Herve Samb, Senegalese guitarist, composer and arranger, first came to prominence at the age of 15 when he closed the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival after McCoy Tyner and Jack DeJohnette. A pioneer of Sabar jazz — a fusion of Senegalese rhythms, jazz and contemporary influences — he has collaborated with David Murray, Pharoah Sanders, Salif Keïta, Pat Metheny, Oumou Sangaré, Marcus Miller and others. His discography (from Cross Over to Jolof) is a testament to his visionary creativity, underscored by his participation in the Grammy-nominated album Holy Room.
Viviane Arnoux, accordionist and composer, began playing music as a child and has made a name for herself in jazz and composition. She has worked with Hugues Aufray, Omar Pene, Zao, Sam Mangwana, Kékélé and Manau, and is involved in various multidisciplinary projects. In 2007, she co-founded Musique Acoustique Machine with François Michaud, producing 11 albums and a number of shows for young and old.
François Michaud, Quebecois violinist and violist, comes from a family of classical musicians. A lover of improvisation and composition, his collaborations include with Artango, Riccardo Del Fra, Matmatah, Abed Azrié, Louis Sclavis. He co-founded Cordacor’ (three albums) and spent eight years with Quatuor IXI (two albums). He teaches at the ATLA school and the IACP in Paris, and at the CMT in Ris-Orangis, and co-directs Musique Acoustique Machine
