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Singer/songwriter
Bénabar emerged at the vanguard of France's "chanson réaliste" movement, crafting uncommonly literary portraits of contemporary life informed by folk, jazz, and film. Born
Bruno Nicolini on June 16, 1969, in the Paris suburb of Essonne, he began studying trumpet at age eight, and after completing school spent six months in the U.S. There his longtime fascination with filmmaking grew, and upon returning home he trained as a photographer and film technician, at age 20 writing and directing his first short film, Nada Lezard. In the decade to follow
Nicolini released two additional shorts, most notably the Montreal Film Festival award-winning José Jeannette. However, his ambitions to direct a feature-length project were stalled by financing troubles, and in the interim he turned to television, writing for the Canal+ production H.
At age 25
Nicolini also began writing songs, teaching himself piano and performing in nightclubs under the alias
Bénabar, inspired by the famed clown Barnabé. While touring with frequent collaborator Patchol,
Bénabar formed his own band in 1996, enlisting saxophonist
Denis Grare, trumpeter Vincent Schaeffer, double bassist Stéphane Benveniste, and drummer Pascal Vignon. Dubbed
Bénabar et Associés, they issued their debut LP,
La P'tite Monnaie, in early 1998, spending much of the year to come on tour. Upon signing with major label Zomba,
Bénabar issued a self-titled album in September 2001, followed by an extended tour in support of
Henri Salvador. The LP went gold, and just 18 months later
Bénabar issued the follow-up,
Les Risques du Métier.
Another grinding tour schedule followed, yielding the concert set
Live au Grand Rex. With 2005's Reprise des Négociations,
Bénabar issued his most intimate collection to date, eschewing the social commentary that was the hallmark of previous records in favor of more explicitly autobiographical material, including the lead single, "Maritie and Gilbert Carpentier." On the heels of Reprise,
Bénabar expanded his résumé to actor, as he appeared in several films. However,
Bénabar returned to music three years later in 2008 with Infrequentable. ~ Jason Ankeny