Sophia Domancich & Simon Goubert

“You don’t know what love is”


The Domancich / Goubert project has the sound of the miraculous success of the two most singular and luminous paths of contemporary French Jazz crossing: the path of
Sophia Domancich, who directed the Paul Rogers/Tom Levin trio for years, and Simon Goubert who worked with Joachim Kühn, Eric Watson and the late Michel Grailler.
Together, these two masters of the duet brilliantly exemplify Goethe’s famous formula, reminding us that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.

And in this case, the whole is a genuine language that is woven and reinvented right before our eyes through panting breaths, loaded with emotion; a pure journey, far
from all the chattering. Because these two have something to say. A story that is strange yet familiar about the incredible fragility of life and happiness. In a word, a story we can all relate to.

Domancich / Goubert seems to have transcended the difficult art of the duet by baring their souls, somewhat disconcerting because it is so moving and intimate, as if
what was buried deepest within us, unexpectedly rose to the surface upon hearing a few notes seeming to fall from the heavens. In this way, seeing Domancich Goubert in concert is not only a moment of sheer beauty, but is part of an inner journey. A journey which reveals that true freedom necessarily leads to stripping away the material and arriving at the essence of truth, and from the essence of truth, the essence of being. Such a tremendous presence, but a presence that can and must be shared.

Sophia Domancich

Sophia Domancich

Sophia DomancichBorn in Paris, Sophia Domancich started playing piano at a very young age,. At 11 she entered Paris’ National Conservatory of Music, and although her suburban life in Sarcelles occasionally conflicted with the institution’s demands, she concluded her studies with first prizes in both piano and chamber music.
Her life then took a different turn. Spending most evenings at the Chapelle des Lombards club in rue de Lappe, she started backing West Indian and African singers, and jamming with such jazz musicians as Bobby Few, Steve Lacy, Bernard Lubat,. She began a parallel collaboration with the British jazz scene, Jazz drummer Tony Levin,
triggered the advent of her first major trio, when he invited her to play a three- week stint at London’s Ronnie Scott’s club and in Birmingham, again with Rogers on bass. This residency marked the beginning of seven years of regular touring and recording, documented on three studio albums. Showcasing Sophia Domancich’s fully mature writing, the trio was noted for its unique sound, solemn tone and rich interplay. On occasion it also served as rhythm section for collaborations with, among others, saxophonists Paul Dunmall and Evan Parker. From 1997 to 2000, Sophia Domancich was invited to join the prestigious Orchestre National de Jazz by its then musical director, double bass player Didier Levallet. This also manifested itself in her collaborations with drummer Ramon Lopez – most notably in the Flowers Trio with double bassist Joëlle Léandre -. In 2000 she assembled her quintet Pentacle, consisting of Jean-Luc Cappozzo on trumpet, Claude Tchamitchian on double bass, Simon Goubert on drums and Michel Marre on euphonium. It has so far recorded two albums – its eponymous début in 2003, and “Triana Moods” in 2006, inspired by a memorable stay in Sevilla, in which she was finally able to express the solar side of her lyricism.
Her next musical venture, begun that same year, was a truly cooperative trio, named DAG after the initials of its members – Domancich on piano, Jean-Jacques Avenel on double bass and Simon Goubert on drums. Sophia Domancich and Simon Goubert also recorded a duo album, “You Don’t Know What Love Is”.
She create a unique concerto for piano and electronics, “Lilienmund”, a fascinating work that draws on samples often transformed beyond recognition – from Alban Berg’s opera “Lulu”, Qigang Chen’s “Iris Unveiled” or a poem by Heinrich Heine recited by Helga Nick – to suggest reminiscences of ghost worlds. She also did a record for Futura Marge with William Parker and Hamid Drake and more recently for the same label , with Andrew Cyrille and Mark Helias.
Music from/for both the body and the soul.

Discographie sélective

  • “Funerals” – (1991)
  • “Rêve de singe” – (1993)
  • “L’année des treize lunes – (1995)
  • “La part des anges” – (1997)
  • “Pentacle” – (2003)
  • Pentacle : “Triana moods” – (2007)
  • “Snakes and ladders” – (2010)

En solo:

“Rêves familiers” – (1999)

Co-leader:

  • John Greaves/Vincent Courtois/Sophia Domancich :” The trouble with happiness ” – (2003)
  • Elton Dean/Sophia Domancich: “avant” – (2005) (USA et G-B)
  • “Soft Bounds” – (2005)
  • Sophia Domancich/Jean-Jacques Avenel/Simon Goubert : “DAG” – (2006)
  • Sophia Domancich & Simon Goubert : “You don’t know what love is” – (2007)
  • Sophia Domancich/Jean-Jacques Avenel/Simon Goubert : “Free 4 DAG” – (2009)
  • Sophia Domancich/William Parker/Hamid Drake : “Washed away” – (2009)

Également:

