David El-Malek: the biograpgy

In a short time, David El-Malek imposed upon his peers, and upon the world of the jazz as one of the best European saxophonists. A virtuosity in the service of musicality and of harmony, an integrity of speech without defect, an identity world mixing folk music and the sum of the history of international jazz, a personal directory assimilating the big rhythmic currents of the last century, a extensive study of the great classic authors, made of this artist more than a jazzman, a real Musician. It's one of the specificities of this almost-self-taught, relentless and solitary worker : we cannot speak about David without speaking about Music. His exceptional maturity makes that he never forgets that the only important thing, it is the emotion which emanates from its music and its accessibility.

Born in 1970 in Pantin (France), to stay there only on one year, it's in Israel that he will grow up until 1979. Back France at the age of eight, he will keep his first years an indelible track. His significant musical first steps come very late because they are situated after his military service, in January, 1990. He is hardly twenty years old and he chooses to play the saxophone tenor. In September of the same year, he registers in the Academy of Montreuil, for one year, and follows Jean Claude Forenbach's lessons where he discovers it the harmony. At the end of this experience, he will lock himself, for several years, to devote to his new passion. In a solitary way ,away from any marked out circuit, he will make efforts to catch up the delay caused by his late practice.

In 1995, for the National Competition of La Défense, he receives, in this occasion, the soloist third prize and second prize of composition, and, during the competition of Jazz of Vannes, the first group prize. So he's gone a long way! In five years, David El-Malek will have gone through the method for beginners tothe laurels of La Défense. The special prize of the jury comes to dedicate this young saxophonist, brought out of nowhere, who forged his play totally outside the professional environment. He is so recently confirmed, for his work of sideman on Laurent Coq's disk and the Blowing Trio, Live @ the Duc des Lombards, by Grand Prix of the Disk 2002 of the Academy Charles Cros, jazz'category.

Exceptional and universal, so light as serious, irascible and affectionate, nostalgic but visionary, his musical implication tries to connect the genres and to move closer to the differences. Interested also in all the forms of classic transcription for saxophone, mainly influenced by Bach, Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, Webern, Bartok, he works at present on the " concertino da caméra " of Jacques Ibert, collaborates with the composer Vincent Artaud on a concerto for saxophone tenor and orchestra, and elaborates a transcription of " the Arabesque n¡1 " of Debussy for piano. David El-Malek often repeats that the jazz is a serious music. We cannot avoid feeling the result of its comments by listening to his compositions and the numerous managed at once projects. His third disk, "Talking Cure", joining the continuity of the precedents, containing folklores, personal compositions and resumption of a contemporary standard. His fourth, exclusively consisted of ballads (band of 13 musicians + 4tet), is almost written.

Along with his purely jazzistic work we can find another work: the DEM Orchestra, Music From Source, written for symphony orchestra in association with Christophe Dal Sasso, accompanied with its quartet and with Big Band, consists of folklores and personal compositions. This project, innovative in the writing and the theme, was partially played with the National Orchestra of Lyon. He is mainly based on popular melodic lines, the nostalgic expression of a music which rocked the first eight years of his author. Very remote from its label of virtuoso and from technician, this very personal project is an ode to the beautiful, universal accessible music with multiple references. The project was played in April, 2004 at The Auditorium of Lyon (France), accompanied without Big Band, by the National Orchestra of Lyon, supervised by Wayne Marshall, and played in Sloviania with the Lubiana'orchestra, as invited solist during the wold saxophone congress. The first volume of 'Music From Source" will be release in octet on label "Nocturne"

Some of you think that ......

David El-Malek's first and significant steps came very late since they took place after his military service in January 1990. Without any future or precise professional prospect, David had not any firm vocation for music. Although he practised the guitar at leisure time, like many others , it is without any professional purpose. But it is after having a music class with Pierre Jean Gaucher that things are going to change. Indeed, the teacher will point out his big gaps, and the pupil will lose his illusions about his music level. Nevertheless, David, a little hurt but not discouraged, concludes : "let's take the music from the beginning" and he chooses to learn the tenor saxophone as he is only twenty. He works in an ice-cream firm, buys a saxophone manual and plays relentlessly at night. In september 1990 he attends the Conservatoire of Montreuil for a year in Jean-Claude Forenbach's class where he discovers harmony which is going to be a revelation.

After this experience, David El-Malek will literally lock himself in, for some years, to devote himself to his unique passion : work. Involved in a lonely task, far from every paved way, he will do his utmost to make up for the time he has lost. So David will get phrasing and musicality thanks to real and persistent efforts. At the end of 1994, during a jam session, he drew Bruno Angelini's attention who proposed him to become a member of his band (Quarter Est) alongside Jules Bikoko, Daniel Garcia Bruno and Laurent Robin. The next year, the band will be selected for the National contest of La Défense. David is awarded the third prize as a soloist and a second prize for his compositions. Note his career path : within 5 years, David El-Malek has come a long way from the first steps on the saxophone to the award of La Défense. The special prize given by the jury will establish his reputation as a young saxophonist, who, coming from nowhere has not made up his technique ou of the professional milieu. From that moment, many events will follow.

The year 1995 was a real turning point in his professional career. His band was crowned the best at the Vannes contest , "Quartier Est" will perform at the Maison de la Radio and tour all over France in 1996 and 1997. At the same time, he will meet Laïka Fatien, a singer , and will join her quintet to record 2 albums and perform in festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Etienne and Marciac. He will also back up David Dexter D., the creator of a hit called "Jack the jazzman" and will go to Istanbul and Montreal to perform there. At last, he will scour the Paris jazz clubs and will be seen as a sideman with famous musicians such as Alain Jean-Marie (Abbey Lincoln) or Georges Brown (Wes Montgomery).

