Jean‐Jacques Milteau

Jean-Jacques Milteau is a French harmonica player born in Paris in 1950. He falls in love with the harmonica in the sixties after listening to the records of various folk and rock artists (Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones). A trip to the US gives him an opportunity to try his luck first-hand with the blues, and he launches into a musical career at the end of the 1970s, at first as a sideman with various leading Franch pop artists including Yves Montand, Eddy Mitchell, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Maxime Le Forestier, Barbara, Charles Aznavour. Like the young Stevie WonderJJ's virtuosity allows him to play in a wide array of musical styles, from blues to jazz, or even musette (Albert Raisner) and other popular styles. The release in 1989 of his first solo album, « Blues Harp », marks the start of his career as a bandleader with Manu Galvin on guitar. When he's not touring, JJ finds time for other activities, including the writing of several instructions books for harp players. He also hosts a weekly radio show for the TSF network. Other albums include « Explorer » for which he received his first Victoire de la Musique (the equivalent of a Grammy in France), « Routes » and « Bastille Blues », all showcasing his eclecticism and formidable mastery of the harmonica. A major change takes place in 2001 with the « Memphis » album, recorded for Universal in the US with major African-American blues artists, under the direction of producer Sebastian Danchin. This recording is awarded a Victoire de la Musique the following year in the Best Blues Album category. « Memphis » and JJ's following sets (« Blues 3rd » in 2003, « Fragile » in 2006 and « Live Hot 'n Blue » in 2007, all recorded for Universal) have various characteristics in common : • a strong blues-soul leaning • a mix of original compositions and covers • the marked presence of American blues singers and players, most of them very well-known, including Terry Callier, Gil Scott-Heron and Demi Evans • a perfect balance of vocal and instrumental tracks (guitar, keyboards, horns...) In this second period of his recording career, JJ Milteau seems to have reached full-grown artistic maturity. It helps him further his musical ambition, concentrating more on the whole band sound than on any specific instrument, like Paul Butterfield before him.