Bénabar

by Jason Ankeny
Singer/songwriter Bénabar emerged at the vanguard of France's "chanson réaliste" movement, crafting uncommonly literary portraits of contemporary life informed by folk, jazz, and film. Born Bruno Nicolini on June 16, 1969, in the Paris suburb of Essonne, he began studying trumpet at age eight, and after completing school spent six months in the U.S. There his longtime fascination with filmmaking grew, and upon returning home he trained as a photographer and film technician, at age 20 writing and directing his first short film, Nada Lezard. In the decade to follow Nicolini released two additional shorts, most notably the Montreal Film Festival award-winning José Jeannette. However, his ambitions to direct a feature-length project were stalled by financing troubles, and in the interim he turned to television, writing for the Canal+ production H. At age 25 Nicolini also began writing songs, teaching himself piano, and performing in nightclubs under the alias Bénabar, inspired by the famed clown Barnabé. While touring with frequent collaborator Patchol, Bénabar formed his own band in 1996, enlisting saxophonist Denis Grare, trumpeter Vincent Schaeffer, double bassist Stéphane Benveniste, and drummer Pascal Vignon. Dubbed Bénabar et Associés, they issued their debut LP, La Petite Monnaie, in early 1998, spending much of the year to come on tour. Upon signing with major label Zomba, Bénabar issued a self-titled album in September 2001, followed by an extended tour in support of Henri Salvador. The LP went gold, and just 18 months later Bénabar issued the follow-up Les Risques du Métier. Another grinding tour schedule followed, yielding the concert set Live au Grand Rex. With 2005's Reprise des Négociations, Bénabar issued his most intimate collection to date, eschewing the social commentary that was the hallmark of previous records in favor of more explicitly autobiographical material, including the lead single, "Maritie and Gilbert Carpentier."