At the end of 1998, David El-Malek decides to take time in order to devote himself to his own projects. His sideman activities are getting rare. Actually, he concentrates on his music, it is time to develop his potentialities as a leader. So he will create his first band, a quartet, in which you can find again Baptiste Trottignon (piano), Manu Marchez (accoustic bass) and Mouhrad Benamou (drums). Very soon, the band will make a live recording at the Café des Arts in Bordeaux. It will be the mark of a promising start and will give them the opportunity for looking for gigs. The album gives reinterpreted versions of jazz standards among which you will find "this is new", "spring can really hang you up most" and "dearly beloved". As for his compositions, David will first play them during the next tour during which Baptiste Trottignon will be replaced by Manu Dupré. On the album, the last song called Tora tsiva lanou moche, from the traditional jewish repertoire, came to conclude in a rather unusual way the live recording at the Café des Arts. This first breakthrough in the jewish folk music won't be a simple and first try. On December 2000, there will be a new release entitled "Organza". It will be recorded with his new band : Pierre de Bethmann, Jules Bokoko and Daniel Garcia Bruno. David displays a cheering music of our present time in which he includes rearranged jewish folk compositions. David often repeats that Jazz music is a serious matter, no doubt that he speaks the truth when you hear his new jazz compositions. Listen to his delicate, intense and firm sound as well as to passages full of anger, restlessness though counterbalanced by somme quietness, ballads and joyful despair that makes you swing : this musical atmosphere evokes the warm rainfalls in summer and sunny winters.... Etc...

And certainly much more ....

Coming from a jewish family, David was born in Pantin,in 1970. He won't stay there more than one year and will grow up in Israël. His identity begins there, but an unexpected departure for France will tear him away from his child nest. He arrives in Bordeaux at the age of eight. This geographical and cultural transition will be hard and will leave a non-healed scar. This secret scar will lead him to a wandering state : school will just be a non definite place, breathing air was noxious except if it were music. David seems to look for something else, then he has to do his military service. In January 1990, after he ended his military service, David had no precise professional desire but understood that what he had to do was not to dig trenches but work for a real musical vocation which appeared as he was 15. He had certainly been influenced by his brother Franck who played the guitar and studied baroque music. He decides to follow this way, strums on his guitar, buys a manual, works and will have his only and last guitar lesson with Pierre-Jean Gaucher. Although this string instrument was not essential to him, he was going to preserve musical language which will be transferred to the saxophone.

This moment will be like a rebirth and then he will find his own way of expression through the saxophone. David El-Malek's soul will be thrilled at last. He is only twenty. He worked in an ice-cream firm and played music every night. This same year of September 1990, he attended the Conservatoire of Montreuil for a year in Jean-Claude Forenbach's class where he discovers harmony which is going to be a revelation. There will also be a meeting with Alain Bugeli, an alto saxophone who was also Forenbach's student. David was quite impressed by this man's musical expression and asked him to share his talent by giving private lessons. No sooner said than done ! Jazz music can't bear any delay. This alliance will bring him to know the jazz repertoire, not only through instrumental technique but also through great jazz portraits and lives such as Louis Armonstrong, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Coltrane's G doesn't sound like a conventional G. All of this is a matter of depth, of inner drive belonging to those who have a real desire to express themselves and David has felt that ...

After having experienced all this, he is going to search the "sound El-Malek", he will literally lock himself in for some years, to devote himself to his unique passion : work. Was it only pure neophytic enthusiasm or unassailable will ? His life and professional choice lie there in this meeting which will put an end to wandering. A meeting with this second language that is jazz music. Involved in this lonely task, far from any paved way, he will learn how to play music. He will look for a new sound, as well as existential meaning... David will get a sonorous puff, phrasing and musicality thanks to work and strong determination. At the end of 1994, during a jam session, he drew Bruno Angelini's attention who proposed him to come into his band ("Quartier Est") along with Jules Bikoko and Daniel Garcia Bruno. The next year, the band is selected for the national contest of La Defense. David is awarded the third prize as a soloist and a second prize for his compositions. Note his career path : within 5 years, David El-Malek has come a long way from the first steps on the saxophone to the award of La Defense. The special prize given by the jury will establish his reputation as a young saxophonist who, coming from nowhere has not made up his technique out of the professional milieu. From that moment, many events will follow.

The year 1995 was a real turning point in his professional career. His band was crowned the best at the Vannes contest, "Quartier Est" will perform at the Maison de la Radio and will tour all over France in 1996 and 1997. At the same time he will meet Laïka Fatien, a singer, and will join her quintet to record 2 albums and perform in festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Etienne and Marciac. He will also back up David Dexter D., the creator of a hit called " Jack the Jazzman" and will go to Istanbul and Montreal to perform there. At last, he will scour the Paris jazz clubs and will be seen as a sideman with famous musicians such as Alain Jean-Marie (Abbey Lincoln) or Georges Brown (Wes Montgomery).

On December 2000, there will be a new release entitled "Organza". It is recorded with a new band : Pierre de Bethmann, Jules Bikkoko, and Daniel Garcia Bruno. David displays a cheering music of our present time in which he includes rearranged jewish folk compositions. David often repeats that jazz music is a serious matter, no doubt that he speaks the truth when you hear his new jazz compositions. Listen to his delicate and firm sound as well as to passages full of anger, restlessness though counterbalanced by somme quietness, ballads and joyful despair that makes you swing : this musical atmosphere evokes the warm rainfalls in summer and sunny winters ... Etc...

and certainly much more ...

BIOGRAPHY