Amaury Faye

Considered as one of the most promising pianists of his generation, Amaury Faye personifies the new wave of jazz made in France. The many awards he received in 2016 (including First Prize at national competition Jazz A Vienne/Rezzo Focal, France; Best Soloist/Instrumentalist Award at international competition Tremplin Jazz d’Avignon and Public’s Choice Award at international competition International Biberacher Jazzpreis, Germany) confirm his undeniable talent as a composer and improviser.

He is at his best when leading his trio, breathing new life into this format and its noble pedigree. Their first official album is announced for April 2017. Recorded in Switzerland in December 2016, it will include original songs and jazz standards.

Faye has recently been performing with a French collective “Initiative H”. This 12-member band, led by French saxophonist David Haudrechy (Archie Shepp, Rick Margitza), has released two albums (“Deus Ex Machina”, Neuklang 2013 and “Dark Wave”, Neuklang ­ 2015) with some of Europe's finest jazz musicians as guests (Emile Parisien, Médéric Collignon, Vincent Artaud). Currently on the rise in europe with acclaim from the public and the media alike, this is the result of a unique, creative process and execution. The ensemble made it to the finals of the 2013 Concours National de Jazz de la Défense in Paris, one of Europe’s most esteemed jazz competitions.

In 2010 the age of 20, Amaury Faye released an album comprised of standards and originals (Big Moe Trio, Greenworks ­2010) featuring Louis Navarro (bass) and Pierre Ardré (drums). Inspired by the musical universes of Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, and Kenny Barron, the album was recorded in traditional fashion, live, over the course of two days. It is currently distributed in Europe and Japan. Three years later, the trio was a finalist in the French jazz competition “Jazz en Baie 2013”.

In 2014, Faye moved to Boston to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where his strong artistic reputation enabled him to study with renowned musicians such as Joanne Brackeen and Tia Fuller. This deeply inspiring experience opened the door to higher levels in his musical endeavour and thus, in March 2015, Faye received Berklee's Jazz Performance Award for best jazz pianist.

Since 2015, Amaury has moved moved to Brussels, starting a new chapter in his promising career and with it a new trio featuring french musicians Louis Navarro (bass) and Théo Lanau (drums). In the following months they have quickly established themselves as an undeniable force and a revelation to the European jazz scene by winning five different awards in national and international competitions in 2016. Since then the trio has started to tour in France and Belgium. Dates in Europe and America are to be announced.

Through this project, Amaury Faye displays his skills as a great improviser, an inspired melodist and a fascinating storyteller.

Even if Faye’s music obviously falls into the “mainstream jazz” category, it might be difficult to be more specific, such is the richness and diversity of the blend of influences, ranging from jazz to classical, rock, pop and blues. Indeed merging idioms and ideas is at the heart of his musical concept whether it be in composition, performance or improvisation.

His attention to the architecture of each song, mixing the written and the improvised makes his music strong and makes it flow naturally, allowing for expression and emotion.This is something that can be found in the work of one of his spiritual mentors and greatest influences, american pianist Brad Mehldau. Owning this influence and the part it has played for him, Faye has accepted the challenge to take this heritage with him on his journey and make it his own.