French-American Jazz Exchange

The French-American Jazz Exchange (FAJE) is a program of FACE Foundation and Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, in collaboration with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States.

Cover: Somi © Robert Adam Meyer

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PresentationFrance and the United States have shared a cherished history around jazz since its emergence at the turn of the 20th century. Jazz music was first introduced in France during the early 1910s when African-American soldiers traveled to France to serve in WWI. As a result, both countries have since nurtured a special artistic bond around jazz and produced vibrant collaborations that continue to resonate in today’s jazz scene.

In 2005, FACE Foundation and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, in partnership with the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (through Chamber Music America) created the French-American Jazz Exchange (FAJE) program, one of the few programs worldwide that is dedicated to bringing jazz artists from both countries together to explore the music’s rich legacy and evolution. In 2011, FACE partnered with Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to expand the reach of the FAJE program and further develop musical, artistic, and professional exchanges.

Designed to foster intercultural dialogue and contribute to the dynamism of jazz today, FAJE has become a bridge between France and the United States: it supports collaborations between French and American musicians and ensembles in both countries and encourages artists to create innovative projects that push the traditional boundaries of musical genres.Since its inception in 2005, FAJE has gained international recognition by supporting 98 projects involving more than 300 artists and allocating over $1.2 million in grants. More than 40 recorded albums and 300 public performances, including master classes, have been made possible through FAJE support.

FAJE has supported projects initiated by renowned musicians such as Ibrahim Maalouf, Nasheet Waits, John Hollenbeck, and Andy Milne, and has collaborated with major institutions in the U.S. including the Winter Jazz Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, The Kennedy Center and the D.C. Jazz Festival in Washington D.C., Constellation in Chicago, and many others.

In 2018, FAJE seeks to broaden its scope and support ambitious projects that demonstrate ingenuity, artistry, and a vision for the evolving contemporary jazz scene. Special attention will be given to projects that reflect the cultural and artistic diversity of the French and American jazz scenes, involve artists with diverse backgrounds and influences, and engage and broaden audiences and communities.

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FAJE in Numbers > 98 projects supported since its creation in 2005; > 40 recorded albums; > 300 public performances; > 300 collaborating musicians; > $1.2 million in grants awarded.

Professional Panel

Each year, a professional panel comprised of independent French and American jazz professionals reviews submitted applications and makes recommendations for support. Program Officers from FACE Foundation and Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation facilitate the operations and activities of the panel throughout the process of evaluating the appli-cations. Final approval of grants is given by the Board of Directors of FACE Foundation and MAAF, based on panel recommendations.

Past Panelists

Franck Amsallem, Jamie Baum, Vincent Bessières, Pierre de Bethmann, Joanne Brackeen, Gene Dobbs Bradford, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Greg Caroll, Ron Carter, Susan Dadian, Riccardo Del Fra, Sophia Domancich, Jonathan Duclos-Arkilovitch, Alex Dutilh, Andy Elmer, James Emery, John Gilbreath, Taylor Ho Bynum, Susie Ibarra, Karen Ken-nedy, Nguyên Lê, Xavier Lemettre, Benjamin Levy, Margaret Lioi, Céline Lugué, Nicole Mitchell, Lawrence “Butch” Morris, Philippe Ochem, Jason Olaine, Jacques Panisset, Rufus Reid, Tomeka Reid, Michele Rosewoman, Larry Simpson, A.B. Spellman, Sunny Sumter, Baptiste Trotignon, Sébastien Vidal, Eric Watson, Laurent de Wilde, and Daniel Yvinec.

