Alain Pierre
guitares, composition

During studying classical guitar at the Conservatory of Huy and Liege, Alain PIERRE discovers the Jazz when he was fifteen years old. After learning as a self-taught, he takes lessons at the Seminar of Jazz at the Conservatory of Liege (1984-1985) (with Steve HOUBEN, Serge LAZAREVITCH and Jacques PIROTTON), some clinics (Philip CATHERINE, Pierre VAN DORMAEL) and in the Jazz section of the Conservatory of Brussels (1988-1995) (with Paolo RADONI, Arnould MASSART). He also takes free-improvisation courses with Garrett LIST at the Conservatory of Liege (1988).

After having founded the “Trio Cadenza - Guitares” with which he has played in many concerts in Belgium, Poland, France and Tunisia of 1995 to 2004, he creates in 1999 the belgo-tunisian group “ANFASS” with Tunisian guitarist Fawzi CHEKILI, Belgian flutist Steve HOUBEN and initially the Tunisian Ney player Hichem BADRANI and currently Yassine AYARI. The group exclusively plays the compositions of Alain and Fawzi Chekili who join the characteristics of the European and Tunisian music. The group made several tours in Belgium, Tunisia, Morocco, Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. A CD called “Anfass” published by Igloo (IGL 148) was recorded in 2000 (http://listen.to/anfass).

Since 2000, he plays his own compositions at the classical guitar and the 6- & 12-string acoustic guitars in Solo and in Duet with Steve Houben, Pierre Bernard, Fabrice Alleman or Bart Defoort during several tours in Belgium, Morocco and Benin. Alain records a CD called “Dolce Divertimento” in duet with Steve Houben published in 2007 on MOGNO Music label (Mogno J024).

In April 2006, Alain was commissioned by the cultural centre of Huy to create “Guitare(s)”, which brings together 13 guitarists of different kinds of styles and a rhythm section. Alain composed a 15 minute piece (“Strings without Frontiers”) which join together all the guitarists.

In 2004, he grounds Acous-Trees, a quartet with Pierre Bernard (Flutes), Sam Gerstmans (Double-Bass) and Frederic Malempré (Percussions), still with the compositions of Alain. This quartet is joined sometimes by Barbara Wiernik (Vocals), Fabrice Alleman (Flute, Reeds), Philippe Laloy (Flute, Sax Soprano), and Stephan Pougin (Percussions).

In 2001, he grounds AJA (www.ajatrio.page.to) with Antoine Cirri (Leader, Drums), Stephan Mercier (Sax Alto, Flute, Effects) and Olivier Stalon (Electric-Bass). They made several concerts in Belgium, Germany and Nigeria.

Two of his compositions (“Past Times”, “No Sugar added”), were awarded and published by the PAB, “Belgian Artistic Promotion of Sabam” in the collection ”Jazz Themes of Belgian Composers“, and were recorded by “New Jazz Trio” (Swiss) at the 18° Jazz Hoeilaart International's Europe’s Jazz Contest Belgium in 1996 and by “Out to Lunch” (Denmark) at the 20° Jazz Hoeilaart International's Europe’s Jazz Contest Belgium in 1998.
He also composes many compositions for classical guitar solo, trio, Jazz Combos like for other formations.
Alain wrote some string quartet arrangements and played all the guitar parts for the new CD “Le Plus Beau Cadeau” of the company “Chant' Âges” (Song for Children) published in November 2005.
He teaches guitar and improvisation at the Academy of Huy since 1987 and at some summer clinics.