André Ekyan

André Ekyan, born André Echkyan, was a French jazz reedist who left an indelible mark on the jazz scene of the early 20th century. Born on October 24, 1907, in Meudon, France, Ekyan was a master of the saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He was particularly renowned for his virtuosic playing on the alto saxophone, which he utilized to great effect in both his solo performances and his collaborations with other jazz musicians.

Ekyan’s early career was centered around the vibrant jazz scene in Paris during the 1920s. He was the leader of a jazz ensemble at the club Le Perroquet, one of the most famous jazz clubs in the city at the time. It was there that he honed his craft and developed his signature style, characterized by a combination of technical proficiency and emotional expressiveness.

In the 1930s, Ekyan’s reputation as a jazz musician began to spread beyond France. He played with a number of prominent musicians, including Jack Hylton, Gregor, and Tommy Dorsey. He also recorded with Django Reinhardt for several years, collaborating on some of the most beloved jazz recordings of the era.

Ekyan’s career continued to flourish throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He played with a number of jazz legends during this time, including Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, and Sidney Bechet. He also led his own bands and performed regularly at jazz clubs and festivals throughout Europe.

Despite his success, Ekyan never lost his passion for jazz or his commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre. He continued to explore new sounds and styles throughout his career, experimenting with everything from bebop to free jazz.

Over the course of his career, Ekyan recorded a number of influential albums. Some of his most notable recordings include “Swing from Paris” (1937), which he recorded with Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, and “Parisian Honeymoon” (1954), which he recorded with the Andre Persiany Trio. He also recorded several albums as a bandleader, including “The André Ekyan Orchestra” (1938) and “André Ekyan Plays Cole Porter” (1955).

André Ekyan passed away in August 1972 in Alicante, Spain.