Fidel Fourneyron - Vamos Andando (2023)

The adventure of the Fanfare au Carreau began in spring 2014: The new National Jazz Orchestra set up shop in a brand new Carreau du Temple. The team had imagined a brass band workshop which it had entrusted to Fidel Fourneyron, new trombonist of the ONJ, originally from the southwest and nourished by the sound of brass bands. It was the opportunity to create a large amateur orchestra like no other in the heart of Paris, playing a tailor-made repertoire. And it worked ! The project quickly found its place in Parisian cultural and associative life, and in our hearts.

Today the fanfare stands on its own two feet. From the 20 musicians in the first year to the 80 registered in 2023, we welcomed a lot of people. The orchestra brings together all generations, from the 4 corners of Île-de-France. Little by little the instrumentarium grows and becomes more balanced, we even have strings! We rehearse every other Monday evening, and we give around ten concerts per year.

Fidel Fourneyron, alongside his flourishing career (Victoire du Jazz 2019, artist associated with Jazz sous les Pommiers, ¿ Que Vola?, Bengue…) pampers his fanfare, growing and evolving an entirely original repertoire, happy to see the musicians flourish and progress, the sound of the orchestra takes on character rehearsal after rehearsal.

As our tenth anniversary approaches, we wanted to include a few pieces from our repertoire on this disc. The recording, in professional conditions, was a delicious and unique moment, and a great experience for everyone.

The brass band's repertoire is designed in the style of studies, each piece being a pretext for working on a style, rhythm, and phrasing particular to music coming from almost everywhere. Some titles refer to cooked dishes: Pudding, inspired by English brass bands; Currywurst, Berlin electronic music style; Chiguiro, a Colombian-style grilled meat; a Burger, a nod to Hollywood music. Brûlot du bayou is a coffee accompanied by a digestif that is drunk in Louisiana. Some trees from around the world too, like the Venezuelan Guayacan, or Tilleul, our musette waltz. Ain’t nothin’ to do is an autobiographical piece written during the first confinement.

Vamos Andando, in Brazil, could be translated as “we continue to move forward”. It is a piece that Fidel wrote in memory of Michel Garcia, his first conductor, who gave tirelessly to make young people love music, and without whom Fidel would not have become a musician. With the fanfare, it is sharing and mutual aid that we defend here, simple ideas that are close to our hearts. Vamos Andando!