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Grantees since 2005(not including all participating musicians)

Mariam AdamAmbrose AkinmusireFranck AmsallemAnakronic Elektro OrkestraLaurent BardainneSylvain BarouJames Thomas BatesKarl BergerAntoine BerjeaultTim BerneYacine BoularèsVincent BourgeyxMatthew BourneHélène BreschandGuillermo E. BrownTaylor Ho BynumEve-Marie CaravassilisFrank CarlbergPete Carney Vincent ChanceyChris CheekEvan ChristopherDenis ColinMederic CollignonLaurent CoqFrançois CorneloupVincent CourtoisAlban Darche Matt DarriauBenoît DelbecqDave DouglasMarc DucretJozef DumoulinHubert DupontPrabhu EdouardAmir ElSaffarAndy EmlerEllery Eskelin Jean-Luc FillonDavid FiuczynskiFOXWilliam GalisonGabriel “Minimo” GarayMeddy GervilleYohan GiaumeMarcus GilmoreDavid GilmoreBen Golberg Aaron GoldbergCécile GrassiDrew GressAndrew Gress

Alexandra GrimalCedric HanriotTom HarrelJoel HarrisonWendell HarrisonJohn HébertFred HerschAri HoenigJohn HollenbeckGaël HorellouWayne HorvitzFernando HuergoJon Irabagon Darius Jones Sylvain KassapRyan KeberleStephane KereckiPaul KikuchiDavid KrakauerEric LacroutsMaciek Lasserre Nguyên Lê Steve LehmanBleuenn Le MaitreEmilie Lesbros Dave LiebmanJohn LindbergRamon LopezBrian LynchIbrahim MaaloufJean-Marie Machado Rudresh MahanthappaTony MalabyChristophe Marguet Jean-Louis MatinierKarim MauriceMakaya McCravenAndy MilneNicole Mitchell Nicolas Moreaux Thomas MorganSarah MorrowFrancois Moutin Roy NathansonTodd NeufeldNew Orleans Center for the Creative ArtsLarry Ochs Miles OkazakiOrti-Sens Duo EnsembleFrancisco Pais

Jason PalmerChristophe PanzaniLeon ParkerWilliam ParkerAndrea ParkinsZeena ParkinsStéphane PayenEdward PerraudSerge PesceDidier Petit Barre PhillipsDavid PhillipsDominique Pifarely Sylvain RiffletSylvain RomanoJérôme SabbaghAllen S. Sadigursky Felipe Salles Herve SambAngelica SanchezVincent SegalHervé SellinMarlon SimonElliott SharpJaleel Shaw Walter Smith III SomiSphere Of Influence Ensemble Samuel StroukHelen Sung Steve SwallowYosvany TerryBaptiste TrotignonErik TruffazMark TurnerFrançois Tusques Jeremy UddenSachal Vasandani Nelson VerasBruno VerbruggheFranck VigrouxNasheet WaitsWoody WittKeith WittyFrank WoesteDaniel YvinecMalika ZarraMiguel ZenonDaniel Zimmermann

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Project HighlightsFAJE has supported a diverse array of groundbreaking projects. This support has enabled the artists involved to develop their professional networks in the U.S. and France.

Andy Milne & Benoît Delbecq Grantees 2006Piano Duo: Crystal Magnets | Album: “Where is Pannonica?” (Songlines Recordings, 2009)

Crystal Magnets piano duo reunited American artist Andy Milne and French artist Benoît Delbecq, two masters of contemporary improvisation. In their work “Where is Pannonica?” both artists combine written music with improvisations, including Delbecq’s electronics. Crystal Magnets have performed at festivals and concerts in Canada, France and the U.S. Together, Milne and Delbecq have extended the scope of their piano duo within the worlds of jazz and contemporary music.

www.delbecq.netwww.andymilne.com

Andy Milne and Benoît Delbecq became friends in 1990 while studying with saxophonist Steve Coleman at The Banff Centre Jazz Workshop. Since then, in addition to their fruitful individual careers, they have created various projects and performed together all over the world.

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Somi & Ibrahim Maalouf Grantees 2011

Acclaimed East-African vocalist and songwriter Somi worked in collaboration with French-Lebanese star Ibrahim Maalouf, known for playing quarter tone trumpet, on a project investigating the role of women and girls during the Arab Spring protests. Along with American musicians including guitarist Liberty Ellman, bassist Michael Olatuja, drummer Otis Brown III, and pianist Toru Dodo, the work was premiered at The Kennedy Center’s 2014 Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival.

www.somimusic.comwww.ibrahimmaalouf.com

Somi and Ibrahim Maalouf’s shared passion for hot jazz and the exploration of African and Arab traditions took off during their collaboration in 2011, catalyzing Somi’s career and spurring six years of partnership and projects. Today, Somi and Maalouf are two of the most acclaimed jazz artists of their generation.

