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Didier Squiban - Biography
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Didier Squiban was born in 1959 in Ploudalmézeau, Brittany, where even as a child his musicality was obvious and he says his inspiration was found in the sea!
His work is subtle but certainly influenced by the traditional Breton music,
while jazz and romanticism inspire his improvisation.
At eight years old he made his first public appearance, playing the organ
in the local Parish
Church; he had discovered traditional music
and decided
to further develop his passion for the piano.
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In 1977, Didier was further
influenced by Bill Evans and
consequently improved his style. It was through his friends among the Breton artists,
that Didier also met John Surman, Toots Thielemans and Eric Barret further confirming 'Jazz' as an influence on his creativity.
Although he continued his traditional music studies,
enterprisingly he formed his regional jazz band “Sirius” in 1988.
Five years later, Dan Ar Braz invited Didier to take part in the “Heritage of the Celts”
through which he started his collaboration with Yann-Fañch
Kemener.
His subsequent meeting with the music producer, Gilles Lozac (L'Oz
Productions) was a defining moment and they became firm friends, resulting in three superb albums;
'Enez Eusa', 'Island-Exile' and 'Kimiad' all of them highly praised by the Music press and critics.
In 1995, Didier composed “Penn Ar Bed”, the official music of the maritime event,
'Brest 96', where he performed with other musicians such as, Manu Lann
Huel, Ronan the Bars, Dan Ar Braz, Eric Lann, Alain Genty, Jean-Michel Veillon and Jean Chevalier.
In 1997, Didier composed 'Molène', a splendid homage to the traditional music of
Breton, followed in 1999, by the recording of 'Porz Gwenn',
which continued and included his variations on traditional themes,
improvisations and his original compositions.
Two years later he composed the 'Images of Rozbras' and the 'Trilogy for
piano'. In 2003 producing the piano solo 'Ballades'. Performed in many concerts in different parts of the world, “Ballades”
consolidated
Didier's International fame, particularly in Japan.
At the request of his producer, Didier developed his composing
talents for orchestra, writing the 'Symphony Brittany'; an emblematic work for the year
2000 and described as, 'A musical footbridge between tradition and the
future'. His symphony concert for piano was first performed with the Chorus and Orchestra of Brittany, gathering eighty musicians together.
In July 2004, Didier presented his second symphony, the “Iroise Symphony”, at 'Brest 2004' and at the 'Festival from Cornwall' in
Quimper, receiving a standing ovation from the audiences and unanimous praise from the critics. The DVD “Symphony
Iroise”, which contains extracts from the Brittany symphony, was also published.
Each year, 'L'Oz Production' organizes 'The Round of the Vaults” in Brittany. A real treat for Didier,
who visits again the source of his creative inspiration. The CD “Turned of the Vaults” was recorded during the summer 2004 and the DVD “Riec Concert on
Belon” in August 2006.
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| The music of Didier
Squiban is available on CD from
Amazon - Click the logo on
the right to go to 'Amazon' (which will open in a separate window)
and then type 'Didier Squiban' into
their Search box for all the listings of his music available on CD. |
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