesca’s skillful electric bass lines, Regamey’s precise yet funky time-keeping, and the Moog synth leads infused by Genoud on select tracks, this version of his trio sounds resolutely hip. A fresh record just in time for a hot summer ahead.

“Introspection,” a new album by Moncef!

Today marks the release of Moncef Genoud’s new album titled “Introspection” in digital format. While the pandemic was paralyzing the music world, Moncef didn’t remain idle. At his chalet in the Swiss Alps, he carried out an “introspection” over this time period where daily life was seemingly interrupted. In September 2022 he celebrated his return to the stage with a solo concert part of the famed Crans-Montana Classics. The album that resulted is the fruit of a deep, intimate reflection on his Covid years. More than ever, Moncef is eager to share his inner world, both intense and melancholic, with his listeners. He remains truthful to his ability to combine his own creations with rearrangements of classic songs. He brilliantly succeeds in this endeavor simply because he doesn’t try to transform or reinterpret these original works. Instead, he shares the emotions and perceptions to which they give rise within him, like a prism decomposes light that goes through it into a spectrum of colors. Following Crans-Montana, Moncef captivated live audiences in Monaco and Geneva with the content of this new record. You can check out snippets of it on the “Music” section of this site and download or stream the full album on all your favorite platforms. Happy listening!

Moncef releases new solo album!

Moncef and his team at Rollin’ Dice Productions are proud to announce a new solo album, Concert de Valère. Recorded in October 2018 at Théâtre de Valère in Sion, Switzerland, the album is available for download on all digital platforms including CD Baby and in CD format on Japanese label Muzak. You can hear snippets of the new record on this site’s Music page. The album will also be part of the music selection on all ANA flights from and into Japan this fall. If you enjoy Moncef’s music, we encourage you to download, stream, and share it on your social media platforms! Facebook users can like his Official Page. Earlier this year, Moncef performed at multiple venues in Switzerland, France, and his native Tunisia. You can catch him in quintet in Onex (Geneva) on October 17th. More details in the Tours section. Finally, all 16 of Moncef’s albums as a leader are now on SoundCloud. You can access the playlists on this site’s Music page. Happy listening!

New album “Walk With Me” released today!

Moncef is proud to announce the release of Walk With Me, his 14th studio album! The piano & double bass album is a collaboration between Moncef and long-time friend Ivor Malherbe. It was recorded in Geneva, Switzerland, and produced by Moncef and C.Chill, his producer of 13 years at Los Angeles-based Rollin’ Dice Productions. It comprises five original compositions and four covers, such as Guy Wood’s “My One And Only Love” and “Jitterbug Waltz” by Fats Waller, one of the first Jazz artists that a young Moncef discovered through his father. The chemistry between the two musicians is obvious, and together they create beautiful music with a range of emotions worthy of today’s best Jazz improvisation artists. You can listen to snippets of the album in the “Music” section of this site and get it in CD format or download and stream on all major digital platforms (iTunes/Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, etc). You can like and comment on the new music here or on Moncef’s official Facebook page (link in the “Media” section). And for those in Switzerland, catch Moncef and Ivor live in concert on Saturday, Nov. 11th at AMR in Geneva!

Live solo piano album released today!!

Live in Cully, Moncef’s first ever solo album, is out now! Recorded live on the opening night of the 2015 Cully Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the album features 9 superb tracks, including gripping arrangements of famous Jazz standards and Pop tunes, along with a gorgeous opening improvisation. Whether or not you were in the attendance that night, relive the emotion of Moncef’s  sold-out solo concert. Moncef and C.Chill, his long-time producer and manager at Rollin’ Dice Productions, would like to thank the staff of the Cully Jazz Festival as well as Radio Télévision Suisse and in particular Laurent Déchanez, Yvan Ischer and Ivor Malherbe for their contributions to this recording. You can check out snippets of the album in the “Music” section of this site and get it in CD or download format just in time for the holidays! Make sure to comment on this post to give us your feedback about the music once you’ve had a chance to listen to the whole record. New tour dates in Switzerland and Austria have also been announced, you’ll find them in the “Tours” section. Happy holidays and a prosperous year ahead to all Moncef fans around the world!

Brand-new website!