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Nicole Mitchell & Sylvain Kassap Grantees 2014Black Earth Ensemble & Ensemble Laborintus | Album: “Moments of Fatherhood” (RogueArt, 2016)

American flutist Nicole Mitchell and her Black Earth Ensemble (violinist Renee Baker, saxophonist David Boykin, and pianist Aruan Ortiz) collaborated with French clarinetist Sylvain Kassap and his contemporary chamber Ensemble Laborintus (harpist Hélène Breschand, cellist Anïs Moreau, bassist Benjamin Duboc and percussionist César Carcopino) to produce a suite of vignettes composed by Nicole Mitchell, entitled “Moments of Fatherhood,” and inspired by portrayals of French and American men with their children.

www.nicolemitchell.comwww.laborintus.com

Since their collaboration in 2014, Nicole Mitchell was awarded Flutist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and Sylvain Kassap has spearheaded visionary projects on such themes as protest songs and has released new collaborative albums including “Heads or Tails.”

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Frank Woeste & Dave Douglas Grantees 2014Album: “Dada People” (Greenleaf, 2016)

French pianist Frank Woeste and American trumpeter Dave Douglas draw inspiration from the work of Man Ray, the influential American modern artist who was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements of the 20th century. Along with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Clarence Penn, Douglas and Woeste explore the concept of “art of reinvention” in their collaborative album “Dada People.”

www.frankwoeste.comwww.davedouglas.com

Dave Douglas met Frank Woeste while he was working with trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf. Both artists won several awards in their respective countries, and their shared common interests led them to create the project “Dada People,” which was met with great acclaim in the press.

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Yacine Boularès, Vincent Segal & Nasheet Waits Grantees 2015Album: “Abu Sadiya” (Accords Croisés, 2017)

French-Tunisian saxophonist Yacine Boularès and French cellist Vincent Segal worked together with American drummer Nasheet Waits to record original music, re-appropriating the forgotten Stambeli repertoire, healing trance music created by the descendants of Sub-Saharan slaves. Compositions form a series of variations on the legend of the hunter Abu Sadiya.

www.yacineboulares.comwww.nasheetwaits.com

In 2014, Yacine Boularès was featured both as a soloist and arranger of the Andalucian standard Lamma Bada. This is where he met cellist Vincent Segal and the idea was born to explore the Tunisian Stambeli repertoire with Segal on cello and drummer Nasheet Waits. Since their project in 2015, Yacine Boularès, French cellist Vincent Segal, and Nasheet Waits have recorded and released an album—the culmination of their project—and planned several concerts in Europe and the U.S.

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Keith Witty & Christophe Panzani Grantees 2016Trio THIEFS | Album: “GRAFT” (Jazz & People Records, 2017)

American bassist Keith Witty and French saxophonist Christophe Panzani incorporate new musicians and vocalists to their existing trio, Thiefs, in this album that explores the human experience of migration, raising questions about what it means to be from a place, to be a stranger, and to be perceived as a stranger. Poets Mike Ladd and Gaël Faye bring their artistry and vision into this project.

www.keithwitty.comwww.christophepanzani.com

The genre-defying, energetic trio Thiefs is the result of a longstanding partnership between Keith Witty and the French jazz scene. After touring extensively with the Carla Bley Big Band and the French hip-hop outfit Hocus Pocus, Thiefs came together under the auspices of FAJE and has been working together since, performing in many venues in Europe and the U.S.

