Michel Colombier
L’Alpagueur
Born on May 23 1939, Michel Colombier began his formal musical education at the age of six. His father taught him piano, harmony, counterpoint and conducting. By eleven he started to improvise and at fourteen he discovered jazz and performed with small combos and big bands for which he wrote daring jazz arrangements. In the meantime, his father continued his education by adding the study of church organ and Gregorian chant. During his stint in the French Army he continued composing, arranging and playing the widest range of music from chamber orchestra to jazz band.
At the age of 22, he spent one year with French avant-garde composer Michel Magne and was hired as Musical Director of ‘Barclay Records.’ His first assignment was to arrange Charles Aznavour’s first album in English, produced by Quincy Jones, for release in the United States.
A few years later, he revolutionized the advertising world, introducing sounds and concepts never used before. Some of his jingles are still played today.
He entered the world of dance (in collaboration with Pierre Henry) for Maurice Béjart’s, “Messe pour le temps present.” This work was recently remixed under the title “Metamorphose” by the “Who’s Who” of DJ’s headed by William Orbit, Coldcut, Funki Porcini and Fat Boy Slim.
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Prologue/ Psyché Rock
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Jéricho Jerk
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Psyché Rock (Fatboy Slim Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Prologue (Chris The French Kiss Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Psyché Rock (William Orbit Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Jericho Jerk (St. Germain Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Teen Tonic (Dimitri From Paris Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Too Fortiche (Tek 9 Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Psyché Rock (Choped Up Coldcut Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Too Fortiche (The Mighty Bop Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Jericho Jerk (Funki Porcini Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Too Fortiche (Chateau Flight Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Psyché Rock (Psyched Out Coldcut Remix)
Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier -- Psyché Rock (Ken Abyss Remix)
Colombier went on to co-write for many years with the legendary Serge Gainsbourg. He collaborated with some of the most prestigious artists in his native France including Charles Aznavour, Brigitte Fontaine, Jean-Luc Ponty, Catherine Deneuve, Jeanne Moreau, and Stephane Grappelli.
Links: Official page, MySpace, LastFm, Wikipedia.