Benabar Biography

Singer/songwriter Benabar emerged at the vanguard of France's "chanson realiste" movement, crafting uncommonly literary portraits of contemporary life informed by folk, jazz, and film. Born Bruno Nicolini on June 16, 1969, in the Paris suburb of Essonne, he began studying trumpet at age eight, and after completing school spent six months in the U.S. There his longtime fascination with filmmaking grew, and upon returning home he trained as a photographer and film technician, at age 20 writing and directing his first short film, Nada Lezard. In the decade to follow Nicolini released two additional shorts, most notably the Montreal Film Festival award-winning Jose Jeannette. However, his ambitions to direct a feature-length project were stalled by financing troubles, and in the interim he turned to television, writing for the Canal+ production H. At age 25 Nicolini also began writing songs, teaching himself piano, and performing in nightclubs under the alias Benabar, inspired by the famed clown Barnabe. While touring with frequent collaborator Patchol, Benabar formed his own band in 1996, enlisting saxophonist Denis Grare, trumpeter Vincent Schaeffer, double bassist Stephane Benveniste, and drummer Pascal Vignon. Dubbed Benabar et Associes, they issued their debut LP, La Petite Monnaie, in early 1998, spending much of the year to come on tour. Upon signing with major label Zomba, Benabar issued a self-titled album in September 2001, followed by an extended tour in support of Henri Salvador. The LP went gold, and just 18 months later Benabar issued the follow-up Les Risques du Metier. Another grinding tour schedule followed, yielding the concert set Live au Grand Rex. With 2005's Reprise des Negociations, Benabar issued his most intimate collection to date, eschewing the social commentary that was the hallmark of previous records in favor of more explicitly autobiographical material, including the lead single, "Maritie and Gilbert Carpentier."