Arkadıy Figlin - piano
Born in 1963 in Saratov,Russia. In 1987 graduated from Moscow Gnessin Institute with a Master degree in classical piano performance and pedagogy. In 1989 participated in the first Martial Solal International Jazz piano competition in Paris,France, where was awarded the 3d prize. Moved to US in 1991 and started working as a pianist at the School of American Ballet where continues to work presently. In 1998 won The Great American Jazz piano competition in Jacksonville, Florida. Recorded solo and trio abums. Performed as the soloist with the number of symphony orchestras in piano concertos by Prokofiev, Gershwin, Emerson, Rachmaninoff in various ballet productions under baton of such conductors as Hugo Fiorato of NYCB and Akiro Endo of ABT. Toured US with the various All Stars ballet ensembles. In 2010 he was cast in the Oscar-winning film Black Swan directed by Darren Aronofsky starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. In December 2013 made his debut at Carnegie's Zankel Hall in jazz piano duo with Valeri Grohovsky. In 2016 co-wrote the score for Peter Walker's ballet "ten in seven",performed at the Lincoln Center's Koch Theater by the NYCB. His latest studio project Letters to my daughter was released in August 2020 on www.arkfiglin.com.
Francois Moutin - bass
When 27 years old, then Parisian but today New-Yorker François Moutin was recognized as one of the finest young jazz bass players in Europe. He had performed with some of the greatest musicians: Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Martial Solal, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Toots Thielemans, James Moody and Michel Legrand. He and his twin brother Louis, a brilliant jazz drummer, then began a long-lasting enterprise of co-led projects, relentlessly touring around the world while releasing ten highly and extensively praised albums. In 1997 François moved his base to New York City where he quickly found himself involved in myriad collaborations, including two of the most cutting-edge and exploring jazz groups of this time: Pilc-Moutin-Hoenig, and the Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet. François has been rewarded several times in the DownBeat Critics Poll as a peer of legendary jazz bassists Ron Carter, Dave Holland and Miroslav Vitous. He has collaborated with many of the premier artists of the New York City and world Jazz scene, from Mike Stern to Jack de Johnette among many more. www.moutin.com/Francois.html
Louis Moutin - drums
Louis Moutin, jazz drummer and co-leader of Moutin Reunion Quartet
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Paris on Chrismas Eve 1961, Louis Moutin developed an early passion for music, particularly Jazz, in which he becamed immersed thanks to the family’s record collection. When he was seven years old, Louis began teaching himself to play piano. At age 20, he chose to become a jazz drummer.At 24, after completing training as an engineer at the prestigious Ecole Centrale de Lyon and receiving a Masters Degree in Mathematics, Louis decided to abandon a career in technology and to pursue his musical interests. Within three years, he was a member of the very successful Machado Trio, and was already regarded as one of the best European Jazz drummers, performing frequently in the international Jazz Festival network.At 29, Louis teamed with his twin brother Francois, a highly regarded upright bass player, to form their first group. This collaboration by the Moutin brothers drew praise from Jazz audiences and music professionals alike. In 1998, the Moutin brothers have created the Moutin Reunion Quartet. This quartet has released 5 albums and performed more than 450 concerts. In 2013 they come with a new band, the Moutin Factory Quintet, that gives its first concert at Jazz in Marciac and release a new album "Lucky People".
Meanwhile Louis has pursued a steady career as sideman with such renowned artists as : Martial Solal, Jean Michel Pilc, Michel Legrand, Antoine Herve, Tigran Hamasyan, Michel Portal, Giovanni Mirabassi, François Jeanneau, Manuel Rocheman, Christian Escoude, Albert Mangelsdorff, Andy Emler, N'guyen Le, Eric Lelann, Laurent Dehors, Simon-Spang-Hanssen.
On various occasions, he has also performed with : Danilo Perez, Lew Soloff, John Abercrombie, Joe Locke, Lee Konitz, Flavio Boltro, Larry Schneider, Toots Thielemans, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Didier Lockwood, Markus Stockhausen, l'Ensemble Inter Contemporain, Johnny Griffin...