Grand Baton is an Afro-Caribbean, progressive rock and jazz fusion band based in New York City. The band was founded by the composer, arranger, guitarist, pianist, singer and songwriter Jean-Cristophe (JC) Maillard, a native of Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
Background Grand Baton, founded by Maillard in 2006, currently performs as a trio and consists of Maillard on vocals, guitar, keyboards and the SazBass, Thierry Arpino on drums and percussion, and Aidan Carroll on upright and electric bass.-
The band has released two studio albums. Le Grand Baton was released in 2007 and Carnal Carnival in 2013.
Collaboration and touring In 2013, Grand Baton began its collaboration with the vocalist Lisa Fischer and Maillard serves as the band's musical director and arranger. Since beginning their tour in 2014, The Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton Tour has performed in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.- - -
Grand Baton and Fischer have also performed together at several jazz festivals including The Monterey Jazz Festival in 2014, The Newport Jazz Festival in 2015 and The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2017.
Grand Baton and Fischer collaborated with The Seattle Symphony in February 2018 for the musical program Just A Kiss Away in which rock and roll anthems including The Rolling Stone's "Gimme Shelter" and Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" were recreated from an orchestral perspective.
Band members
2014 members In 2014, the line-up of Grand Baton was:
Members Name Instrument(s) Role JC Maillard Guitars, sazbass, keyboards, lead vocals, backing vocals Music director, founder Thierry Arpino Drums, percussion, cajón Member Aidan Carroll Bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals Member
Former contributors/members The former members and/or contributors of Grand Baton include the following musicians:The contributor/member listing is compiled from the liner notes included in the booklet insert of each Grand Baton album. Past contributors Name Instrument(s) Pascal Rey Drums Stéphane Huchard Drums Arno Dolmen Drums, ka drums Philippe Makaïa Ka drums Didier Juste Ka drums Sonny Troupe Ka drums Olivier Juste Ka drums Obanilu Allende Percussion Gilmar Gomes Percussion Etienne Mbappe Bass guitar Linley Marthe Bass guitar Fabrice Fanfant Bass guitar Alexis Hadefi Bass guitar
Discography Title Details Le Grand Baton Release Year: 2007- Formats: CD, digital download Carnal Carnival Release Year: 2013 Formats: CD, digital download
Notes
References
External links
Official website Album overview