Dear fans, we’re happy to present Moncef Genoud’s brand-new website! Entirely revamped, it allows for quick and easy surfing to discover the pianist’s news and career. We invite you to browse it section by section. The major innovation compared to the previous version is that the new site can be viewed on any device (computer, tablet, phone…) and doesn’t require any specific plug-ins. You’ll find press reviews in the “Media” section. You can now leave comments under each News post! Moreover, we invite you to check out and like Moncef’s official Facebook page (see the “Media” section). That’s where you’ll be updated on his concerts, travels, and new music projects. Speaking of which, “Pop Songs” continues to be critically acclaimed. The new album by the Moncef Genoud Trio was voted one of the best records of the year in Japan and in Switzerland, the CD is now available in FNAC stores and distributed by Harmonia Mundi. For those of you who prefer mp3’s, you’ll find a link in the “Music” section. Moncef and Rollin’ Dice Productions wish to thank Edgar Cabrita, Gabriel Scotti, and Brian Johnson for their contributions to this new website. Happy surfing!

New Swiss Trio and album, “Pop Songs”

Moncef Genoud returns with a new Swiss trio and their debut project, Pop Songs. Accompanied by electro-acoustic bass player Gabriel Scotti – the son of the late Achille Scotti, another blind pianist that used to be Moncef’s teacher and mentor back in the days – and young phenom drummer Valentin Liechti, Moncef adapts several classics of the Pop repertoire into jazz. The tunes, ranging from “Message In A Bottle” by The Police to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, to “Little Wing” byJimi Hendrix or The Doors’ “Light My Fire,” mark an interesting and playful departure from Genoud’s traditional jazz trio sound. Pop Songs also features a live concert version of “Poincinia” as a bonus track, along with “Juliane,” a new original ballad composed by Moncef. For the release party of this new album the trio will perform in Geneva’s Salle Athénée 4 on January 17th and 18th, 2015. A series of concerts will follow this spring in Sion, Lausanne, Cully, and Bern. Moncef will also perform for the very first time in Austria, on January 16th at Vienna’s famous Porgy & Bess club. Pop Songs is available in download here. The album will be released under licence in Japan. For more details on the upcoming concerts, please visit the “Tours” section.

Moncef goes back to Senegal

Moncef has been invited to perform at the 2014 International Jazz Festival of Saint-Louis in Senegal. He’ll be accompanied by Andy Barron on drums, Christophe Chambet on bass, and French saxophonist Sylvain Beuf. The concert is presented in association with the Swiss Embassy in Senegal. Now in its 22nd edition, the festival is one of the most renowned Jazz events in all of Africa. This will mark Moncef’s first trip back to Senegal since shooting the award-winning documentary “Return to Gorée” in 2006 with his long-time friend and collaborator Youssou N’Dour. More details in the “Tours” section.

Album planned for 2013

Happy new year to everyone! After a highly successful West Coast tour last summer, Moncef has a brand-new, ambitious album project for 2013! It’s too soon to reveal the details, but let’s just say that it will be a unique creative concept and a departure from the classic trio sound he’s explored in recent years. As for the West Coast tour, you can see extracts from Moncef’s final concert at the legendaryYoshi’s in San Francisco on his YouTube channel. Check out a behind the scenes look at Moncef rehearsing “Métissage,” or his trio performance of “Imagine,” “It’s You,” or “Sliding Shadows.” The press was unanimous in praising Moncef’s music and the tour enjoyed rare reviews by Jazz Times, Jazz Weekly, a three-part article in the L.A. Examiner (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), and KCRW’s Rhythm Planet. Once again, we thank all of our partners who contributed to making the tour happen and all the fans who came out to support Moncef and his band!

Moncef returns to California

Moncef goes to California! He’ll make a long-awaited return after a six-year absence to the West Coast for a series of special dates in Los Angeles and San Francisco in July, 2012. Moncef will appear in trio and his tour will feature two concerts at Vitello’s in Studio City on July 12th and 13th and one at Yoshi’s in San Francisco on July 15th. Vitello’s will also host a master class by the trio on July 12th. In addition, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Los Angeles, the AllianceFrançaise, and TV5 Monde will host a reception and free screening of the award-winning road movie “Return to Gorée” in Santa Monica on July 11th. For details and tickets information, please visit the “Tours” section of this website. Moncefwould like to thank Pro Helvetia, the Cultural Department of the Canton of Valais, and the Swiss Consulates in Los Angeles and San Francisco for their support to make this tour happen. If you’re in California around those dates, don’t miss your chance to hear the Swiss piano virtuoso perform live! Check out the following press coverage in anticipation of the tour: Revolution 360 (with a great interview and video links), L.A. Examiner, and Jazz Weekly.

