Claude Barthélemy

b. 1956, Paris, France. A self-taught musician, Barthélémy took up the guitar in 1970 but remained undecided on a career for some years, shifting between music and mathematics. Late in 1978, his mind was made up when he was hired by Michel Portal. Barthélémy had lived a suburban childhood and was deeply affected by the musical sounds of his formative years, notably jazz rock, folk punk and atonal funk, with an ongoing leaning towards the avant garde in many musical styles. After Portal he played in various bands, often as founder and driving force, stylistically in the jazz ro...