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The Moutin Reunion Quartet

Back in 1999 Louis and Francois Moutin decided to form THE MOUTIN REUNION QUARTET in order to perform their original compositions. They had a common desire: to create music expressing the energy of life; full of emotion and spontaneity - a music close to them, to what they intimately feel, inhabited by Jazz' spirit, swing and grooves, inviting listeners and musicians to celebrate beauty and imagination. They are sharing this desire with their two outstandingly skilled partners: the amazingly talented pianist Pierre de Bethmann and the immensely gifted saxophonist Rick Margitza. Not only Rick is a former partner of Mr. Miles Davis, but also both he and Pierre can pride themselves on their profoundly creative and extremely successful respective solo careers. Since four years, the band is touring through both America and Europe, performing for more and more big and enthousiastic audiences. In 2005 they released their third album (in September), on Lightyear/WEA. Francois Moutin was born in Paris. His early interest in music was encouraged by his parents. At age 5, Francois began studying guitar, then piano by age 11. The acoustic bass became his most lasting passion as a teenager. Also studying mathematics and physics, Francois received a college degree in engineering and earned a doctorate in physics at the age of 24. Then he elected to become a professional musician. Three years later, as a member of the legendarey Martial Solal’s Trio, Francois was recognized as one of the finest young bass players in Europe. At 29, he began co-leading the Quintet Moutin with his twin brother Louis, a top echelon Jazz drummer. This project has evolved into the Moutin Reunion Quartet. When he was still living in Paris, Francois worked non-stop with the greatest musicians of this age : Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Antoine Herve, Daniel Humair, André Ceccarelli, Eric Lelann, Jean-Michel Pilc, Christian Escoude. He has also performed with Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Niels Lan Doky, Mino Cinelu, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Toots Thielemans, Didier Lockwood, Larry Schneider, Aldo Romano, James Moody, Terry Lyne Carrington, Richard Galliano, Bernard Lubat, Aaron Scott, George Brown, Sunny Murray, Michel Legrand, Archie Shepp, Claude Nougaro, Trilok Gurtu, Bob Berg, Birelli Lagrene, Wladimir Kosma, Marius Constant, Markus Stockhausen, L'ensemble Inter Contemporain. François has performed in every important European Jazz Festival, and he has toured in over 30 countries around the world. In November 1997, he moved his base to New York where he has found steady work in live performance and studio sessions with the premier artists on the New York Jazz Scene.

A partial list of their names reads like the yellow pages of Jazz : James Hurt, Ari Hoenig, Jean-Michel Pilc, Greg Tardy, Gene Jackson, Dave Binney, Rudy Mahanthappa, Vijay Iyer, Adam Rogers, David Gilmore, Ben Monder, Billy Drews, Jamie Haddad, Steve Hass, Franck Wess, Jimmy Heath, Monty Alexander, Benny Powell, Richie Beirach, Dave Liebman, Clarke Terry, Oliver Lake, Harry Belafonte, Odean Pope, Don Alias, Rick Margitza, Mike Stern… Francois has also recorded and performed with Arab Music star Simon Shaheen. He is a familiar presence on the stages of such establishments as Sweet Basil, Birdland, Blue Note, Knitting Factory, Zinc Bar, Cornelia Street Café, Jazz Gallery, Tonic, Smoke, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, New York Symphony Space. François has also appeared at major Jazz Festivals around the coutry like Newport JVC, Bell Atlantic, Monterey, Kansas City and Detroit. Born in Paris on Chrismas Eve 1961, Louis Moutin developed an early passion for music, particularly Jazz, in which he becamed immersed thanks to the family’s record collection. When he was seven years old, Louis began teaching himself to play piano. At age 20, he chose to become a jazz drummer. At 24, after completing training as an engineer at the prestigious Ecole Centrale and receiving a Masters Degree in Mathematics, Louis decided to abandon a career in technology and to pursue his musical interests. Within three years, he was a member of the very successful Machado Trio, and was already regarded as one of the best European Jazz drummers, performing frequently in the international Jazz Festival network. At 29, Louis teamed with his twin brother Francois, a highly regarded upright bass player, to form their first group. This collaboration by the Moutin brothers drew praise from Jazz audiences and music professionals alike. The Moutin Reunion Quartet, born in 1998, is a natural outcome of this collaboration. Meanwhile Louis has pursued a steady career as sideman with such renowned artists as : Martial Solal, Antoine Herve, Michel Portal, François Jeanneau, Manuel Rocheman, Michel Legrand, Christian Escoude, Albert Mangelsdorff, Andy Emler, N'guyen Le, Jean-Marie Machado, Jean Michel Pilc, Eric Lelann, Laurent Dehors, Simon-Spang-Hanssen. On various occasions, he has also performed with: Danilo Perez, John Abercrombie, Larry Schneider, Toots Thielemans, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Didier Lockwood, Markus Stockhausen, l'Ensemble Inter Contemporain, Johnny Griffin...

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Moutin Reunion Quartet: Soul Dancers

Read "Soul Dancers" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
March 9, 2010

Despite the reunion now nearly a decade old, there's nothing out of place or out of time about the vibrant Moutin Reunion Quartet. The group--co-led by twin brothers François (bass) and Louis (drums) Moutin--has delivered fiery album after fiery album since its 2002 debut, Power Tree (Dreyfus), but it's only been since its third release, Something Like Now (Nocturne, 2005), that the group has settled on the winning line-up of keyboardist Pierre de Bethmann and saxophonist Rick Margitza. ...

