DESCRIPTION:
There have only been under a handful of harmonica players that have evolved in the world of jazz and popular music. Stevie Wonder, Larry Adler, and Jean "Toots" Thielemans have been some of the architects of how this instrument is to played and taken seriously.

Jazz Harmonica player Grégoire Maret just released his self-titled disc on the E-1 Music label featuring guest appearances from vocalists Cassandra Wilson and Raul Midon, bassist Marcus Miller, and the legendary Toots Thielemans. He is one of the few harmonica players that continues to bring a new and innovative voice to the harmonica. Grégoire's fresh and contemporary compositions is also a noteworthy feat on his debut disc as well. On the disc he covers music from Stevie Wonder to Ivan Lins.

Maret hails from Geneva, Switzerland was introduced to jazz music by his father, a musician. At the age if 17 he decided to pursue music and play the chromatic harmonica seriously. After graduating from high school, Grégoire moved to New York City and enrolled in the New School University's jazz program where he graduated.
Over the last 15 years he's recorded with a cadre of artists: the Pat Metheny Group, Herbie Hancock, Onaje Allan Gumbs, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Prince, George Benson, Terri Lyne Carrington, Charlie Hunter, Richard Bona, Sting, Elton John, Bilal, Robert Glasper, and Mike Stern. Grégoire has been the harmonica player for Grammy-Award winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson for the last 10 years.

Grégoire is about to embark on his very first set of club dates as a leader for his latest disc. To order his new self-titled disc or find out his upcoming tour dates, please visit him on the web at www.gregoiremaret.com