Jacques Melzer

Jacques Melzer , born the July 18th 1934 with Lens (Pas-de-Calais), deceased the May 8th 2006 with Fréjus (VAr) is a Saxophoniste French.

Biography

Parents musicians, father Violonist and chief of the Symphony orchestra of Lens, mother, pianist and assistant editor of the music school of Bruay-in-Artois), youngest child of a family of eight children.

Like all his brothers and sisters, it must play of an instrument and begins with the Violon. Because of its exceptional musical provisions, his/her parents accept that it makes career in this field. It is at the 10 years age that its real musical studies begin. His/her parents prepare it with entrance the examination of the Conservatoire of Paris where it will follow three classes:

Class of Musical theory 1948 (class of the PURE ) of Becker Master, where it obtains a first medal of musical theory
Classe of percussion of Passeronne Master, where it obtains a price of percussion.
Class of Saxophone of Master Marcel Mule, where it obtains a first price of honor (1954) with congratulations of the Jury and an alto saxophone offered by the house Selmer.

During a few years with Jacques Hélian, Benny Simpleton and Jordi Collar, he discovers the rounds in France and Europe. Thereafter, it decides “to be posed” and obtains the post of professor of saxophone to CNR of Rennes. It creates with his friends former students of Marcel Mule a quartet baptized Ensemble of French Saxophones (J. Melzer, soprano; R. Audefroy, viola; Jean-Marie Londeix, tenor; G.Lacourt, baritone). With this unit, it gives many concerts and carries out several recordings, including one devoted to works of Jean-Sebastien Bach transcribed for saxophone.

In 1971, it accepts the load of professor at the CNR of Nice, in the team of Pierre Cochereau, director. It creates there a class of Jazz and the Quatuor of saxophones Jacques Melzer (J. Melzer, soprano; J.J. Illouz, viola; L. Garrigues, tenor; G. Menardy, baritone).

In 1998, it agrees the responsibility of create a music school with Fréjus and to take the direction of it. An establishment which, in 2006, account nearly 500 pupils and requires buildings more adapted to the growing number of requests. In Fréjus it creates Big Band of which it takes the direction and a symphony orchestra which will give a true musical notoriety to this city.

Jacques Melzer will give all his life in very many traditional concerts. Its interpretation of the Concerto for oboe of Mozart, transcribed for saxophone, accompanied by the regional Orchestra by Cannes-Provence-Alp-Coast-D' Azure, under the direction of Laurent Petitgirard, remains in the wake of its Master Marcel Mule. However, contrary to his eminent professor, Jacques Melzer adores the jazz and product in memorable concerts to the Roman theater of Frejus, as soloist and leader.

“For Jacques Melzer, all the musics are good provided that they are of quality” (short speech of Andre Peyregne, director of the CNR of Nice). November 14th, 2006, the municipality of Frejus, assisted professors and of its family, pays homage to him. The music school bears from now on the name of Music school Jacques Melzer .

Pupils of Jacques Melzer:

Franck Amsallem (pianist, type-setter)
Pierre Bertrand (saxophonist, cofounder of the Paris Jazz Big Band).
Pierre Mimran
Gerard Ramos
Jean-Jacques Illouz (professor of saxophone CA)
Louis Garrigues
Gilbert Menardy
Jean Marc Baccarini

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