Alix Combelle (15 June 1912 – 26 February 1978[1]) was a French swing saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. He recorded often with Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

Alix Combelle
Born(1912-06-01)1 June 1912
Paris, France
Died2 March 1978(1978-03-02) (aged 65)
Mantes-la-Jolie, France
GenresGypsy jazz, swing
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader, arranger
Instrument(s)Clarinet, tenor saxophone
Years active1930s–1940
LabelsSwing
Formerly ofGregor, Arthur Briggs, Michel Warlop, Ray Ventura, Jazz de Paris

Career

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A native of Paris, his father was François Combelle, who played classical saxophone with the Band of the Republican Guard. Alix Combelle played drums in the late 1920s. In the early 1930s he played clarinet and saxophone in theater pit orchestras in Paris. He was a member of a bands led by Gregor (Krikor Kelekian), Arthur Briggs, Michel Warlop, Guy Paquinet, and Ray Ventura. He worked with visiting American musicians such as Benny Carter, Adelaide Hall, Coleman Hawkins, Freddy Johnson, and Danny Polo. He was a member of Bill Coleman's band when it included Argentinian swing guitarist Oscar Aleman. He performed with French singers such as Charles Trenet and Jean Sablon and recorded with Philippe Brun.[2] In the 1940s he led the band Jazz de Paris. His son, Philippe, was a drummer.[3]

Discography

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Album Year Label
Alix Combelle 1935-1940 19351940 Classics
Alix Combelle 1940-1941 19401941 Classics
Alix Combelle 1942-1943 19421943 Classics
The Swinging Mister Alix: 1937–1942 19371942 EPM Musique
Django Reinhardt Album Year Label
Rare Django 19281938 Disques Swing
Freddy Johnson Album Year Label
Freddy Johnson 1933-1939 19331939 Classics
Coleman Hawkins Album Year Label
Coleman Hawkins 1934-1937 19341937 Classics
The Hawk in Europe 19341937 ASV/Living Era
Coleman Hawkins 1937-1939 19371939 Classics
Bill Coleman Album Year Label
Bill Coleman 1936-1938 19361938 Classics
Bill Coleman in Paris 19361938 Disques Swing
Benny Carter Album Year Label
Benny Carter 1937-1939 19371939 Classics
Buck Clayton Album Year Label
Buck Clayton in Paris 19491953 Vogue
Lionel Hampton Album Year Label
The Complete Paris Session (1953) 1953 Vogue
Lionel Hampton in Paris 1953 Everest
Stan Kenton Album Year Label
In Paris September 1953 1953 Royal Jazz
Adelaide Hall Album Year Label
Crooning Blackbird 19271939 EPM Musique
Jean Sablon Album Year Label
French Swinging Troubadour 19341939 EPM Musique
Michel Warlop Album Year Label
Modernistic 1933/1943 1933/1943 EPM Musique
Stephane Grappelli Album Year Label
Fit as a Fiddle 1933/1947 EPM Musique
Georges Ulmer Album Year Label
Pigalle 1998 EPM Musique
Charles Trénet Album Year Label
La Mer 19351950 ASV/Living Era
Oscar Alemán Album Year Label
Buenos Aires-Paris: 1928-1943 19281943 Fremeaux & Associes
Danny Polo Album Year Label
The Complete Sets 19351939 Retrieval

References

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  1. ^ fr:Alix Combelle
  2. ^ arwulf, arwulf. "Alix Combelle | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  3. ^ LaPlace, Michael (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 498. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.