Biography

A saxophonist as well as a composer and an arranger, Jocelyn Ménard is originally from Canada. After studying in Montreal and New York (George Coleman), he then plays with Jean Beaudet, jan Fréchette, Rémi Bolduc, etc…and participates to many festivals. In 1988 he settles in Guadeloupe (F.W.I) and starts teaching. He plays with André Condouant, Happy Lewis, Christian Amour, Charlie Chomereau-Lamotte, creates several big band projects (Big Band Mavounzy, Gwadloup Big Band…) and some for smallest bands (Men Art Jazz 4tet, An’nax, Guanada…) with Normand Deveault, Raymond Grego, Raymond d’Huy, Dominique Bérose etc. On top of his many participations to Caribbean Jazz Cds, he produces his first album « Men art Work’s » in 2001 with Alain Jean Marie’s participation. In 1997, he opens his own music school which hosts up to a dozen teachers. He also participates to Rico Toto’s electro-ka project, performed by Mario Canonge and Paul Lay, and gets involved in theatre and music creations with Gilbert Laumord. Over the last few years he developed a sextet and a big band version of Gwanada, and presented it at Pointe-à-Pitre Jazz Festival in 2007 with Michel Cusson’s participation. His original compositions are gathered on Terre Mère, his latest album released in December 2012 and recorded in Paris, Guadeloupe and Montréal.Jocelyn tours his compositions in various formations, including a quartet in Paris with Mario Canonge. In 2013, he met up with the pianist again for a duo in Guadeloupe. His “Biguine & Jazz” project was selected for a CEDAC tour in early 2015. At the end of the year, he set up a new quartet with Jean-Michel Lesdel, Max Fontès and Joseph Casimir, with whom he toured the Lesser Antilles to play his compositions. Recently, Jocelyn Ménard set up a multidisciplinary artistic project, Mix Art, which combines music, dance, graphic and visual arts. Within this framework, and with the complicity of Joël Jernidier, he creates the show “Pwofési A Man Jàn” – the latter embodied by the singer Véronique Hermann-Sambin, and performs at the Sonis Cultural Centre in the summer of 2019.

Markers

from 2015 to 2019

  • First performances of the new project “Only Monk” still in the making (2019)
  • Residence for the creation of the show “Pwofési A Man Jàn”, and presentation in July 2019 on the stage of the Sonis Cultural Centre in Les Abymes.
  • Creation of the Mix Art project, and shows in Guadeloupe (Robert Loyson Hall, Sonis Cultural Center) – 2018
  • Accompanies Jean-Michel Lesdel during his appearance at IlÔJazz at the end of 2017.
  • The Jocelyn Ménard Jazz Group closes the 2017 edition of the Terre de Blues festival in June.
  • The Jocelyn Ménard Biguine & Jazz project is on tour in February 2015 in Guadeloupe and Martinique with CEDAC.
  • In October 2015, organization of a one-week SaxCamp in Guadeloupe.
  • The Jocelyn Ménard Caribbean Jazz Group quartet is on tour in October and November 2015 in the Lesser Antilles with the Alliance française. Concerts in Saint Lucia and Barbados.

from 2010 to 2014

  • During the month of August 2014, performances of “L’épreuve de Virjilan” at the Avignon Festival, with the company Siyaj & Gilbert Laumord.
  • Concerts in quartet in Paris, with Mario Canonge, and duo with Mario Canonge for a concert at the Université Antilles Guyane (2013)
  • Also in 2013, the show “Chante moi un Conte, Conte moi une Chanson” was invited by the University of Virginia, then toured under the aegis of the Alliances françaises in the Caribbean and South America.
  • The album “Terre Mère” was released in December 2012. Following this, Jocelyn performed at the inaugural concert of the IloJazz Festival in Pointe-à-Pitre.
  • In the theatre with the Siyaj company and Gilbert Laumord for “Chante moi un conte, conte moi une chanson”; tours in France, Cuba, Guadeloupe and Martinique follow in 2011 and 2012.
  • Accompanies singer Jane Rogers under the direction of Christian Amour. Participates in the Anguilla Jazz Festival (2010) and the Lamentin Jazz Festival (2011).

from 2005 to 2009

  • Obtain in Montreal in 2007, the state diploma in jazz saxophone.
  • Moves the trio Guanada to the sextet Gwanada
  • At the end of 2007, presents the big band version of Gwanada, increased by seven blowers and with the participation of Michel Cusson. Performed at the Pointe-à-Pitre Jazz Festival at the end of the year.
  • Participates in Rico Toto’s Moundjaka project. Plays with this band at the Festival Terre de Blues de Marie-Galante in 2008.

from 2000 to 2004

  • First album Men Art Work’s produced in 2001, with Alain Jean-Marie (pno), Martin Auguste (dms) and Georges Mitchell (b)
  • Accompanied singer Charito on a Japanese tour in the summer of 2000 under the direction of Sylvain Gagnon
  • With Alain Jean-Marie, plays at the Montreal Festival in 2002.

until 1999

  • Invited by François Théberge to play in his Medium Band (Festival Au fil de l’Oise in 1999)
  • In 1996, he formed the trio Guanada with Normand Deveault (pno) and Charly Chomereau-Lamotte (perc). Several festivals in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Eponymous album in 1999.
  • Plays on the album Human Cause by trumpet player Happy Lewis (1997).
  • With the Mozaik Jazz Quintet at the Pointe-à-Pitre Jazz Festival in 1988
  • Continues to study with Bernad Maury (Paris) and participates in master classes led by Dave Liebman, Arturo Sandoval, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Max Roach.
  • Directs and arranges for the Big Band Mavounzy, at the initiative of Christian Amour.
  • Settles in Guadeloupe in 1988
  • Study music in Canada. At CEGEP de Drummondville, then at Concordia University in Montreal. Participates in the Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto jazz festivals. In 1987, travels frequently to New York to study with George Coleman.