Patrick Saussois born 1954 in Paris, has become a guitarrist beeing a complete Autodidakt and left-handed player, learning mainly by the influence of Django Reinhardt and Henri Crolla. But there were also other guitarrists, mainly in the 1960ies, that influenced him strongly: Jacques Montagne, Maurice Ferret, Lousson, Joseph and Babik Reinhardt or the great Matelo Ferré that he accompanied many times. Patrick Saussois was a luminous figure in the parisian Jazz-Scene. He used to play very early together with Accordeonist Jo Privat, as with many known greats of Gypsyjazz, recorded in America with Buck Pizzarelli and Saxophnist Riechie Cole.
His curiosity always developed new areas of Jazz for him. He also played with known greats like Ted Curson, Gianni Basso, Benny Waters, Rhoda Scott, Houston Person, Richie Cole, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jack Wilkins... but nevertheless also backed up Singers from the french popular business.
Eventhough he mastered the challenges of improvisation of the well known Jazz-guitarrists pretty early, he was as well interested and excited by the rich harmonies of brasilian Jazz and the spirituality of Grant Green.
His Discography shows more than 20 records, all of em whitnesses of his open minded musicality and artistical freedom.
In 1996 he founded the Formation "Alma Sinti". With this band he played on all big Jazz-Festivals worldwide gaining high respect everywhere for the melting of traditional music with other styles, always fresh and intelligent never beeing nostalgic or boring.
Swing, dancemusic, Gypsy-Waltz, Jazz, Bossa Nova - everything was mixed up in his music...
Patrick Saussois and his Band "Alma Sinti" toured worldwide in the USA, Canada and Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, England...
He was the founder of the small record-label "Djaz-Records" which produced and released many CDs of artists like Ninine Garcia, Am Ketenes, Koen de Cauter, Dorado and Tschavolo Schmitt and many more. And Djaz also released a small magazine the "Jazz Swing Journal".
Patrick Saussios died september 20st 2012 by heartattack. He was just only 58 years old. His death is a great loss for the Gypsyjazz-Community.
(Source: https://www.myspace.com/patricksaussois)
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