Sélène Saint Aimé
Origin: Martinique
Winner of the Victoires du jazz 2021 award in the “Revelation” category, the double bassist, singer and poet fascinates with her universe which draws heavily on the black roots of Africa, the Caribbean and the southern United States.
About us
Sélène Saint-Aimé, a captivating new figure on the contemporary jazz scene and a fervent proponent of crossbred music, explores the traditional repertoire of Louisiana, the West Indies and Reunion Island in her new project, which is all about Creolité.
Trio projects, new quintet and new string trio
Sélène is a French double bass player, singer and composer of Caribbean and African descent.
She studied in New York with internationally renowned musicians such as Steve Coleman, Lonnie Plaxico, Ron Carter... Her musical identity develops through travel and encounters.
In 2020, she released her first opus, “Mare Undarum”. This critically acclaimed album won her a 2021 Victoire du jazz award in the “Revelation” category.
Her second album, “Potomitan”, released in March 2022, has already won rave reviews from the international press.
Sélène particularly enjoys devoting time to research and musical study. She is currently associate composer at Tropiques Atrium Scène Nationale in Martinique, as well as one of the 2022 winners of the Villa Albertine in New Orleans.
External links:
Website Facebook Youtube InstagramAssociated Projects
Line-up: Sélène Saint Aimé (ac.bass, vocal), Hermon Mehari (trumpet), Irving Acao (sax), Boris Reine-Adélaïde (bèlè drum), Sonny Troupé (drums & ka)
The young musician has forged a musical identity nourished by her travels and her Creole and African roots. With Potomitan, Sélène Saint-Aimé invokes her Caribbean heritage. The double bassist and poet shares a surprisingly lyrical folklore on stage, enlivened by improvisation and a perfect alchemy between the strings of her instrument and her voluptuous voice. In French or English, she also plays and sings in a third language of her own.
A mystical trance emanates from her gentle melodies, imbued with long conversations with her paternal grandmother, childhood memories and the strength of West Indian women. To orchestrate this musical voyage, the young woman surrounds herself with a first-rate band: drums, saxophone, Martinican bèlè drum and trumpet.
Line-up: Sélène Saint-Aimé (ac bass, vocal), Shea Pierre (piano), Steve Lands (trumpet), Gladney (sax ténor), Miles Lyons (trombone & sousaphone) et Alfred Jordan Jr. (drums)
During a fantastic 3-month residency with Villa Albertine, a new residency program of the French Consulate in New Orleans, Sélène immediately formed a local band where she explored Caribbean and Creole cultures from a Louisiana perspective. She learned the history of the old Creole songs of New Orleans. On stage with Shea Pierre (piano), Steve Lands (trumpet), Gladney (tenor sax), Kaleb Summers (trombone) and Alfred Jordan Jr. (drums), she shares a very personal interpretation of these melodies.
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