Moncef is turning 50!

Those who know him will find it hard to believe, but Moncef is turning 50! To celebrate, Moncef will give a very special performance with an All-Star cast of his favorite musicians at the prestigious Salle du Régent in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Saturday, August 20th. The stellar line-up will consist of fellow Swiss phenom Grégoire Maret (Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Pat Metheny) on the harmonica, England’s Andy Barron (Kenny Wheeler, Manu Katché) on drums, New Yorker trumpetist James Zollar (Duke Ellington Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis), along with Switzerland’s finest in the form of bass tandem Antoine Ogay and BänzOester, as well as Stefano Saccon on saxophone. This promises to be a grand celebration of the first 50 years of Moncef ‘s life and music career, and we invite those of you who will be in Switzerland on that date to take part in the festivities! For details, please see the “Tours” section of this site. Also announced, a series of three dates at Club Chorus later this year in December with special guests HaroldDanko, Grégoire Maret, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Bänz Oester, and Andy Barron, to celebrate Moncef reaching the half-century mark and the first 30 years of his remarkable career. On this occasion Moncef and his team would like to thank you for your support through the years. We look forward to continuing to bring quality music and projects for your entertaining pleasure in the future!

New album “Métissage” released

Moncef’s much-anticipated new album is here! Check out “Métissage,” his latest effort, in the Music section. Although Moncef recorded much of the new album in Switzerland with Antoine Ogay and Philippe Staehli, it also features a track recorded in Senegal during the shooting of the acclaimed “Return To Gorée” with Youssou N’Dour, Grégoire Maret, Idris Muhammad, and Jammes Cammack. “Métissage” is available on CD and mp3 via the Music section. The title track inspired award-winning L.A.-based, Swiss director Reto Caduff to shoot a remarkable video, which you can now see on Moncef’s YouTube Channel via the “Media” section. You’ll also find new pictures in the same section, along with recent press reviews. Please check out “Métissage” and give us your feedback! For those in Switzerland, Moncef will be the special guest of the Téléjournal on Télévision Suisse Romande on Tuesday, January 11th at 12:45 pm. You can catch him live at the BeJazz Festival in Bern on January 21st, and at the Caves de Courten in Sierre on January 27th and 28th. Happy new year to everyone!

Multiple dates lined up

Moncef is everywhere! He’ll perform at the 46th International Festival in Carthage, Tunisia, on July 23rd, with a stellar line-up comprising James Cammack (Ahmad Jamal, Nancy Wilson), E.J. Strickland (Ravi Coltrane, Wynton Marsalis, HerbieHancock), and Grégoire Maret (Marcus Miller, George Benson, Pat Metheny). After that, it’s off to Syria for another benefit concert for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, after the success of his solo performance at the Opera House in Damascus in May. Then it’s back to Switzerland for a series of concerts in Yverdon, Lausanne, Sion, and Geneva (see the “Tours” section). And the word at Rollin’ Dice Productions is that he just finished recording a new album with his Swiss trio that’s currently being mixed, so stay tuned for a second half of 2010 that promises to be swinging!

2009 Montreux Jazz Festival

After a special concert at the Estivales du Château in Chambéry as part of the “Regards tactiles” exhibition by Alain Mikli, Moncef will be back at the MontreuxJazz Festival, where after having played at the last two editions he’ll be one of the official jury members of the annual Piano Competition on July 16th, 17th and 18th. After that he’ll head to Crans-Montana where he’ll perform “Novecento,” a theater play with longtime friend Patrick Moret, at the Sommets du Classique Festival on July 25th. For more details, please check out the “Tours” section. Have a great summer, everyone !

