Benjamin Moussay

Originally trained in classical piano at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg and later in jazz piano at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris, Benjamin Moussay has developed since the 2000s a career situated between contemporary jazz, improvisation and keyboard composition, with a particular focus on timbres, space and group dynamics. A French pianist and keyboardist, he moves easily between solo formats and collective ensembles; his playing combines strongly defined melodic lines, work on resonance and more abstract textures, sometimes approaching atmospheric electronics. His emergence was marked notably by the Concours international Martial Solal and the Concours national de jazz de La Défense, followed by a steady presence on French and European stages. Over the course of his career he has collaborated with musicians such as Louis Sclavis, Marc Ducret, Daniel Humair, Michel Portal, Steve Swallow, Youn Sun Nah, Vincent Peirani and Airelle Besson. He also leads several long-term projects, including a trio with Eric Echampard and Arnault Cuisinier, and a duo with Claudia Solal in which vocal writing and improvisation occupy a central place. Benjamin Moussay also teaches, continuing a musical practice rooted in listening, open forms and the interplay between acoustic and electronic sound.