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Program PartnersFACE FOUNDATIONFACE Foundation (French-American Cultural Exchange) is an American non-profit organization dedicated to supporting French-American relations through innovative cultural and educational projects. In partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States, FACE Foundation promotes artistic, literary and educational exchange and collaboration between creative professionals from both countries. With additional corporate, foundation, and individual support, FACE Foundation administers grant programs in the performing and visual arts, cinema, translation, and secondary and higher education, while providing financial sponsorship to French-American festivals and other cultural initiatives. FACE Foundation focuses on new and recent work of living artists and the promotion of bilingualism and the French language. FACE Foundation operates under the authority of a Board of Trustees. Visit www.face-foundation.org

MID ATLANTIC ARTS FOUNDATIONMid Atlantic Arts Foundation develops partnerships and programs that reinforce artists’ capacity to create and present work and advance access to and participation in the arts. The Foundation was created in 1979 and is a private non-profit organization that is closely allied with the region’s state arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. It combines funding from state and federal resources with private support from corporations, foundations, and individuals to address needs in the arts from a regional, national, and international perspective. Visit www.midatlanticarts.org

CULTURAL SERVICES OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN THE U.S.The Cultural Services of the French Embassy promotes the best of French arts, literature, cinema, digital innovation, language, and higher education across the U.S. Based in New York City, Washington D.C., and eight other cities across the country, the Cultural Services brings artists, authors, intellectuals and innovators to cities nationwide. It also builds partnerships between French and American artists, institutions and universities on both sides of the Atlantic. In New York, through its bookshop Albertine, it fosters French-American exchange around literature and the arts. Visit www.frenchculture.org

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Program SponsorsDoris Duke Charitable FoundationEstablished in 1996, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has a long history of supporting performing artists with the creation and public performance of their work. The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties. Given Doris Duke’s interest in jazz during her life, the foundation has developed initiatives that specifically support jazz artists, and the organizations that nurture, present and produce them.

Florence Gould FoundationThe Florence Gould Foundation, an American foundation devoted to French-American exchange and amity, has consistently provided major support to FAJE. Born of French parents in San Francisco in 1895, Florence Gould lived both in the United States and France during her life. That life was one in which an interest and dedication to arts and letters was always paramount. Having no family, at her death in 1993, Florence Gould left the bulk of her fortune to the foundation bearing her name.

Ministère de la Culture The French Ministry of Culture aims to make the major works of humanity— and especially those of France— accessible to the largest number of people possible. As such, it maintains a policy of conservation, of protection, and of development of all components of French cultural heritage. It promotes the creation of works of art and of the mind, and the development of art practices and education. It further contributes to cultural initiatives outside of France, and to initiatives relating to the establishment of French cultural programs throughout the world.

Institut françaisThe Institut français, under the aegis of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, actively contributes to France’s soft power. Its projects and programs take local contexts into account and can be successfully implemented thanks to the vast network of the French Embassies’ cultural services, as well as the many Instituts français and Alliances Françaises present across five continents. In the field of music, the Institut français provides support for the international promotion and circulation of artists, in order to facilitate their access to new audiences and to support their international development. It offers expert advice, artistic recommendations for foreign professionals and the French cultural network abroad, consultancy and financial grants for the artists and their environment. Finally, in close relationship with French cultural network abroad, it helps to connect artists and professionals in the relevant sectors of the international music industry.

SACEMFounded in 1851, SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music), is a non-profit non-trading entity owned and managed by its members according to the business model of a cooperative. To guarantee authors’ intellectual property rights over their works, SACEM collects and distributes royalties, playing a crucial economic role to preserve musical creation.

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ContactsFACE Foundation

Laurent AuffretExecutive Director972 Fifth AvenueNew York, NY 10075laurent.auffret@face-foundation.orgwww.face-foundation.org

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation

Theresa ColvinExecutive Director201 N Charles St #401Baltimore, MD 21201Theresa@midatlanticarts.orgwww.midatlanticarts.org

CreditsCover: Somi © Robert Adam Meyer Page 4: Andy Milne © Steve Gunther Benoît Delbecq © Barbara Rigon Page 5: Ibrahim Maalouf © Joseph Bagur Somi © Robert Adam Meyer Page 6: Sylvain Kassap & Nicole Mitchell © RogueArt Page 7: Dave Douglas & Frank Woeste © Fabrice Journo Page 8: Yacine Boularès, Vincent Segal & Nasheet Waits © Jean-Baptiste MillotYacine Boularès & Vincent Segal © Tom Payeur Page 9: Keith Witty © Iva PeeleChristophe Panzani © Laetitia Derieux

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