Derry Jazz Festival and Jazz à Carthage in Tunisia

Moncef will perform at the 5th edition of the Jazz à Carthage Festival in Tunisia with his Swiss Trio accompanied by Paris-based, Tunisian-born sax wonderYacine Boulares. His next spring dates will be during the first weekend of May where he’ll play at the Derry Jazz Festival and Cathedral Arts Festival in Derry and Belfast, Nothern Ireland, with a who’s who of local talent including guitarist Mark McKnight and Linley Hamilton on trumpet. After that it’s back to Switzerland for gigs in Geneva and Sion. Details in the “Tours” section.

On a sad note Moncef and his entire team would like to extend their condolences to the friends and family of Boubacar Joseph Ndiaye, the legendary and esteemed curator of the House of Slaves on the Island of Gorée in Senegal, who passed away in Dakar at the age of 86. Ndiaye appeared in the film Return To Goréewhich featured Moncef and Youssou N’Dour – the opening and closing scenes of which were shot in Gorée. He was a key figure in the defence of the memory of the Atlantic slave trade, and those he guided on their visit of the island (including dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, and Bill Clinton) will forever remember the passion with which he took his noble task to heart.

International dates announced

Happy New Year to all! More Swiss dates confirmed for Moncef in various formations: Check him out in Lausanne (in piano duet), Yverdon-les-bains (solo) and Crans-Montana (quintet), before an Easter escapade to Tunisia (in quartet) for the Jazz à Carthage festival in April. All details are in the “Tours” section.

2008 Label Suisse Festival and “Return To Gorée”

After memorable, sold out performances in Montreux and Hammamet this summerMoncef got back to Switzerland just in time to play with the Big Band of Lausanne and a unique line-up of prestigious guests including Didier Lockwood and Grégoire Maret at the 2008 Label Suisse Festival. Building on his domestic success he’s glad to announce three upcoming concerts in Geneva, Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains, check out the “Tours” section for more details. Meanwhile Return To Gorée, the acclaimed documentary featuring Moncef and Youssou N’Dour, continues to gain praises from audiences all accross North America, having been screened at theatres in New York, San Francisco, the Vancouver Film Festival and theEuroDocs Festival in Los Angeles. The DVD of the film is also available now in Switzerland, with the final concert in Gorée as a bonus disc. The film is scheduled for worldwide release later this year.

Montreux Jazz Festival performance

Moncef will perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival for the second year in a row. For those of you in Switzerland check out his piano solo concert in conjunction with Abdullah Ibrahim at the Petit Palais of the Monteux Palace on July 19, 2008. This closing night performance will be a special tribute to Pannonica. On August 5, 2008, Moncef will be at the International Festival in Hammamet, Tunisia, for a concert in quartet with local star Fawzi Chekili. Enjoy your summer and keep it swinging!

“Return To Gorée” wins Best Documentary!

We’re pleased to announce that Return To Gorée, the acclaimed film featuring Youssou N’Dour and Moncef Genoud, has won the 2008 Award for Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles! For the 16th edition of the festival, 162 films were selected including 25 world premieres and 10 U.S. premieres representing 31 countries with 9 first-time filmmakers, 49 feature-length films, 59 documentaries and 54 international films. These films were selected from over 2,500 submissions. For more information visit the Pan African Film Festival’s website.

Catch Moncef live with solo, duo, and trio performances in Switzerland (Crans-Montana, Cully) and Spain (Gijon, Oviedo) these upcoming few weeks. Details in the “Tours” section of this site.

Back in Switzerland from New York

Moncef wishes everyone a happy new year! May 2008 be a prosperous one for you and yours. Fresh off his 5-date engagement at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola / Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, Moncef is back in Switzerland for a couple of club performances. You can catch him at the Chorus Club in Lausanne and at Moods in Zurich, on January 25 and 29, 2008. Moncef will present his new Swiss trio consisting of Antoine Ogay on bass and Philippe Staehli on drums, so come and check out this swinging new combo if you’re in the area. You can also watch a new video of Moncef on his YouTube Channel via the “Media” section of this website. The 9-minute movie will serve as an EPK (electronic press kit) to present Moncef’s career as well as his past and future projects. The video includes footage of Moncef’s concert at the 2007 Montreux Jazz Festival and from the acclaimed documentary Return To Gorée, which opened the 15th African Diaspora Film Festival in New York City to a sold-out audience and critical acclaim back in November. The film will soon open in more major U.S. cities, so stay tuned!