137

Album Review

Moutin Reunion Quartet: Sharp Turns

Read "Sharp Turns" reviewed by Laurel Gross

by Laurel Gross
January 11, 2008

Must it be pointed out that François and Louis Moutin are twins? Admittedly, it is a novelty to see these two handsome Gallic faces mirror-image each other in live performance, and on a special DVD side of Sharp Turns, by their Moutin Reunion Quartet. But live with them a little and it will become apparent that these multi-talented gentlemen are also singular individuals linked by a common passion, not unlike other committed jazz musicians who have played together for a ...

529

Album Review

Moutin Reunion Quartet: Sharp Turns

Read "Sharp Turns" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
January 3, 2008

Plenty has already been written about François and Louis Moutin, co-leaders of the Moutin Reunion Quartet, and the special simpatico they share as twin brothers. Over the course of three albums, including Something Like Now (Nocturne, 2005), the bassist and drummer have evolved a contemporary approach that, despite being largely acoustic, borrows as much--philosophically if not sonically--from fusion groups like Weather Report as it does classic influences like John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. MRQ is also a powerhouse live group, ...

137

Album Review

Moutin Reunion Quartet: Something Like Now

Read "Something Like Now" reviewed by Ken Franckling

by Ken Franckling
October 15, 2005

France's twin brother jazz combination, bassist François and drummer Louis Moutin, have just released their third Moutin Reunion Quartet recording in six years since the unit was formed as a showcase for their swinging, original compositions. It's another bop-rooted contemporary odyssey that is delightful in its scope and focus. The band is rounded out by pianist Pierre de Bethmann and the immensely gifted saxophonist Rick Margitza. Part 2 of the “Something Like Now title track provides a ...

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Album Review

Moutin Reunion Quartet: Something Like Now

Read "Something Like Now" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
September 30, 2005

Those twins are at it again: producing some fine jazz.

Paris-born bassist François and drummer Louis Moutin continue their brand of in your face (more correctly in your ear) jazz that sharply illustrates of contemporary bop sensibilities. Previous recordings and extensive gigs in Europe and the US have earned them respect among critics and fans as musicians dedicated to fresh compositions and vigorous performance. Since their musical reunion in 1999, the brothers have led various quartets with ...

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Album Review

Moutin Reunion Quartet: Something Like Now

Read "Something Like Now" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
September 3, 2005

When twin brothers François and Louis Moutin brought their Moutin Reunion Quartet to this year's Ottawa International Jazz Festival, it was one of those surprise performances that created an immediate buzz amongst festival-goers. The intensely powerful quartet played with the kind of total engagement that grabbed the audience from the first note. While most people didn't know who the Moutin Reunion Quartet was walking into the show, it's a sure bet that they'll be remembering them for a long time ...

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Album Review

Moutin Reunion Quartet: Something Like Now

Read "Something Like Now" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
August 23, 2005

Louis and François Moutin are French-born twin brothers who play drums and bass. Since '97, when François relocated from Paris to New York, they've been separated by a few thousand miles, but have managed periodically to get together to tour and record as the Moutin Reunion Quartet. Saxophonist Rick Margitza joined the lineup in '04 for the group's second album, Red Moon, and pianist Pierre de Bethmann comes on board with Something Like Now.

Most of the time, ...

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Performance / Tour

Moutin Reunion Quartet with saxophonist, Rick Margitza Chris' Jazz Cafe on May 7, 2011

Source: All About Jazz
April 25, 2011

On May 7 2011, Chris' Jazz Cafe presents the Moutin Reunion Quartet, touring in support of their recent CD Soul Dancers. The Moutin Reunion, headed by Francois Moutin on bass and Louis Moutin on drums was forged by their common desire to create music expressing the energy of life; full of emotion and spontaneity. Music close to what they intimately feel, inhabited by the jazz spirit, swing and grooves, inviting listeners and musicians to celebrate beauty and imagination. Joining them ...
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Performance / Tour

Moutin Reunion Quartet Ends Tour in NY at Dizzy's at Lincoln Center

Source: Lampkin Publicity Service
September 27, 2008

Critically acclaimed France based jazz group and Blujazz/Nocturne recording artists “Moutin Reunion Quartet” return to NY for their final USA appearance. Featuring gifted twins, Louis and Francois, with Rick Margitza on saxophone and Pierre de Bathmann on piano.October 6th - Dizzy's Coca Cola Club – Jazz @ Lincoln Center – NY, NY.- 1-212-258-9877

2008 brought the highly energetic critically acclaimed group to the states, with appearances in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan; Syracuse, NY; Chicago, Ill and a ...
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Performance / Tour

Moutin Reunion Quartet Celebrate New CD "Sharp Turns" Friday, November 30th & Saturday, December 1st at Cacha a Jazz 'N' Samba Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
November 27, 2007

Moutin Reunion Quartet Friday, November 30th & Saturday, December 1st Appearing At Cachaa Jazz 'n' Samba Club 35 West 8th Street New York, NY 10011-9029 Phone: 212/388-9099 Ticket price: $20.00 featuring Louis Moutin - drums Franois Moutin - bass Pierre De Bethmann - piano Rick Margitza - saxophone Performing music from their new CD Recorded in March 2007, ...
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