  • Pip Pyle: “Equip Out” – (1986)
  • Alain et Yvon Guillard: “Pazapa” – (1987)
  • Trio Davenport – (1988)
  • John Greaves: “La petite bouteille de linge” – (1990)
  • Lydia Domancich: “Au-delà des limites” – (1990)
  • Equip’out: “Up” – (1990)
  • Bruno Tocanne: “Odessa” – (1994)
  • Peter Gritz: “Thank you to be” – (1994)
  • John Greaves: “Songs”– (1994)
  • Elton Dean Quintet: “Silent knowledge” – (1996)
  • Paul Rogers: “Time of brightness” – (1997)
  • ONJ Didier Levallet: “ONJ express” – (1997)
  • Stefano Maltese – Open Sound Ensemble: “Living alive” – (1999)
  • Eric Barret: “New Shapes” – (1999)
  • ONJ Didier Levallet: “Séquences” – (1999)
  • ONJ Didier Levallet: “Deep feelings” – (2000)
  • Simon Goubert:” Désormais ” – (2001)
  • Hatfield and the North: “Live”(DVD) – (2002)
  • Stella: “Le coeur allant vers” – (2004)
  • Simon Goubert: “et après” – (2005)
  • Ramon Lopez: “Flowers of peace trio” – (2005)
  • Simon Goubert: “Background” – (2008)

Simon Goubert

Simon Goubert
Simon Goubert

Born in Rennes, France, in 1960, Simon Goubert began to learn piano at age 3. He discovered the drums on the occasion of a performance by Kenny Clarke in his native town on February 4th, 1970.

He received tuition in percussion at the Rennes music academy, then from 1976 with Silvio Gualda at the Versailles music academy. There he also studied harmony. His career as percussionist began with the ORTF’s (National French TV) Ensemble Polyphonique led by Charles Ravier.
Most of all, though, he spent his nights in jazz clubs, most notably at the Riverbop where he got involved in numerous jams thanks to the kind support of Aldo Romano, Jacques Thollot, Bernard Lubat or Christian Vander.
From 1982 to 1987, he performed, on keyboards, with Christian Vander’s “Offering” ensemble, later joining the “Voix de Magma” in 1992, then “Magma”.

Simon Goubert has played, among others, with: Steve Grossman, Sonny Fortune, René Urtreger, Florin Niculescu, Alain Jean-Marie, Christian Escoudé, Jacques Vidal, Harold Danko, Jacky Terrasson, Bireli Lagrène, Michèle Hendricks, Riccardo Del Fra, Joachim Kühn, Rick Margitza, Malcolm Braff, Philip Catherine, Siegfried Kessler, Dave Liebman, Eric Le Lann, Jean-François Jenny-Clark, André Persiany, Kim Parker, Steve Potts, Babik Reinhardt, Mal Waldron, Michel Édelin, Laurent De Wilde, Didier Levallet, George Mraz, Andy Emler, Eddie Henderson, Gordon Beck, François Janneau, John Hicks, Andy Laverne, Manuel Rocheman, James Carter, Eric Watson, Lee Konitz, Martial Solal, Chuck Israëls, Joëlle Léandre,…

Between 1987 and 1997, he had a regular trio with Michel Graillier and Alby Cullaz, which released two live albums: “It was a very good night” et “Sweet smile”.
In 1991, Simon Goubert recorded his début album, “Haïti”, with Jean-Michel Couchet, Laurent Fickelson, Stéphane Persiani and a prestigious guest: Steve Grossman. In 1993, he released his second effort, “Couleurs de peaux”, with the Belmondo brothers, Michel Graillier and Emmanuel Borghi, Christian Vander and Aldo Romano.
In 1994-97, he co-led, with Christian Vander, “Welcome”, a line-up comprising two drum kits, two saxophones, a piano and two double basses. In February 1996, the album “Bienvenue” was released.

His next two recordings, “L’encierro” (1995) and “Le phare des Pierres Noires” (1998).
From 1999, he is in the trio “BFG” alongside Glenn Ferris and Emmanuel Bex and since 1999, he is a member of Sophia Domancich’s Pentacle quintet.
In 2000 he formed his current quartet with Boris Blanchet, Sophia Domancich and Michel Zenino; “Désormais…”, a double album (studio + live) came out in 2001. In parallel, he also formed Invitation, a quartet including Sophia Domancich, guitarist Éric Daniel and double bass player Jean-Philippe Viret.
In 2004, he formed “Soft Bounds” with Sophia Domancich and former “Soft Machine” members Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean (replaced by Simon Picard after he passed away in 2006).

2005 saw the release of “et après”, a studio-oriented album involved a large cast of guests. That same year, with Sophia Domancich – with whom he also performs regularly as a duo (the album “You don’t know what love is” came out in 2007) – and Jean-Jacques Avenel, he also formed the trio DAG, which released its eponymous début in 2006.
In 2008, the quartet he was leading for 8 years became a sextet for his new Cd “Backgreound” (Le Chant du Monde).
He added Emmanuel Codjia on guitar and Pierrick Pedron on alto saxophone. At the moment he plays with Emmanuel Bex’s “Open Gate Trio” and François Corneloup Trio.

Simon Goubert was the first (and so far only) drummer to be awarded the Académie du Jazz’s Django Reinhardt prize, in December 1996.

