Kitaro’s ambient soundscapes are adapted fluidly by Jean-François Maljean, perfectly suited to his warm, melodic playing style. Alternating between playful and austere, the tracks are delicately rendered and full of atmospheric detail.
The roots of Jean-François Maljeans vocation lie somewhere in his childhood, when his father, a famous doctor in Verviers, played his violin at his spare times Jean-François was born in Verviers, close to Spa, a very famous balnear town in Belgium and his first teacher was one of his fathers patient. She gave him for always the passion for piano.
After studying classical piano at the Conservatories of Verviers, Liège and Brussels, Jean-François left his small Belgium for the U.S.A. where he completed his musical studies at BERKLEE.
This American experience had a deep influence on his artistic career. He started to learn Jazz Piano and song writing, while listening to the music of, among others, Keith Jarrett, James Taylor and Debussy.
Back in Belgium, he started playing gigs with some famous Belgian artists like Pierre Rapsat and created his own band : Maljean-Willems. In this band, he was pianist, composer and even singer. This band had some successful singles in Belgium, France and Canada like 116e rue and Du Bord de Mer.
But Pop Glamour isnt everything in life and Jean-François Maljean went on searching for other musical horizons. So, for a while, he left the flashy lights of the stage to go back to his trusty old friend : the acoustic piano
His piano album : VUE-SUR-MER was the first result of this solo career. Thirteen classy piano pieces, combining New-Age and Jazz textures with Pop canvas, formed the bases of this CD, which sold good in Belgium.
Encouraged by the results of Vue sur Mer, Jean-François Maljean wrote his second album : LEGENDES recorded with state of the art technology at Luc Baiwirs studio near Liège. The strong melodic themes of LEGENDES are certainly influenced by the evocating landscapes of the East Belgium. Each song of this album is about Jean-Françoiss roots, and places like the Fagnes where he used to live during his childhood.
In 1999, Jean-François Maljean has put out a three tracks CD single including a vocal version of the song Faits dHiver.
In January 2001, he released a new piano solo album: VOYAGES. And during the same year, two CDs MUSIC AND NATURE were also released :PIANO & SEA and RUISSEAUX DES FAGNES(piano and rivers).
In August 2002, a new album PIANO HITS 1 composed of piano versions of the favourite American and English pop songs(from Beatles to Billy Joël) of Jean-François was released in whole Europe and also in some Asian Countries.
Jean-François started then to work with the USA, where he has realised two albums of New Age for the company Piano Disc. He also began to produce himself in France, where he has just released the album VOYAGES, and made several concerts in Paris.
ASIAN EXPERIENCE
The story started when Adasong, Jean-François publisher, signed a first album(VUE-SUR-MER) with Jingo Records Company from Taiwan who released this CD also in China. Then, two albums followed on the Taiwanese and Chinese markets LEGENDES (2000) and VOYAGES (The heart of the Ocean on the Chinese version) in 2002. During the Midem 2002, two relaxation albums with piano, SEA AND RIVERS, where signed in Singapore with Muse Project.
Later, Jean-François Maljean signed with Platz records in Japan for thealbum "LEGENDES" and with Wood records for the album "VOYAGES". He also signed in 2002 a sub publishing all over east Asia with Fujipacific, which increased the sales by the publicity made in Japanese well known magazines such as CD Journal. As a consequence, he went to Japan to make concerts in partnership between Belgian and Japanese embassy. Moreover, Jean-François Maljean made a promotional tour in Taiwan in December 2002 and the public, in halls for thousand persons, was seduced by the music .
2003 is another great year in Asia for Jean-François. Two newalbums (GRAND PIANO I and II) where signed at the Midem of Cannes with Jingo Records and five albums with the south Korean society"YBM Seoul record". Last but not least, Jean-François played at the Shangaï Festival in October, which was a delightful experience, and a new tour is programmed for May 2004.
The albums of J-F MALJEAN are released in Belgium, France, UK, Italy, Germany and almost all the european countries, USA, Japan, Korea, Taïwan, China, Hong-Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and 17 african countries.
Bonjour et merci d'avoir accepté ma demande. Superbes musiques, un paisir à écouter! Je profite de mon passage sur votre page pour annoncer mon concert du vendredi 20 juin 2008 à Liège Grâce-Hollogne salle LES LILAS pour un VOYAGE DANS L'UNIVERS DE CLAUDE FRANCOIS et ce en relation avec la sortie de mon triple album. A bientôt j'espère lors d'une rencontre. Alain
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