Moncef in concert in Tunisia and Luxembourg

We’re glad to announce a couple of live performances by Moncef, the first in SidiBou Saïd, Tunisia, on November 9, and the second in Luxembourg on November 30. For more details, visit the “Tours” section. Meanwhile, Return To Gorée continues to open to great reviews in countries like Croatia and England, where Moncef arrives today for the premiere of the film in London.

AQUA Tour hits Montreux and North Sea Jazz

It’s almost Summertime! We’re pleased to announce several high-profile tour dates for Moncef this summer. First off will be the opening of the 41st edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, whereMoncef will perform with his fellowReturn To Gorée cast members YoussouN’Dour, James Cammack, IdrisMuhammad and Wolfgang Muthspiel on July 6. Speaking of Return to Gorée, Moncef attended the European premiere of the critically acclaimed film on April 24 at the Festival La Vision du Réel in Nyon, Switzerland. Following Montreux, it’s off to Oslo, Norway, where Moncef will embark on the North Sea Jazz Cruise and perform in trio on July 9 and 10, before playing at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam on July 15, all stages of his 2007 AQUA Tour. Stay tuned and visit the “Tours” section for more details and more live performances to be announced.

Exclusive deal with Tree Lawn Artists

Moncef signs an exclusive, worldwide deal with Tree Lawn Artists! The Boston-based booking agency, headed by industry veteran Eric Hanson, will represent Moncef for all his live performances and tours around the world. Moncef’s team is delighted to have Tree Lawn Artists on board and we look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration. All festival organizers and venue coordinators interested in booking Moncef are invited to contact Tree Lawn directly. Their contact information including website and email can be found in the “Contacts” section of this site.

Michael Brecker passes away

Moncef Genoud, Rollin’ Dice Productions, Gail Boyd Artist Management and Savoy Jazz would like to express their sincere condolences to the family of Michael Brecker following his death. Michael was a real friend and inspiration to Moncef, who fulfilled a career dream when he got a chance to record with Michael on “AQUA”. Their acclaimed collaboration was truly amazing and Moncef, though devastated by the loss of such an important figure in his life, feels tremendously honored that “AQUA” will forever be one of the very last recordings to feature Michael’s remarkable talent and unique musical voice. The world of jazz has lost a true giant whose legacy will never be forgotten. We would also like to extend our sympathy to label-mate Ravi Coltrane and his family for the loss of his mother Alice. Our world is mourning, but Heaven must be swinging…

AQUA praised by Downbeat and The Village Voice!

Moncef and his team wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year! To start 2007 on a pleasant note, we’re proud to announce that Moncef’s record “AQUA” just made Downbeat Magazine’s Best CDs of 2006 list and was voted to The Village Voice Jazz Poll Top 50 albums of the year. Check out their December issues for more details. Moncef is gearing up for his IAJE performance in New York next week, where his label and management team look forward to seeing you. You can also catch his live interview on New York’s leading jazz station WBGO on Thursday, January 11 at 2:30 pm.

IAJE Conference date announced

The date of Moncef’s showcase performance at the 34th Annual IAJE Conference has been announced. Moncef will perform in trio formation with Jonathan Blake on drums and Gregg August on bass on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 7pm at the Hilton New York, located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Don’t miss your chance to see Moncef in the frame of the largest annual gathering of the global jazz community. For more information about the IAJE Conference, visitwww.iaje.org. Moncef will also play the next night at Charlie O’s, at a time to be determined so check out the “Tours” section shortly.

Moncef selected to perform at the 2007 IAJE Conference

Just back from the “Couleurs Jazz Festival” in Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunisia, where he gave two concerts and a master class, Moncef is glad to announce that he’s been selected to participate and perform at the 2007 IAJE Conference, which will take place in New York City, January 10-13, 2007. Stay tuned for the exact time and date of his performances, but we already look forward to meeting all festivals organizers and Jazz professionals at the prestigious event to present Moncef and his music, in anticipation of a 2007 AQUA Tour.

Summer concerts on three continents!

