In 2022, he was proclaimed one of the best French trumpetists by Jazz Magazine, and has built his reputation on some of the biggest stages in the world, playing with top names such as Lenny Kravitz for close to 10 years. Recently seen performing with his original band in the film Babylon, Ludovic Louis is a multi-facetted artist who chats with us about his first album, “Rebirth,” which blends the sounds of soul, funk, and Caribbean music.
ONAIR- Comment est né cet attrait pour les cuivres et plus spécifiquement la trompette ?
Ludovic Louis – Lorsque nous étions petits, avec ma sœur, mes parents nous ont permis de toucher à tout, tant dans le domaine sportif que musical. Nous étions inscrits en éveil musical à l’école de musique du JUPO ; ma sœur a pratiqué du piano, du violon, des percussions ; moi j’étais au piano dès l’âge de 5 ans jusqu’au jour où j’ai vu l’un de mes futurs professeurs, Alain Loisel, nous faire une démonstration de son instrument : la trompette. Il y a mis tant d’émotions que la sonorité de l’instrument m’a touché… J’avais 7 ans et ça m’a plu instantanément. J’ai poursuivi mes cours au JUPO en Jazz et parallèlement je suivais des cours au Conservatoire en classique avec Sylvain Maillard jusqu’à l’obtention de mon diplôme à 20 ans.
OA – Can you describe your big jump in becoming a professional musician, and the encounters with various artists you met along the way?
LL – I am a mix of Normandy and Martinique; I was born and grew up in Le Havre, but eventually I wanted to go to Paris, where it all happens…
I moved there in 2003 and started to do jam sessions in clubs including the Baiser Salé. I very quickly began to meet other musicians such as Philippe Slominski, and thanks to saxophonist Allen Hoist, I met Jimmy Cliff in 2004 and worked with him, as well as the Cuban hip hop group Orishas, and Florent Pagny, who I accompanied on “The Grand Tour” in 2010. In the meantime, by way of saxophonist Mathieu Thave, I was put in contact with Lenny Kravitz, who was looking for a trumpet player for his brass section for the Peace One Day Gala at the Grand Rex in Paris… That collaboration lasted 10 years, both on stage and in the studio.
OA – What did you learn from that iconic artist while touring around the world?
LL – One learns a great deal from big stars such as Lenny Kravitz, who is very generous and meticulous on and off stage. At every concert, he always gave me a moment to shine as a soloist, including the day in 2012, after Quincy Jones and Mohamed Ali were invited to the stage, I had the honor of playing for them!!! That moment will undoubtably remain one of the best souvenirs of my career. In 2013, I decided to move to Los Angeles, where I am based today, even though I return regularly to France to see my family and friends, and to Martinique where I can recharge my energy and compose, like I am doing now, and working on my second album, Since I have lived in the United States, I have collaborated with other big-name artists: Kanye West and his Sunday Service, Camila Cabello, Robin Thicke, Curtis Harding, Patrice Rushen, and The Meters.
OA – In 2019, you had a new opportunity in the film world and you had to make a choice….
LL – Yes, exactly, I was offered the role of the trumpet player in the Netflix series “The Eddy,” which takes place in a Parisian jazz club, directed by Damien Chazelle. And I accepted the challenge, which also allowed me to add another string to my bow. In 2021, I found myself at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, once again with Damien Chazelle, and his composer Justin Hurwitz, to lend my “sound” to actor Jovan Adepo, who plays trumpetist Sydney Palmer in the film Babylon. The movies opened my eyes to new experiences and I enjoy that; I am always happy to spread my wings and embrace new things.
OA – Tell is about “Rebirth,” your first album…
LL –After having played for so many other artists, I had several compositions of my own that I played from time-to-time during performances but had not yet recorded. In 2020, during the pandemic, I took the time to work on my solo album by compiling these pieces and composing some new ones. I recorded them in both Los Angeles and Paris over about 18 months, even asking musicians to work remotely, such as for the song “Madinina.” There is also “Everybody,” for which I took a big leap as a singer, something I was tempted to do for quite some time, and worked well for a song I wanted to be festive, with a funky sound. Playing the trumpet allows me to share my emotions, like a singer does with their voice. “Rebirth” served as a renaissance during that time of my life, as a solo artist who wants to express himself.
OA-You are very communicative on stage, you are not just a musician, you fill the space, and transmit a lot of joy and energy. What are your dreams for the future?
LL – I love sharing, I love moving, I love communicating my joy at being on stage. I am currently working on my next album. At the same time, I’d like to continue what I started, which includes singing and acting, as well as solo and group projects. And especially sharing my experiences, notably with young people in the Caribbean, paving the way so that they can make their dreams come true.
Auteur : Barbara Keller
