Frédéric Yonnet

small:Frédéric Yonnet

Frédéric Yonnet 

    
“Are you playing a chromatic harmonica?” Stevie Wonder’s response after Frederic’ played a few riffs for him. 
    
"If Jimi Hendrix was born in Paris and played the harmonica, he'd be my next guest... I didn't even know I liked the harmonica until I met this guy [Frédéric Yonnet].”  COMEDIAN Dave Chappelle, during his INTRODUCTION of Yonnet.
    
"Harmonica has played a monumental role in the blues idiom but in jazz it has been employed successfully by only several musicians, Toots Thielemans, Howard Levy and Frédéric Yonnet come to mind as three who have made significant contributions in the instrument." W. Royal Stokes, Jazz Times 
    
"Fred has an extraordinary ability for wringing torrents of emotion out of that tiny instrument, the harmonica." Rhome Anderson, mp3.Washingtonpost.com
    
"A true virtuoso." Eric Brace, Washington Post 
When it comes to the harmonica, French-born harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet knows how to turn skeptics into believers. Most people perceive the harmonica as a "side" instrument used in country and blues. However, Yonnet is one of a handful of musicians to successfully demonstrate the harmonica's versatility as a lead instrument in contemporary jazz, as well as other genres of music.
Yonnet brings the harmonica front and center with his signature sound, creative improvisations and captivating stage presence. Think jazz legend Toots Thielemans meets rock icon Jimi Hendrix. The result is destined to totally change the way audiences regard the pocket instrument. Just listen to his sound. It funks. It rocks. It hips and hops. It grooves. It sways. It testifies. It prays. It has a reverence for blues and jazz, while appealing to a generation raised on pop-rock and hip-hop.
The attention he has garnered from such popular generational icons as Dave Chappelle has helped to expose him and the harmonica to a wide and diverse audience. As part of a wave of musicians that emerged from Europe's jazz underground, Yonnet is changing the way the music industry and music enthusiasts regard the "pocket" instrument.    
  • Are you playing a chromatic harmonica?” Stevie Wonder’s response after Frederic’ played a few riffs for him. 
  • "If Jimi Hendrix was born in Paris and played the harmonica, he'd be my next guest... I didn't even know I liked the harmonica until I met this guy [Frédéric Yonnet].”  COMEDIAN Dave Chappelle, during his INTRODUCTION of Yonnet. 
  • "Harmonica has played a monumental role in the blues idiom but in jazz it has been employed successfully by only several musicians, Toots Thielemans, Howard Levy and Frédéric Yonnet come to mind as three who have made significant contributions in the instrument." W. Royal Stokes, Jazz Times  
  • "Fred has an extraordinary ability for wringing torrents of emotion out of that tiny instrument, the harmonica." Rhome Anderson, mp3.Washingtonpost.com    
  • "A true virtuoso." Eric Brace, Washington Post

When it comes to the harmonica, French-born harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet knows how to turn skeptics into believers. Most people perceive the harmonica as a "side" instrument used in country and blues. However, Yonnet is one of a handful of musicians to successfully demonstrate the harmonica's versatility as a lead instrument in contemporary jazz, as well as other genres of music.

Yonnet brings the harmonica front and center with his signature sound, creative improvisations and captivating stage presence. Think jazz legend Toots Thielemans meets rock icon Jimi Hendrix. The result is destined to totally change the way audiences regard the pocket instrument. Just listen to his sound. It funks. It rocks. It hips and hops. It grooves. It sways. It testifies. It prays. It has a reverence for blues and jazz, while appealing to a generation raised on pop-rock and hip-hop.

The attention he has garnered from such popular generational icons as Dave Chappelle has helped to expose him and the harmonica to a wide and diverse audience. As part of a wave of musicians that emerged from Europe's jazz underground, Yonnet is changing the way the music industry and music enthusiasts regard the "pocket" instrument. 

 

Click >here to visit Frédéric Yonnet's webpage

Photo: Stephanie Pistel
Frédéric Yonnet
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