Discographie sélective

Leader

” Haïti ” – (1991) ” Couleurs de peaux ” – (1993) ” L’encierro ” – (1995) ” Des jours difficiles ” (compilation Les Allumés du Jazz) – (1997) ” Le phare des Pierres Noires ” – (1998) ” Désormais, … ” – (2001) ” et après ” – (2005) “Background” – (2008)

Co-Leader

  • Steve GROSSMAN / Alby CULLAZ / Simon GOUBERT : ” Reflections ” – (1991)
  • Simon GOUBERT / Christian VANDER “WELCOME” : ” Bienvenue ” – (1995)
  • Michel GRAILLIER / Alby CULLAZ / Simon GOUBERT : ” It was a very good night ” – (1998)
  • Éric BARRET / Simon GOUBERT : ” Linkage ” – (2000)
  • Emmanuel BEX / Glenn FERRIS / Simon GOUBERT “BFG” : ” Here and now ” – (2001)
  • Michel GRAILLIER / Alby CULLAZ / Simon GOUBERT : « Sweet smile » – (Japon 2004)
  • “SOFT BOUNDS” – (2005)
  • Sophia DOMANCICH/Jean-Jacques AVENEL/Simon GOUBERT “DAG” – (2006)
  • Sophia DOMANCICH & Simon GOUBERT “You don’t know what love is” – (2007)
  • Sophia DOMANCICH/Jean-Jacques AVENEL/Simon GOUBERT “Free 4 DAG” – (2009)
  • Simon GOUBERT & Ablaye CISSOKO “African Jazz Roots” (2012)
  • Sophia DOMANCICH/Jean-Jacques AVENEL/Simon GOUBERT “DAG” – “Upcoming summer” (2013)

Sideman

René URTREGER : “Serena ” – (1990) ___ ” The art of romance “(avec M.Graillier et R.Del Fra) – (1990) ___ Arnaud MATTEI : ” Kamala ” – (1990) ___ Stéphane PERSIANI : ” Le cinquième ” – (1990) ___ Stephanie CRAWFORD / Mi- chel GRAILLIER : ” A time for love ” – (1991) ___ Babik REINHARDT : ” Nuances” – 1992) ___ Didier LEVALLET : ” Générations ” – (1992) ___ Babik REINHARDT : ” Les enfants de Django ” – (1993) ___ Gilles NATUREL : ” Naturel ” – (1994) ___ Jeff GARDNER / Rick MARGITZA : ” Second home ” – (1994) ___ Patrick CASTILLE : ” Espace vital ” – (1994) ___ Jacques VIDAL : ” News of Bop ” – (1995) ___ Pierre-Michel SIVADIER : ” D’amour fou d’amour ” – (1995) ___ Manuel ROCHEMAN : ” Tropic City ” – (1995) ___ Xavier RICHARDEAU : ” Aube brune ” – (1995) ___ Michel EDELIN : ” Déblocage d’émergence ” – (1995) ___ Jacques VIDAL : ” Traverses ” – (1996) ___ Riccardo DEL FRA / Bob REVEL : ” Insieme ” – (1996) ___ Jacques VIDAL : ” Ramblin ” – (1999) ___ Manuel ROCHEMAN : ” I’m old fashioned ” – (1999) ___ Florin NICULESCU : ” Gipsy ballad ” – (1999) ___ Eric BARRET : ” New shapes ” – (1999) ___ Jacques VIDAL : ” Saïda ” – (2000) ___ Sophia DOMANCICH :” Pentacle ” – (2003) ___ “Jazz live in Samois” (compilation) – (2003) ___ Eddie HENDERSON :« Echoes » – (2004) ___ Jacques VIDAL : “Sans issue” – (2005) ___ Jacques VIDAL : “Mingus spirit” – (2007) ___ Sophia DOMANCICH Pentacle : “Triana moods” – (2007) ___ Emmanuel BEX : “Open gate” – (2009) ___ François CORNELOUP: “Noir lumière” – (2010) ___ Manabu OHISHI: “Wish” – (2010) ___ Sophia DOMANCICH: “Snakes and ladders” – (2010) ___ Patrick DEFOSSEZ/Anne-Gabriel DEBAEKER: “Pourquoi tant de…” – (2011) Emmanuel BEX: “feat Béla Bartók” (2011) ___ Manabu OHISHI: “Ku” – (2012) ___ Michel Marre “I remember Clifford” – (2013) ___ Manabu OHISHI “Gift” – (2013)

Au piano

MAGMA : ” Merci ” ___ (1982) – OFFERING : ” Part 1&2 ” – (1984) ___ OFFERING : ” Part 3&4 ” – (1987) ___ OFFERING : ” Concert au théâtre Dejazet ” – (1987) ___ MAGMA : ” Les Voix ” – (1992) ___ STELLA : “Le coeur allant vers” – (2004) ___ Christian VANDER : “John Coltrane, l’homme suprême” – (2011) Directeur artistique ONJ : Didier LEVALLET : ” Deep feeling ” – (2000)

Pictures the credits are: Goubert: J.Lepage – Domancich: H.Collon – the both: G.Le Querrec.