Stéphane Belmondo

Raised in a family of jazz musicians in the south of France, Stéphane Belmondo has established himself as a trumpeter and flugelhorn player at the intersection of hard bop, European modern jazz and soul and Mediterranean influences. Active on the French scene from the late 1980s, he first drew attention in clubs and festivals as a sideman before developing his own ensembles, often in close collaboration with his brother, saxophonist Lionel Belmondo. His career alternates between small acoustic formats, projects reinterpreting repertoires by artists such as Stevie Wonder or Chet Baker, and collaborations with musicians like Yusef Lateef or Dee Dee Bridgewater, which broadened his international reach. His playing emphasizes melody, timbral nuance and a very singing approach to improvisation, while remaining rooted in the legacy of 1950s and 1960s American jazz. Active both in studio and on stage, Stéphane Belmondo continues to move between intimate clubs, large concert halls and orchestral projects, maintaining a constant link to tradition while placing it in a contemporary context.