After an incredible performance at the Atlanta Jazz Festival in May that left jazz luminaries such as David Sanchez and Kevin Mahogany (along with the audience of 10,000 plus) in awe, Moncefis preparing for some summer dates on three continents. A concert in Tunisia with local guitar legend Fawzi Chekili, another in Champéry, Switzerland, followed by two East Coast dates, August 21 at Cecil’s Jazz Club in West Orange, NJ, and August 22 at the prestigious Jazz Standard in New York. Please go to the “Tours” section for all details. Meanwhile, “AQUA” continues to make some noise in the US jazz press. Read what JazzIz, the Village Voice and Jazz Review had to say about Moncef’s Savoy debut in the “Media” section. Moreover, Moncef recently joined the MySpace community. You can visit his page atwww.myspace.com/moncefgenoud. We wish everyone a great summer, and thank you for your continued support!

Mocef scores a hat trick

Moncef scores a hat trick! The three major jazz publications in the US give rare reviews of “AQUA” in their June issues! Downbeat magazine gives 4 stars to Moncef’s debut on Savoy Jazz, while Jazz Times and JazzIz praise the record. You can read all press reviews of “AQUA” in the “Media” section of this site. Meanwhile,Moncef is gearing up for his performance at the Atlanta Jazz Festival on Sunday, May 28, 2006, where he’ll perform in trio with E.J. Strickland and HansGlawischnig. More details can be found in the “Tours” section.

“AQUA” in stores now!

Moncef’s American debut album “AQUA” is in the stores now! It’s available at all good record stores including Tower Records, Borders, Barnes & Noble, as well as online directly from this site! Go to the “Music” page to listen to snippets of THE jazz event of this spring and order a copy. You can also download individual songs from iTunes, Amazon, Napster, etc. Look for album reviews in the upcoming issues of All About Jazz, Jazz Times, Downbeat, Jazziz, and JazzImprov.

New York and Atlanta dates announced

We’re happy to announce two high-profile US dates in support of the release of “AQUA”. Moncef will perform in trio at Sweet Rhythm in New York City on April 21, 2006, as well as at the world-renown Atlanta Jazz Festival on May 28, 2006. Details are in the “Tours” section.

Moncef signed by Savoy Jazz

Moncef has signed with Savoy Jazz and his first project for the legendary label is titled “Aqua.” Recorded in New York, “Aqua” is set for release on April 4, 2006. The talented composer is accompanied by a stellar group of musicians including Michael Brecker, Bill Steward, Scott Colley and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Produced by Los Angeles-based Rollin’ Dice Productions and dubbed his most ambitious project, “Aqua” comprises seven original numbers and three covers.
Moncef, who’s career is really on the rise, has recorded ten albums as a leader internationally and has attracted the attention of those in the know as a result of his extensive touring. Genoud expects to keep up the touring momentum in support of “Aqua”. Several US dates will be announced shortly, check the “Tours” section for an updated listing. Snippets from “Aqua” can be heard in the “Music” section.
Says Joshua Sherman, Senior Director of A&R and Marketing for the Savoy Label Group: “Moncef’s music has an innate lyricism and sense of intimacy that is immediately appealing. His compositions are accessible without sacrificing complexity, respectful of jazz tradition without denying his irrepressible personality. Moncefis an artist with a highly individual sound and a beautiful spirit, and we are very excited to present his US debut and to work with Moncef to develop his career around the world.”

Savoy Jazz is a unit of the Savoy Label Group (SLG). SLG is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. Newly reorganized and now headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, Columbia Music Entertainment has re-emerged as a significant creative force with a stable of newly signed platinum-selling artists. Savoy Jazz is distributed in the United States by Warner Music Group’s WEA Corp.

Shooting “Return To Gorée” with Youssou N’Dour

Moncef is currently in the US shooting the movie Return To Gorée. The project follows Moncef, his good friend Youssou N’Dour, as well as Idris Muhammad and James Cammack as they travel the route of West-African slaves from Senegal to the United States, while revisiting the musical evolution from Negro spirituals to Gospel to Jazz with other musicians they meet along the way. The film, which started shooting in Senegal in late 2005, took the musicians to Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, and will then take them to France and Luxembourg before ending on the island of Gorée for a spectacular live performance by all the artist involved. It is scheduled for release in theaters later in 2006.