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Miguel Zenon, Russell Malone & Yvonnick Prene
by Joe Dimino
From talented French-born, NYC-based harmonica player Yvonnic Prene and pianist Geoff Keezer, we triumphantly enter the 870th Episode of Neon Jazz. Off an album dedicated to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, they do their spin on “Tide." Following that cut, we get into solo work from Keezer and music from his 2000 album Zero One. We also hear new music from two Kansas City's own Rick Mareske and Eboni Fondren. Plus lots more including Jonathan Suazo, Michael Dease and ...
Continue ReadingYvonnick Prené & Geoffrey Keezer: Jobim's World
by Dan Bilawsky
If there's such a thing as casual sophistication, Yvonnick Prené has it in spades. That aspect of this chromatic harmonica pro's playing has shown itself to varying degrees across his discography and it's highly pronounced in these gorgeous and intimate duo performances with pianist Geoffrey Keezer. After releasing Listen! (Sunnyside, 2023) to great acclaim, this leader was looking to move away from that album's modernistic quintet format. So, in brainstorming with producer Daniel Yvinec, the idea of ...
Continue ReadingYvonnick Prene: Breathe
by Dan Bilawsky
Yvonnick Prene has called New York home since 2007, but jazz fans in and around the Big Apple and beyond can be forgiven if they lacked awareness about his harmonica skills until more recent times. His first album--the inviting Jour de Fête (SteepleChase Records, 2013)--took a while to arrive, so the only way to learn about Prene prior to 2013 was through word of mouth or a chance live encounter. Now, judging from his recent output, it appears that he's ...
Continue ReadingYvonnick Prene and Pasquale Grasso: Merci Toots
by Chris Mosey
It is often said--rather nastily--that nobody can name five famous Belgians. Jazz fans can certainly name one: harmonicist Toots Thielemans. Thielemans, who in 2014 announced his retirement at the age of 92, decamped from his homeland after the war to play with just about everyone in the US, including Charlie Parker and--primarily--George Shearing. He managed in the process to get the harmonica accepted as a serious--or reasonably serious--musical instrument. Which is why Yvonnick Prene ...
Continue ReadingYvonnick Prene: Wonderful World
by Ian Patterson
Before arriving in New York in 2007, Paris-born harmonica player Yvonnick Prené had already gained schooling of the practical kind, touring and recording with pianists Laurent Cugny and Yaron Herman, and trumpeter Alex Tassel. Prené hit the ground running in the States, winning several scholarships that enabled him to study with saxophonist Lee Konitz, bassist John Patitucci and guitarist Peter Bernstein. His stylistically diverse debut, Jour de Fete (Steeplechase Records, 2013) mixed up classic tunes with original compositions and announced ...
Continue ReadingYvonnick Prene: Jour De Fete
by Dan Bilawsky
European jazz harmonica players aren't exactly a dime a dozen, but the Old Continent has birthed a few for the ages. Belgium gave unto jazz the legendary Toots Thielemans, Germany put forth vibes/harmonica doubling sensation Hendrik Meurkens, and the Swiss turned out Gregoire Maret; now, the French weigh in with the young Yvonnick Prene. Jour De Fete marks Prene's debut and it proves to be an excellent showcase for his writing and playing. He readily identifies Thielemans, ...
Continue ReadingTake Five With Yvonnick Prene
by AAJ Staff
Meet Yvonnick Prene:Yvonnick is a freelance chromatic harmonica player based in New York. Since 2007 Yvonnick has obtained a Master degree in music from Sorbonne Paris IV University, recorded and performed around the world with internationally acclaimed artist such as Alexandre Tassel, Laurent de Wilde, Manu Katche, Romain Pilon, Art Hirahara, Dan Aran, Itai Kriss, Bianca Wu, Guilaume Naturel, Laurent Cugny, Aiden Carrol, Eden Ladin, Yaron Herman, Pierre Olivier Govin, Jerome Regard, Daniel Romeo, Anne Paceo, Scott Tixier... ...
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