Born in 1981, ANTOINE THOUVENIN started his musical studies at age 5 with the violin and the horn at age 8 at the conservatoire of his hometown of Nîmes (France). He successively graduated with top honors in Montpellier National Conservatoire, in 2001 and 2002, in the classes of Marie-Laurence Rocca for the violin, and Olivier Brouard for the horn.
His introduction with Jazz universe started at that period, when he integrated the Jazz department of Montpellier Conservatoire (with the horn) led by François Thébèrge (also Director of the Jazz department of the “Conservatoire National Supérieur de musique” of Paris), and studied with masters such as Peter Giron (double bass from bronx) and Pierre de Bethmann (French Jazz pianist) among others. During this period, Antoine got his first professional contract as French-hornist in the theater production “La decision“ performed at the international theater of Avignon (Official selection), Montpellier theater (Théatre des 13 Vents) and Paris.
In 2000, he leaves for Switzerland to work with Gregory Cass at the Haute Ecole de Musique of Geneva (HEM) before entering the class of Claudio Pontiggia in Fribourg to enhance his Jazz skills and start the guitar under the
© Credits Stephane Gauthier
guidance of Francis Coletta (guitarist of Frank Sinatra, Phil Collins and Randy Brecker).
From 2007 to 2008 Antoine Thouvenin has followed the Vorkurs courses of the Bern Swiss Jazz School (SJS) before leaving for Geneva to progress at the very heart of the Jazz School Association of the A.M.R.
He was awarded a grant in 2011 from the “François Chevrolet Foundation” in Geneva, a foundation that rewards special scholarships to promising Swiss artists which allowed him to pursue his artistic projects with an ES335 Gibson guitar of 1968.
Encountered with artists such as
Maurice Magnoni, Ohad Talmor, Vinz Vonlanthen, and Christian Graff enriched his musical path before graduating cum laude in June 2013 with a Bachelor of music, pedagogy and guitar degree.
In Geneva, Antoine Thouvenin had the honor to regularly perform with established and internationally renowned musicians such as Nicolas Masson (ECM artist), Gabriel Zufferey, Evaristo Perez, Maxence Sibille, Manu Gesseney and Manu Hagmann.
He also collaborated with great bands such as
the “Nocturnes Quintet”, “Original Oldies Trio”, “Désacordés Quartet” (with whom he recorded “91 fingers” as violinist, released in 2013.
In August 2014, he received the Best Artist Award by the Fara Sabina International Jazz Festival (Italy) for his guitar work.
The same year, he was awarded fifteen thousand Swiss francs from the Wilsdorf Fondation (Rolex watch fondation) to continue his path as musician in New York city, where he studied within the Queens College walls in the classes of Michael Mossman, Antonio Hart and David Berkman. He graduated Master (cum laude as well) in May 2017.
In August 2016, Antoine collaborated with the acclaimed singer Claire Lyse Von Dach for the recording of the “Moonlight“ début album at the Studio 59.2 in Lausanne (Switzerland).
the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), “Les Estivales de Meugève” (France), Cully Jazz International Festival (Switzerland, one of Europe’s biggest festivals), Fara Sabina Jazz Festival (Italy), International Dixieland Jazz Festival in Tarragona (Spain) and “Aux Petit Joueurs” in Paris (France).
2014 was highlighted by the creation of a new group: “Antoine Thouvenin Quintet” with which he performs as guitarist featuring Nicolas Masson, Yohan Jacquier (tenor saxophones), Vincent Ruiz (double bass) and Noé Franké (drums). It is also as manager, arranger and composer of this group that he took part to the International A.M.R Jazz festival in Geneva where he performed a sold out show (500 pers) opening up for the all-star Band “The Impossible Gentleman”:
Steeve Rodby (Path Metheny, Milt Jackson, Joe Henderson, Art Farmer) Adam Nussbaum (Michael Brecker, Toots Thielmans,Gary Burton, Stan Getz) Mike Walker (Dave Holland, Bill Frisell, Peter Erskine, John Taylor). Together, they released their debut album “Step” in 2016, recorded at the Blend Studio Lutry (Switzerland).
In October 2018, he recorded with Juana Luna an IMA AWARDS artist nominated (Best EP World Music) at the “Studio 42” in Brooklyn.
In Summer 2020, he joined the recently Café Royal granted ($22200) 2Birds Band for an upcoming recording at Flux Studio Manhattan (Paul McCartney, Jon Batiste,J-Lo etc...)
To this date, Mr. Thouvenin has performed with countless musicians from all around the world and toured with many bands – under his name as well as collaborative projects – at major festivals, venues and radios while being an in-demand educator, sharing his knowledge and passion of music, jazz and improvisation.
Ongoing Projects:
- 2Birds Band
- Les Manchots
- Les Désacordés
- Vincent Ruiz Group
- Marius Duboule Trio
- Felix Lemerle Gypsy Jazz Trio - Les Franglais
- Pravin Thompson Quartet
- Washington’s Best Musicians
- Tony’s Hot Club
© Credit Loïc Oswald
Currently, Antoine Thouvenin is band leader of the Gypsy-swing Quartet “Les Manchots” (“Les Manchots à la conquête de l’ouest” 2012 and “Belleville 80’“2015) as violinist, with whom he toured all across Europe several times and played on prestigious stages such as
